Hot Rods Buying or building a utilitarian hot rod instead of buying new

I guess I should clarify, this will be a daily that occasionally hauls a trailer etc. mama has a 2017 Lincoln, so this would be a back up vehicle that can be used to drive to swap meets, get groceries etc.

 

Suburban

 

I picked up groceries tonight in the bus.

 

One ton ambulance, truck based. Plenty of storage room inside and out. Most will be diesel powered automatic transmission with good interiors. I’ve seen several used as race tow vehicles, have a lot of neat lights inside and out, makes it easy to load open trailers at night. You’d want to change the lens on the red lights though, unless you just wanted to get people out of your way!

 

I decided I was doing the same thing, only in Buffalo,NY you don't want to drive your old car in the salt infested winters, so it's more of a non winter daily driver.
I was on the hunt for a 66 barn door suburban or a 55-59 Chevy panel truck or suburban, couldn't find anything for a decent start unless it was $10 grand for a bare shell.
So I found this little honey and I am a happy boy, just won't be as nice to spend a night in, unless I make a little covered wagon for the bed.

 

Did you say how big of a trailer you pull?

 

Greetings 41 GMC!...my dad bought two different trucks in the mid sixties with those " bell telephone " bodies and swapped them out for pickup beds!...junked the old bodies!....wish I had em now, that would be way cool!

 

Hey King.
What a shame those bodies were scrapped. One of the cool things about those bodies from Hiway, was how strong and well built they were. Once I had removed all of the trays and dividers from the inside, there was a lot of room to work with. The small door on the drivers side held a slide out tray for the spare tire, and the door on the passenger side was great for access as well if you didn't want to open up the back doors. Every thing was lockable.
I don't have any pictures, but I had a small camper shell made for mine that was no higher than the top of the cab, it was great, had a mattress inside for sleeping and the compartment below could be used to haul what ever could fit. Now you know what to look for!
Back in my younger Hippie days, this was the cool ride to have, totally indestructible and totally cool to carry stuff and have fun with.

Dennis

 

I have an 18’, steel dovetail.

 

You'd need a hell of a long extension cord for that "electric utility"

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...rban-for-my-girl.1165802/page-2#post-13310008


Hello,

When I saw this very cool, old Suburban in a local parking lot, I was in awe. It was put together well and just had enough to be a mild custom, with plenty of room for cruising with the wife and kids. (or granddaughter) I showed my wife the photos and she said that it looks really nice. Only if it would fit in our small two car garage, after I sell my current sporty coupe. That was then a hard decision. Her other question was if the old Suburban had A/C. That would be a deal breaker, but there are good company products to have cold A/C in old hot rods and utility vehicles.

So, with that understanding, she said, “If it is for sale, go get it and do your thing with the Suburban.” The old Suburban does not have the connotation of a tiny blond person driving a big black SUV with black wheels, or is a government sponsored transport vehicle, like the FBI. So, my wife was good with a new vehicle that can hold family members, household products, plants, and trees in the back. She knows that old cars with a good SBC motor, (and A/C,) can drive/handle as well as some of the over-priced new vehicles. Plus, it has more class.

Jnaki

We have always liked old cars, but it is difficult to not have a car that can handle and drive like a modern vehicle with great comfort. The old Suburban has plenty of room and if it does not drive like a big truck, then it would be the official family vehicle for us.

Sadly, the old primer color custom Suburban was not for sale, so dreams get pushed back into the thinking realm. Whatever old car or hot rod you choose, if a happy road trip companion enjoys the vehicle, that is a huge plus for future purchases and activities.

 

I like my 49 F1 it does most of what I need. If it's something to big or messy to haul from the lumber yard I'll just rent the Lowe's truck for the job.

 

I guess that I have a take on this. In my younger days I drove the wheels off of my 41 Willys, coast to coast with the wife and luggage. Had a blast, a few breakdowns, none serious, if ya gotta pull a starter or radiator in the gravel parking lot at the Motel 6, in the rain, you just buck up and do it. A part of the hobby, I would tell myself. Those days are gone. Last summer the wife and I tugged the scamp 800-ish miles west to the Black Hills for a week of camping with my v-8 Econoline. Pulled great, no drama, till day 3, when an alternator bolt snapped off flush in the head....No big deal, found a saint at a machine shop who drilled it out for 10 bucks....could have kissed him....and on we go. But a seed had been planted in our brains. Are we getting too old and scared to be running long distance in these noisy old lumber wagons? Three days later we hop in the truck to go for breakfast, no reverse....click-click, no drive...fresh transmission....Five minutes of warmup and off to town we go for a bottle of TransX, end of problem, luckily. Came home the next day nervous, no issues, but emotionally we are done. We will pull the camper with the Ford for trips around the state, but are looking for something late model and cushy for the big runs....Yet another surrender to aging.

