My 68 Burb- Begining to end.

[68GMCburban]

This is my 68 GMC burb. I traded my uncle an early 80s Camaro for it when I was about 12, and just now went and got it out in mid Febuary. At first, the idea was to just get it running and driving, but me and my buddy got to talking, and it has turned into a frame off restoration. I've bought a new motor, tranny, front end out of a 78 Chevy truck, and a parts suburban, since I needed the tail gate and a few doors, etc.




We just got the frame painted, and about to put the front end under it. Then throw the motor and tranny in, and finish the break lines. Then time to start on the body work.

[68GMCburban]

Here's a picture of the frame.

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[68GMCburban]

Last night, we got the motor mounted..sort of. It isn't wanting to line up right, and we didn't have enough time, so we had to call it quits before we were done.
Now I've decided to go ahead and lower it, before we get the body on. I'm thinking 3 in the front and 4 in the back with lowering coils. I hope to have those ordered this week some time.

[DropKick]

Looks Good Man i love the Patina! Subscribed!

[68GMCburban]

This is the parts Burban I bought a few weeks back. Got it for $500 bucks. Had to drive about 3 hours to get it. But it was worth it. Using the 3rd door, tail gate, break lines, rear axle shafts and some other small stuff for mine. I went ahead and sold what was left to a buddy of mine. We're hoping to get this one stripped soon. Posted via Mobile Device
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[68GMCburban]

I ordered floor pans and rockers yesterday from Brothers. The suburban has been kind of put on hold for a week or two due to another quick build. Hope to get back on it soon!

[Number98]

Subscribed! Keep us posted....

[68GMCburban]

I'm looking at coil lowering kits from Classic Performance Parts. I don't know which kit I'll need, theres http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...6372CSSK-D.htm , and http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...k/6372CSSK.htm
I don't know if I'll need the shock relocation kit, and the ajustable track bar, or if I can get off by just ordering the cheaper kit. Anybody know which I'd be better off getting?

[68GMCburban]

Last night we got the interior completely stripped, windows out, and doors off. I got my order from Brothers Tuesday, which was my floor pans and rockers. Should be starting on those this week.
I'm taking a break from the suspension and drive train. I'm thinking about doing and LS swap. But I'm going to give myself a while to think about it.

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[project 67 sub]

Looking good man keep it up
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[logansdad]

looking good... the LS swap is the way to go and cant beat these new engines. Did you order a new rocker for the third door? I'm having a hard time with classic parts getting mine. Brothers might be different. Any thoughts on lowering that burb a little closer to the ground.

[68GMCburban]

Thanks. I got the 3rd door rocker from Brothers. It was the cheapest one I could find. And I want to lower it. I think I'm going to do 3 in the front 5 in the back with coils.
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[68GMCburban]

When I started this, I knew this had been wrecked two times. I knew once it had been rearended, hard enough that the rear frame horns busted through the bumper, ruining the tail gate and ruining around the right side tail light. I also knew that something has happened on the passenger side quarter panel. But I had no idea how bad it was. After chipping some of the bondo I found out that it was broad sided, so it looks like I'll be getting a new quarter panel. The 3rd door was also ruined and buried in bondo. I also found that where the fourth door should be, the "4th rocker" area on the inside is rusted out pretty good. So I have to figure out something to do about that.



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[68GMCburban]

After taking a few weeks off, finally got back on it. Tonight we only worked on it for about an hour, during which we got the 3rd door rocker off, and got most of the bondo off of the quarter panel. Luckily, the inner rocker was good, because I couldn't find anybody that made one.



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[68GMCburban]

When it was wrecked, they decided to cut the lower part of the quarter panel off and half way best it back, then shotty welded it back on. I decided just to cut it out, and get new. I haven't tried looking to see if they just make this small patch panel or not, but if they don't I'll just have to cut it off the other suburban of make my own.
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[68 TT]

Originally Posted by 68GMCburban

...Luckily, the inner rocker was good, because I couldn't find anybody that made one.

Southern Kentucky Classics has the Suburban 3rd & 4th door inner rockers.

http://sokyclassics.com/product.php?section=1001870

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by 68GMCburban

...I haven't tried looking to see if they just make this small patch panel or not, but if they don't I'll just have to cut it off the other suburban of make my own.

That part isn't made. The way most guys do it is to use a truck rocker panel cut off at the curve into the jamb for the bottom section. This gives you the area with pinch weld you need and the correct curve that the truck patch panels don't have.

For the area above that use a lower door skin patch panel. It has the right shape and body lines to match where you are working. These two pieces combined together will make up that section you need.

[68GMCburban]

Originally Posted by 68 TT

That part isn't made. The way most guys do it is to use a truck rocker panel cut off at the curve into the jamb for the bottom section. This gives you the area with pinch weld you need and the correct curve that the truck patch panels don't have.

For the area above that use a lower door skin patch panel. It has the right shape and body lines to match where you are working. These two pieces combined together will make up that section you need.

Awesome, thanks! We will have to try that.

[68GMCburban]

Well guys.. I'm having a problem. I'm looking at buying an 8.1 with an Allison transmission to put in my suburban. Has anybody ever done this or know anybody who has? Would it be any different from doing a 5.3? Any input or insight would be appreciated.
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[68 TT]

Originally Posted by 68GMCburban

Well guys.. I'm having a problem. I'm looking at buying an 8.1 with an Allison transmission to put in my suburban. Has anybody ever done this or know anybody who has? Would it be any different from doing a 5.3? Any input or insight would be appreciated.

The big block fits fine, done that several times. Just not sure about that monster of a transmission.

Don't know of anyone who has done the swap with the 8.1 & Allison that I could point you to.

[68GMCburban]

Well, I don't have much to update. Last night we began sanding the body out of pure boredom, which I was going to have it media blasted, but there's no point now. Might as well just finish sanding it.
You could see on the roof where it used to say 'Bus' that somebody had painted over. When we started sanding, and we uncovered more. It said 'DenCo Bus Line' which was a bus line that started here in my town in 1937 and ran threw the 80's. I'm trying to hunt somebody down that might have worked there, or the owners kids or something, because they might have information about it, or better yet, maybe even a picture of it from back then.


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[68GMCburban]

Well it's been a few months since anything was done with the suburban, but last night we got a wild hair and pulled the rear wooden floor out. It was surprisingly easy. The bolts that stripped and didn't want to come out, broke, And the others just came right out. We were able to get it out in the two pieces that were put in.





And fortunately, the spare tire carrier wasn't rusted out, which surprised me, too.


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[68GMCburban]

Still no real progress. Although I am on the search for a bed floor out of a 67-72 long bed truck. I've decided to go with that rather than going back with the wood floor. Hopefully after I find one, I'll get the body back on the frame and at least have it to where I can roll it around.
I also came across another suburban, which I couldn't pass up. So it is now in my possession along with the other two.