My 1984 Chevrolet Suburban K20 4x4 3/4 ton CUCV clone #2 - AKA: M1007 or M1029

[richingalveston]

i was able to get the parts to dallas but it looks like you already have it done. no problem. sorry for not getting back to you. i got tied up with work

 

[K9Vic]

Well it was a cool evening so I decided to start on the rear bumper to get a jump on this weekend. After thinking about it and the complex process to keep the receiver hitch with adding the step bumper, I decided to just go with the Blazer/Suburban bumper. As cool as the step bumper is, I think this is the best way to go due to it having a tailgate. I was able to get the correct M1009 rear shackle system with the other parts from this past weeken, so that locked it in to go that way.

There was no cutting of the frame with the M1009 bumper, but drilling four new holes for the system. Two for the green shackle and two for the bracket. The M1009 has a different bumper mount as you can see the open holes in my picture. The only complex part was lining everything up and drilling the holes. I only got one side done as I ran out of daylight, but it will only take about 30 minutes to finish it. After seeing it on the Suburban temporarily I feel I made the right choice as it does look more OEM with that bumper. I have no plan to put the original pintle on the bumper, as you can see it was already ripped out from the donor. I will fix the bumper and patch the holes, easy when you have a welder and plasma cutter. I will put my new trailer plug on the receiver hitch. I will also use the license plate bracket from the original Suburban, so I do not have to hack the tailgate for it. Yes I will use new blots, I only used the old ones to align everything and when I know what sizes I need I will get them.

So anyone building a CUCV Suburban clone, I would suggest not going with the step bumper.

i was able to get the parts to dallas but it looks like you already have it done. no problem. sorry for not getting back to you. i got tied up with work

No worries, I sent you a PM as well.

 

[srs78]

Looks like everything is coming along well. I acquired a civilianized m1009 fitted with factory chrome front and rear bumpers. Had to source out all the proper original military hardware and am restoring it back to its military glory. I likewise have a suburban (non-diesel but 4x4) in the process of being militarized. Cheers!

 

[K9Vic]

srs78, I remember seeing yours when I was looking on how to install the step bumper on my last build. Nice looking truck and as soon as you paint it green it will look even better.

Weekend #3 - Saturday only (May 25-26)

Well it is raining and nothing to do but read through SS posts, so I decided to post an update.

I installed CUCV front and rear bumper systems this week finishing it up this morning. I worked on it a few hours in the evening during the week and when my parts from LMC came in Friday I was able to wrap it up today. I ordered the H4 headlights, relay harness, park/running lights and headlight doors. As for the rear bumper I was able to use the license plate bracket from the original bumper and fit up well. I also started to patch the hole in the rear bumper and will finish that before I paint it. Just have to put some metal putty and sand it down.

I started cleaning the interior before it started to rain. It is one messy and dusty place in there and will be allot of work to clean it out. If it clears up I will get back to it today, if not Sunday.

 

[K9Vic]

I tested the cruise control, but it did not seem to work. I will worry about that after I get it running better and new tires. But yes the cruise will be nice for the road trips.

Well I know why the cruise was not working, the vacuum pump was bad. Good thing this had a 700R4 or it would not have shifted on my way home being that the HT400 needs vacuum to shift. I found this out trying to figure out why the bend door was not moving, so I just read up on the subject and figured it was the pump. I swapped the one from my M1031 as the closest replacement was 25 miles away and also did not want to spend $120 if it was not the issue. After I installed it the bend door worked and I am sure the cruise will work now as well. Part is on order and will be here on Tuesday as I did not want to drive 50 miles round trip for something I can wait on.

I will post up again with some pictures of the interior clean up later tonight. Just taking break before I get back to that is this vacuum pump really took a bite in my day cleaning the inside. At least I cleaned out all the vents trying to figure this out, LOL

 

[K9Vic]

Clean up pictures as promised. Took me longer due to the NASCAR race taking so long today, but hey it was a interesting race yet again.

Hopefully my Smittybilt XRC seats will work as these are just filthy as you can see in the pictures. I am likely going to have to fabricate some bracket, but what ever it takes I am going to try my best to make those seats work.

Anyways, here is the mess I had to deal with.

 

[Skinny]

I dig this rig. Your faded red paint, stock steel wheels, and now brush guard remind me of the Suburban from the Dante's Peak movie. Although it was a gasser 1/2 ton and was pulled across the river, it was a cool movie truck.

 

[K9Vic]

I dig this rig. Your faded red paint, stock steel wheels, and now brush guard remind me of the Suburban from the Dante's Peak movie. Although it was a gasser 1/2 ton and was pulled across the river, it was a cool movie truck.

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Dude, why did you post this freaking awesome truck????

I remember that now and really close match even right now. Just think of that same truck but green with the same roof rack and KC lightbar with round lights. Thanks for the ideas and look, if that was a more popular movie I may have cloned it.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Saturday I was ready to scrap my 91 Burb. Now I'm reconsidering seriously. It needs much nickel and dime work but since it's a factory 6.2 truck, probably should be cloned. The tailgait sucks hind tit but I may suck it up and do the swap.

