Cherubs 4x4 suburban

[Cherub]

Well i sold the 1978 burb in order to pick up a something 4x4. I settled on this 1983 3/4t GMC suburban. I didnt really want to create a build thread but still wanted to use this to bounce question off yall. Keeping it all in one place.

I didnt bother getting good pictures of it when i bought it but here are some cell phone pics.


Here is the tires i plan on using 36x12.5x16.5 military tires.


Lifted it with a 6" rough country springs in front and blocks & add a leaf...the blocks that come with the kit were cheap but i was lucky enough to have a friend some used ones.



It didnt have carpet when i got it (later i found out why) so i added some for the passenger area.



a few of the problems.

It pulls hard to the right when i brake but tracks well when driving. im going to get it aligned after i put on the rims and tires next week if that doesnt fix it i guess ill try the calipers.... any thoughts?

There is a leak in both driver and passenger floor boards(the reason there was no carpet when i bought it) it seems to be coming from the windshield rubber.

other than that there is bad rust above the doors where the roof skin meets the door.... not sure what im going to do without major work.....

[Jonboy]

Make sure the military tires you have are new or recapped, or are a matched set. There is a retread plant in my hometown that would do these, and they sold tehm either retreaded or before. I put a set of the non retreaded ones on my Blazer, and it would hardly stay on the road. They seem to be really sensitive to height difference.

On your breaks, I would suspect either the caliper or a brake hose. A collapsed hose will have the same effect as a stuck caliper. The alignment would cause a pull all the time, rather than just when braking.

[Cherub]

double post

[Cherub]

Thanks Jon. Ill look into the tires. As for the brake lines they are new.

[Edahall]

Originally Posted by Cherub

other than that there is bad rust above the doors where the roof skin meets the door.... not sure what im going to do without major work.....

My 82 Suburban is rusting in that same spot. I believe it's rusting from the inside out so like you said, it would require major work to fix it.

[Cherub]

Originally Posted by Edahall

My 82 Suburban is rusting in that same spot. I believe it's rusting from the inside out so like you said, it would require major work to fix it.

I really wanted barn doors so i may just live with it till i find a good donor body

[Edahall]

Originally Posted by Cherub

I really wanted barn doors so i may just live with it till i find a good donor body

The newer you go on these Suburbans, the less rust issues there are. In the mean time, you might treat it with some Por 15. It'll at least slow it down.

[tobiahr]

also check the rear brake drums...had a leaking cylinder on right rear on one of mine that made it pull hard when breaking

[68Timber]

That's a good looking truck. Are you going to use those wheels with the new tires?

[zaccaglin]

My burb leaks around the windshield seal to. Still racking my brain as to how to fix that shy of replacing the seal.
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[Greenlee]

Check the cowl area under where the windshield wiper bracketry is. I have had a couple of trucks leak there. This causes the firewall to rust also.
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[Mr. 250r]

I had 36in military tires when i got my suburban as well and man we're they terrible on the highway for about the first minute but everything after that was fine lol just gotta run the flat spots out of them

[Cherub]

did some searching and a little water test and its the window seal..... looks like ill be getting another one from LMC and setting it.

[Cherub]

Originally Posted by Mr. 250r

I had 36in military tires when i got my suburban as well and man we're they terrible on the highway for about the first minute but everything after that was fine lol just gotta run the flat spots out of them

Well i got them on and boy were you right after sitting at the work they vibrated for the first mile then they smoothed out.

[Cherub]

[68Timber]

Looks good.

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Nice score on the burb looks super clean from here. Looks great with the lift and tires good choice I would go with stuck caliper if its got new brake lines.

[tvblazer78]

I want one!!! Nice job..

[Cherub]

Originally Posted by Hoods69BadBowTie

Nice score on the burb looks super clean from here. Looks great with the lift and tires good choice I would go with stuck caliper if its got new brake lines.

thanks. Wierd thing about the pulling when braking. It has seemed to have gone away after i put on the new rims and tires....... I still want to check the calipers though.

[Cherub]

what does everyone suggest for headligner when you dont have the oe board?

[Edahall]

Originally Posted by Cherub

what does everyone suggest for headligner when you dont have the oe board?

I would go to the junkyard and find a board. Don't worry if the headliner is sagging because you can pull it all off and glue new head headliner material (of the right color) to the board.

[tobiahr]

Originally Posted by edahall

i would go to the junkyard and find a board. Don't worry if the headliner is sagging because you can pull it all off and glue new head headliner material (of the right color) to the board.

+1

[Psycho71]

Just curious...How does yours act on those tires?

My K20 burb hates them, it walks all over the road. I put a set of BFG radial MT's on it, and it drives like a dream compared tot he Bias 36's.

[Cherub]

yea its not the best but for the price ill ride on these for awhile.

[Dave C]

Dang man that's looks sharp. I sometimes wish I picked up a 4x4 instead of getting mine and bagging it.

What side of Houston are you from?