Here is the latest. I got the nose off her more to come. So far front crossmember is toast.... frame rails is mostly surface rust ... a few light p***es with the sander and it takes off mud and to good clean metal .... See the donor 87 Suburban in the rear .... I will be using the 350 and 4sp auto as the heart for the 39. Plan on doing a rebuild on it, new intake, cam, riser plate (keeping it TBI), milled heads and free flow side pipes .... hope to put out 300hp and 350tq ... I know it isnt a lot but its a free engine and trans ....
Cool! Anything else you can cannibalize from the Suburban? Nice to see something other than just another Volvo or BMW in NoVa . Oh yeah... let me know what your plans for the stock drivetrain. If you're interested in selling it, a local Chevy club member/friend of mine might want it.
The burb is 100% opperational so I was thinking engine, trans, driveshaft, brake master cyl and other brake system parts .... dont think I can use the rear axle since I am sure it is super wide in the rear ... I have not researched yet but I am sure it is more than 60" wide hub to hub .... any other ideas on what could be used?
new pics what is everyones thoughts ... little worried about the main body ..... P*** side right infront of the door where fenders were, I think this would be the cowl? Fenders as you can see mostly surface rust Hood great shape So far the ch***is cleans up nice with a couple p***es with a disk sander These nex ones scare me ... I had nightmares last night Dash is fair i think i can save it Well here she is after all doors, trunk deck and everything except rear seat is out ... next sat I will take off rear fenders abd skirts ... Maybe tomorrow.
Ok so I couldnt wait til saturday. I finish taking the rear fenders and runners off, gutted the inside, wire brushed all the loose stuff (mud, rust and poo) and took the shop vac to it. Here ya go Worried areas: Rocker/bottom infront of door, same on the other side I guess the next step is to take the the body off. Any good ideas on how to do that using 1 person? I was thinking saw horses and jacks and a few 2X4s.... thoughts ideas? thanks everyone..... R
With that much rust, I'd brace that body in lots of places before taking it off the frame. Otherwise it will tweek and the doors will never fit right again. After sandblasting (you are gonna blast it, right?) you should bolt it back on the frame and replace the pieces one by one. EMS makes lots of the panels you will need.
Was wondering how the best way to brace it would be? spot weld bars in an X on door frame X on floor X on cieling X on trunk frame\back seat area ?
Robert, check your PMs. I'm with Alchemy on this one except I'd do the media blasting BEFORE removing it from the frame; the existing frame is the best, most geometrically correct brace you can have. It'll keep everything aligned while you're removing & replacing sheetmetal. FWIW, I'm stripping the big flat panels (doors, quarters) on my tudor with a stripping disc, then taking it to American Stripping in Man***as, VA to be media blasted. Here's their website: http://www.ascoweb.com/about.htm
The Jalopy Journal
