73-87chevytrucks.com

73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Suburbans => Topic started by: Hollowman on February 07, 2012, 05:21:21 am

Title: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 07, 2012, 05:21:21 am
I have an '80 Suburban, and was thinking about making a convertible out of it, Blazer style. I've heard rumours about it, but never saw one. If it is at all possible, I would take away the back doors, and make a bed with a lid in the back, behind the rear sofa. Any thoughts or ideas?
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: PromiseKeeper on February 07, 2012, 09:35:24 am
Someone on here posted some pics of one seen at a car show. I dont remember the details but it was pretty sweet! Maybe do a search to find it or someone with a better memory than mine will chime in?
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: PromiseKeeper on February 07, 2012, 09:36:56 am
Found it!

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,22372.0.html
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: VileZambonie on February 07, 2012, 05:54:46 pm
I planned to do this to my 91 Suburban before I moved my feet. Maybe one day http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,10372.msg73491.html#msg73491 Right now I use it as a storage shed.
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 08, 2012, 04:47:32 am
That's not a convertible, that's just an Avalanche-copy.  8)
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: bake74 on February 08, 2012, 06:01:49 am
     The previous thread talked about having to reinforce the roof if cut off a suburban, something about it is made now to support the weight as a one piece, if cut some additional support would be needed.
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: VileZambonie on February 09, 2012, 11:05:07 am
So you want to make it a hard top or soft top?
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 09, 2012, 02:02:13 pm
Well, I don't know! I just got the idea, I don't know if it's a good idea though.  :)
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: gto109 on February 09, 2012, 03:57:02 pm
you could alway use a blazer top on it right?
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: velojym on February 09, 2012, 04:08:03 pm
Or, true convertible style, all the way up to the a pillar... if it's a 4x4 (or you're pursuing the offroad look) would a roll cage be able to provide the rigidity of the missing body parts?
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 10, 2012, 02:04:47 am
The problem is that I want to keep the backseat, or I could just as well chop the roof of a pick-up. A roll cage is out of the question because of that. I could take away the backdoors to make things easier, and I think it would look fine. I don't really want the 4x4 look, since it's just RWD, but about the roof, I would prefer something like this:

(http://image.fourwheeler.com/f/9008297+w750+st0/129_0603_02_z+1972_chevy_blazer+rear_view.jpg)

Just something to keep the rain out, just in case.  8)
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: VileZambonie on February 10, 2012, 05:13:57 pm
So you want a soft top all the way up to the windshield is what you are saying right? Here's some pics you can easily photoshop into other creations
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/r-v.gif)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/U-B.gif)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/84-85.gif)
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 11, 2012, 07:55:54 am
Oh, thanks! Will do! I will let you know how it works out! I was looking through different files for info about the car, and it seems like it was actually used at a Swedish airforce base far up north from when it was new, until 2007. If I find out more, maybe I will try to get it as close to the original Swedish airforce look as possible.
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: bake74 on February 11, 2012, 08:43:56 am
     I would think it has to be more like a rag top say like on a old bug.  If you completely cut the roof off, I think the 4 doors just sticking there all rounded on the tops would look funny, just my opinion.
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 11, 2012, 10:24:57 am
Sure, the backdoors would have to go! Otherwise I doubt it would look OK.
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: velojym on February 11, 2012, 11:05:36 am
     I would think it has to be more like a rag top say like on a old bug.  If you completely cut the roof off, I think the 4 doors just sticking there all rounded on the tops would look funny, just my opinion.

I kinda like this idea. It maintains more of the structural strength (with some reinforcement, of course), I like the look... or at least the way I see it in my mind, and it doesn't scream "Steal my stuff!!!" to any passing lowlife with a knife and a hankering for easy loot.
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 11, 2012, 11:57:40 am
Ah, rag top, now I understand! Sure, there is one (much newer) Suburban with that that I've seen. I actually never drove one of those or any real convertible either, I just figured it's better to go "all in", if it's a car just for the summer anyway...?
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: VileZambonie on February 15, 2012, 10:11:45 pm
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979-Chevy-Suburban-blazer-removable-top-/150758533043?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2319e8a7b3
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 16, 2012, 03:55:35 am
Pretty sweet!!!
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 17, 2012, 06:44:25 pm
I asked my old lady to draw what I want, just something to show you the idea, and here it is... What do you think about it?
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: 87454westernhauler on February 17, 2012, 07:05:56 pm
Wow!!  that is nice!!
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: VileZambonie on February 17, 2012, 10:20:57 pm
Post a bigger pic
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 18, 2012, 05:49:40 am
It would only let me put a 256 k picture up, and I don't have a place to put it online to just link it.
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Lt.Del on February 18, 2012, 04:02:19 pm
Quote
It would only let me put a 256 k picture up, and I don't have a place to put it online to just link it.

Here ya go..

(http://www.delbridge.net/vertsubb.jpg)
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 19, 2012, 04:09:27 pm
Thanks! What do you all think about it?
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: VileZambonie on February 19, 2012, 06:43:19 pm
Looks like a longbed Blazer with the door window frame completely cut off. Doesn't look like a Suburban. Are you planning on welding up the rear doors?
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: zieg85 on February 19, 2012, 07:27:43 pm
If that is the look you are going for, just cut the roof off of a pickup truck, make a walk through behind the cab, bolt a seat in and you the body work is a lot less...  The extra bit of wheelbase of a truck, just something to think about...
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 20, 2012, 12:08:55 am
Long bed Blazer? It actually existed? Anyway, this is not something that is going to happen! It was just an idea I had, before realizing, as you say, that it would be much easier to just make it out of a pick-up if I am going to weld the rear doors shut anyway. I just thought it was a nice idea to get a drawing of it, since I never saw one made.
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: VileZambonie on February 20, 2012, 07:51:06 pm
No there was no such thing as a long bed Blazer but that's what you drew there essentially.
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 21, 2012, 12:14:13 am
Yes, because that was the idea I had in mind.  8)
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 21, 2012, 01:45:11 am
Found it! This is what I want, but with a backseat. Maybe the next project?  :)

(http://image.customclassictrucks.com/f/tdjaks/28153748%20w450%20h338%20cr0%20re1%20ar1/1985-chevrolet-c20-pickup-my-convertible.jpg)
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: zieg85 on February 21, 2012, 06:46:47 am
Found it! This is what I want, but with a backseat. Maybe the next project?  :)

(http://image.customclassictrucks.com/f/tdjaks/28153748%20w450%20h338%20cr0%20re1%20ar1/1985-chevrolet-c20-pickup-my-convertible.jpg)

That is what I suggested exactly!!! 
If that is the look you are going for, just cut the roof off of a pickup truck, make a walk through behind the cab, bolt a seat in and you the body work is a lot less...  The extra bit of wheelbase of a truck, just something to think about...
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on February 21, 2012, 07:05:08 am
I searched for Suburban convertible on Google for ages, I just never got the idea to search for Chevrolet pick-up convertible until you said it. Gotta finish the Suburban first though, I'll get back to this idea in a couple of years.  8)
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Captkaos on March 02, 2012, 07:20:58 pm
This I think is what Vile was talking about:
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/SCAREDYCAT_2006/BEN/IMG_5500.jpg)



(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/SCAREDYCAT_2006/BEN/IMG_5501.jpg)
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Hollowman on March 03, 2012, 02:50:43 pm
Yes, and that is awesome as well!!!
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: VileZambonie on March 03, 2012, 07:31:04 pm
Here's some pix of the truck that guy had on eBay
Title: Re: Suburban convertible
Post by: Captkaos on March 05, 2012, 05:45:57 pm
I like that!