73-87chevytrucks.com

73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Suburbans => Topic started by: Psycho71 on June 27, 2010, 04:28:08 pm

Title: Hi all!
Post by: Psycho71 on June 27, 2010, 04:28:08 pm
FNG here. Just picked me up an '85 3/4ton 4x4 Burb, and will be doing quite a bit of work to it in the near future. Alot is needed in certain areas, but overall I think I got a heck of a deal on a good project vehicle. Looking forward to learning a lot from y'all, and offering advice where I can.


Thanks,
    Jay
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: zieg85 on June 27, 2010, 05:22:49 pm
Welcome to the site from NW Indiana
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: Layne on June 27, 2010, 07:37:09 pm
Hello from Illinois
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: Irish_Alley on June 28, 2010, 01:18:15 am
Welcome from maryland
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: Lt.Del on June 28, 2010, 06:05:08 pm
pics?
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: Captkaos on June 28, 2010, 10:09:15 pm
Welcome to the site.
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: Psycho71 on July 01, 2010, 10:02:09 pm
Here she is in here present state. LOTs of work to do.
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/psycho0819/Truck%20Pics/IMG_4664.jpg)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/psycho0819/Truck%20Pics/IMG_4665.jpg)


And a blurry pic of my helper.
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/psycho0819/Truck%20Pics/IMG_4668.jpg)
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: choptop on July 01, 2010, 10:15:48 pm
Welcome from West Texas
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: autorepr on July 02, 2010, 06:23:00 am
Welcome from Dayton OH!   Looks like a good piece to start with.
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: Grim 82 on July 02, 2010, 08:26:48 am
Welcome from ND. That's a nifty cow catcher.
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: Lt.Del on July 02, 2010, 06:48:09 pm
Welcome from the Old Dominion
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: beastie_3 on July 02, 2010, 07:30:09 pm
Welcome!
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: Psycho71 on July 04, 2010, 01:24:38 am
Thanks y'all.

I got the front clip off and will start pulling the motor tomorrow morning. My hoist wouldn't lift the motor high enough to clear the core support.

The motor is pushing a lot of water somewhere, so I'm hoping is a head gasket or something simple, not block damage. Will be doing a mildly modified build for this one, nothing fancy yet tho. ;)

"That's a nifty cow catcher."
Yeah, that thing is going away! Didn't seem to help the PO a bit when they bent the passenger side of the bumper back into the fender. I'll be doing a full front replacement, like this one- http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?route=product/product&path=33&product_id=141 . But that's a ways off. I have to get it mechanically sound first.
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: justpball on August 05, 2010, 03:24:23 pm
Welcome from Alabama...hows the burb going?
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: Psycho71 on August 05, 2010, 11:15:22 pm
Well, I got the motor all torn down and found a bad head gasket. Two cylinder walls are scored a bit, meaning that the already .040 over motor would need to be taken to .060 over. i'm pretty sure it would clean up good at that. I'm not totally against running a .060 over block, but I am currently looking around for another block or possibly even a later model vortec motor so i can have a roller cam w/o the expense of the retro fit lifters. Not sure what I'm gonna do quite yet.

I pretty much do have a plan now. Looking at a 6" lift, and already bought some H-1 take-offs (36x12.5x16.5") to put on it when I get that far. Will also be building my own front and rear bumpers, as well as a gear rack for the top. But the priority at this point is to get the motor, transmission, and t-case rebuilt and installed. Get her running good, then address the lift, wheels and tires, bumpers, and paint. Not gonna be a show'er, but I'm all about utility anyway. As long as it'll sling a little mud, I'll be happy.

Did hit a snag earlier this week tho. The wife got laid off. So until she finds a job, the burb is on the back burner. Unless I can find someone to buy my '71 C10. That would get me a good jump on the burb parts-wise. Not really hot and heavy to sell the '71, I might just wait til the wife gets to making some money again then resume the burb work.
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: beastie_3 on August 06, 2010, 01:32:57 am
Comp Cam's Thumper kits come with the cam, roller lifters, and new timing chain. I think its gear drive though. Those cams have a nice idle too. FYI.
Title: Re: Hi all!
Post by: Psycho71 on August 08, 2010, 11:46:04 am
I had talked to some of my "advisers/gurus" on the Thumper cams. The consensus was that, for what I want, a more conventional cam will be in order. For this build, I'm not worried about a lopey idle. More concerned with an over all low end to mid range torque motor. And I kinda want a smoother idle for this one as well. Been looking real hard at the Comp Extreme Energy, Lunati Voodoo, and Comp Magnum 4x4 line of cams. If I go with a vortec set-up (hyd. roller) it will be a whole other ball of wax then. Still will be looking for the low/mid range selection of cams. Time will tell.