 

Jeff...seems like we've known each other for a long, long, long time, and we have some of the same wanderlust, but you are right on with your assesment. I would like very much to make another trip to Louisville, but don't want the hassle of a breakdown. When I snapped a 9" axle about 4 years ago I was very close to home (less than 10 miles), butI started thinking...what if it was Louisville, Thompson, Pueblo, or even Des Moines...do I really need that hassle.
Following Larry to the motel one summer in Des Moines in a heavy rain, my wiper quit...a very scary 6 mile trip!!!
We try to get our cars fool proof, but it seems like we forget or overlook something. I still like the building process, but even that gets more complicated as the years roll on. We both know how difficult it would be to find new sheet metal if we had a major fender bender with a deer or another car. It weighs on your mind!! I love my cars, but my age is showing...even maintaining them is harder. I seem to be going to more local shows, so at least we have that...and our picnic is always fun. I am satisfied that it is alot about seeing the guys, and reminising about past trips, like when Jon lost a rear wheel on an Indy trip, in the soon to be your Orange high boy(below). Looking forward to seeing you in June
g-willys

 

I forgot about your adventure with your axle....Who in hell ever breaks a nine inch axle in a street car? Would be scary on the interstate 1000 miles from home....Steel Willys stuff being what it is, any kind of collision could be a heartbreak. My biggest fear was always walking out of the motel in the morning and not finding my coupe in the lot...Can happen with anything anywhere I suppose, but I am getting too worn out to rebuild or replace a major car loss. I just feel safer closer to home, if that makes any sense.

 

On fb marketplace:https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/657176655053397/

 

Pull the top and back seat and I have a pretty nice truck that loads from the trunk or back doors

 

I use a 79 La Mans wagon . Sooth ride ,good milage,easy to fix ,modern enough. Pulls a small trailer but not my car trailer. I haul the dirty crap in the trailer and ride in comfort. Funny how your comfort takes top priority as you get older.

 

I had a 63 Nova wagon for a while. I didn't care for the ride quality. The 66-67 models may be better.

 

The 66-67 are no better, but I changed all of mine.
That's why I suggested the Impala, there factory ride and drive is really nice.

 

Still kicking this around. The heater core is out in the 2002 and it looks like about a 12 hour job.....

 

I would just keep the o2.

 

It's tired and I'm tired of it. I bought it new in 01.

 

@Roothawg

It’s OT....but a really good ‘bang for the buck’ would be an ‘02 thru’08 Trailblazer or Envoy. They came in two wheelbases, but the standard is more common and, in my opinion better looking. Most were 4.2L DOHC sixes, but 5.3 V8s were also available, though in fewer numbers. However, the V8 is an easy swap. They are either 2wd or 4wd. Really, really beefy hydro formed chassis. All the modern amenities in a vehicle designed to modern standards for towing.

Did I mention the value for the dollar? IMO, they are arguably better than either old or somewhat newer ‘burbs. Find a good one and you don’t have to work on it, at all, much less for a year or two....or three, before it’s close to what you want.

Ray

 

I've got a 2004 Colorado laying in front of the shop now.......

 

I have a suburban, its old enough for historic plates but I use it too much to run those kind of plates. I have always had a pickup until this suburban and I wouldn't go back to a pickup. And it has all the good modern features and pulls just great.

 

I really like my 1970 F100 for Beast of Burden duties. It's a simple truck, with power nothing, manual steering, brakes and transmission, but can haul or tow whatever I need. The only thing I'd really like to do is swap out the crank/rods/pistons from the 360 to a 410, as it's a bit underpowered. But as long as it runs good, I won't take it apart. The seat is comfy and the suspension rides much better than the 55 Chevy I had at the time I got it. If I was looking for something, I would hunt down a 3/4 ton for better towing purposes, but what I have works just fine.

Devin

 

'96 and up Chevy Express/GMC Savana 2500 van. 6.0, set up to tow, comfortable, available as a passenger van. U Haul keeps 'em one year. Picked up a one year old van, only 7500 miles for 2/3 the price of a new one.

 

I had Suburbans for many years, used as a tow vehicle (racing) and delivery vehicle for my shop, IMO, excellent utility type vehicle. I bought them new, got years and 150K out of them and was comfy doing it, also had one Ford Expedition another great vehicle. Now I drive used smaller SUVs as I don't need the size, weight/towing capacity anymore but is still handy for DIY, this type, my vehicles were all way OT, my advice and opinion are not about a hot rod HAMB type vehicle build as I took your question as about a daily driver. I also had some older/used HD pickup trucks for delivery of larger work for my shop, but an HD pickup rides like crap IMO. You are a younger guy 53 I see so it's up to you, build something up (still working ?, have the time ?) or buy a nice used SUV or truck, my last two SUV, 70/80 K miles around $10/12K as I no longer want to drop the big money for a new SUV or Pickup. As a 73 old man now, I would have never thought new full size SUV, $70/80K or a nice pickup $50/60K list, like many things "It Is What It Is" I hear my Dad talking, 1978 I purchased a custom van, around 12K, Dad states nice van, how much does something like this cost ? then he chewed me out stating his house cost less, LOL I too have purchased nice homes years ago for less than the cost of a new SUV today

 

Yep. That's why I started this.