91 GMC Suburban build

[ThundahBeagle]

I’ve been slacking on the updates. We’ve got a running and driving truck now. Matt and his crew tell me tests are going well and the 6.6 L8T runs like a boss. The first picture is of the Suburban in its natural habitat…….a gas station. 😄 Fortunately the drip underneath in the picture isn’t from the Suburban.

One of the big challenges when retrofitting a newer engine into an older truck is how to control the gears when everything is done by a switch on the shifter stalk in the newer trucks. RPM Extreme helped solve that with their tap shift mod. Now we can cycle through the gears with a push of a switch, lock the truck in 1st gear if descending a hill or manually drop it down a gear or two if going up a steep grade. RPM Extreme said they think we are the first 6.6 L8T transplant into an older truck they know of that has maintained this function.

The electric tailgate window has always been a problem on Suburbans and K5 Blazers. The goofy cable driven factory system was scrapped and a Nu-Relics gear driven actuator has been installed. This should properly fix a long standing problem on these trucks.

As you can see the ORD custom springs flex well. I briefly toyed with the idea of a BFG 39X13.50 tire, but without really cutting into the truck, the 37X12.50 was as far as we could go even with the relief cut for the front bumper. I’m happy with how it turned out.

Headliner and carpet are in. Seats are the holdup for the moment. Things should be wrapping up shortly for spring and summer roadtrips followed by Overland Expo East in October.

View attachment 876286View attachment 876287View attachment 876288View attachment 876289View attachment 876290View attachment 876291

F v k k yeah!

 

[TallNorton]

You are going to cost me mad money on this one so I don't have an inferiority complex with my toy truck parked next to you at camp.

 

[trbon8r]

You are going to cost me mad money on this one so I don't have an inferiority complex with my toy truck parked next to you at camp.

With more years in the rear view mirror than in the front windshield, now is the time. How many more years of decent health left to even do this stuff?

 

[ThundahBeagle]

With more years in the rear view mirror than in the front windshield, now is the time. How many more years of decent health left to even do this stuff?

I think about this all the time. I dont have great means or great automotive building skill - just basic maintenance - but I will do what I can to get 55 year old me, and my 10 year old Beagle pup up to the mountains as many times as possible between now and the big one

 

[ThundahBeagle]

The shop just sent me some pictures today. The truck is making progress. No longer a diesel and it appears to have lost some weight.

The truck is being built by Matt and his crew at Carolina Truck Shop in Spartanburg, SC. Matt may check in here from time to time as his schedule permits.View attachment 742666View attachment 742667

Love that old C/K parked next to yours. And I even like the color

 

[ThundahBeagle]

A truck like this deserves GMT 900 or K2 style tow mirrors!

 

[trbon8r]

Just a few more pictures of the 6.6.

In American that’s 403 cubic inches.