 

[K9Vic]

Weekend #3 - Final update (May 25-26)

The Smittybilt XRC seats fit well and was not that much work to install them. I only had to enlarge the bolt holes on the original brackets and everything from there fit perfectly. I had to get a 1/4' steel plate to hold the inside bolts on the bracket so it would be stable. I ran over to Lowe's and on my goodness was the parking lot full of cars, guess everyone was doing home projects on this holiday. Anyways spent about $30 on grade 8 fasteners and the steel plate. Got everything together and also put on the Smittybilt GEAR seat covers. They look good with the tan interior and kind of off set the black seats. Heck for $100 each for a $300 seat I am not going to complain on them being black.

The carpet except the rear cargo area was usable and cleaned up well. The dash is bad, but I tried to fix it with some Plasti-dip but turned out not so good. It will work until I can get a good replacement, but I need to budget my money for the lift first.

I also let it run for about 30 minutes and seemed to be fine with not viable issues. I have not driven it since I drove it back, but will see about taking it out on the road a few times this week. I transferred it over the Monday after I got it, so it is legal less inspection, but that is just safety being a diesel and it passed when I checked it. I may take it to my friends shop to have the A/C system converted to R134a and have him check it over. With the start of the hot Texas summer I need working A/C if this will be a daily driver.

Next weekend plan is to start painting it and add the antenna brackets. That is if there is no rain in the forecast as Bher needs at least a week to cure right or it can bubble.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Wow, looks great. Any plans for the factory seating?? If they become available I may be interested if I can get them a ride east.

 

[K9Vic]

Wow, looks great. Any plans for the factory seating?? If they become available I may be interested if I can get them a ride east.

I was going to hang on to them for a short time to see how comfortable these XRC seats are. If I give them up and you have a way to get them to you they are yours as I was going to list them on CL.

 

[K9Vic]

Well almost the weekend and looks like rain on Saturday so I will just see about getting the 4" lift installed. The parts arrived today at my friends shop and we should be able to install it Saturday. I also have my 33" tires and wheels so it will be all set less an alignment. I will try to take some pictures, but I paying my friend to do the work as he has a shop with a lift. So I will not be there the whole time.

So I have been driving to to/from work the last few days and so far all is OK. The front end has some play in it and hope that will get resolved with the lift as I will have it checked over for any issues. It runs fine and stops fine, but seems to be slower take off compared to the TH400 I have. Maybe after running down that old diesel & Diesel Klein it will be better, but this is the first time I have driven a 6.2L with the 700R4. The Smittybilt seats need to be broken in, the raised sides are a little to tight on the hips. But I think it will be OK over time when my fat butt stretches them out, LOL.

Funny that I have already had a few people ask me about the Suburban as I generally park in the same place and they know I like these old Chevy military trucks. One person asked me about the spray paint and explained I was just having fun and it will be painted green soon. It is also funny that I park next to all these late model Ford Super Duty & Dodge diesel trucks that are cost like 20X what I will have into this Burb. I will admit if I could afford it I would have one, but I love these old Chevy's more. Last pic below is my 1990 Suburban as an example.

So anyways, here is what it looks like to this day. I had some fun with the spray paint the other day and wrote "GREEN" on the tailgate. The reason was the listed colour of it is green and not red, so I was being funny saying green. After I painted that I thought I should have added "Think Green", go diesel!!

 

[wallew]

I really like the seat covers. Where did you get them from? My Smittybilt GEAR covers are held together with velcro. I LIKE YOURS A LOT BETTER. They look like they will stay where you put them with NO problems.

How did the lift go? Or should I just go over to 'T's garage' and see for myself?

Looking great.

 

[Cucvnut]

I dig this rig. Your faded red paint, stock steel wheels, and now brush guard remind me of the Suburban from the Dante's Peak movie. Although it was a gasser 1/2 ton and was pulled across the river, it was a cool movie truck.

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check this thread out. http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=306628

 

[on1wheel01]

looks great. Man I would love the extra room in that hoss

 

[K9Vic]

I have been following the Dante's Peak build, have been a basic member of CK5 since 2011. I was going to post a pic on the Facebook page after I got the lift on.

Everything I get is from 4 Wheel Parts that is related to 4x4 off road stuff, except the 4" lift was from Rough Country directly. Anything used is from eBay or Craigslist.

The lift was not installed this weekend due to a delay in getting it on the lift and was out of my control with it not being an issue. It is at the shop, so my guy can start on it Monday morning and should be ready by end of day or Tuesday at the latest. I did put the 33" tires on it and found that the front right was fraction of an inch from the fender, so I just left the rears on.

I was able to do some work on it Saturday, but not allot as I took it to the shop about 3pm. I did get antenna bracket installed and started to paint the front bumper, grill & brush guard. Installed the WARN premium lockout hubs and of course install the wheels. In case it was missed, tires are 285/75R16 Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ and wheels are Pro Comp 98 Series Rock Crawler.

 

[Skinny]

As useless as that truck is, it's a pretty cool movie rig. Too bad the guy who owns it in Iowa doesn't have photos of it somewhere. I'm amazed that someone is building a replica of it. Lot's of old school 80's and 90's hardware on that truck like the Warn and Con-Ferr equipment. Vintage Baby!

I like K9Vic's more because it will be functional and not a prop. A faded red paint job with a USGS sticker on the door would be cool though

 

[maddawg308]

This truck build is awesome, keep up the good work!

 

[Recovry4x4]

There is a 90s suburban that runs around work here that has a porthole roof rack on it.