My 99 K2500 Suburban

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Jman95

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
May 19, 2020
Messages
71
Reaction score
304
Location
New Lenox
It looks amazing for sure, that’s why I’m thinking about painting the entire truck. I got my old hood I’m gonna test pressures and distance to change the texture.. I don’t want it to look unfinished.
 

Jman95

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
May 19, 2020
Messages
71
Reaction score
304
Location
New Lenox
Suspension is next. I got inspiration from a pic I found of this burb.

You must be registered for see images attach


I knew I wanted 6” of lift, at first I was going to do a SAS since I had the frame out. Decided against it since it was apart in my parents garage and didn’t want it apart that long. (So much for that lol)

I tried to get a kit by Superlift, but I couldn’t find one in stock anywhere.
So I ended up with a Rough Country kit, all in all it seems like a pretty solid kit.
I plan to run the torsion bar relocators by Ready Lift, keep the torsion bars up off the ground, also I didn’t want to run 6” blocks in the back. Went to the drawing board to figure something else out. I didn’t want to lose tow rating so a lift spring wouldn’t have worked without air bags. When this truck pulled our camper trailer it wouldn’t even level out, the suspension was stout. I came across a company by the name of “Superior Machine and Fabrication LLC”. They make some pretty interesting stuff for our trucks as well as some nice universal bracketry, top quality stuff and excellent customer service.

I looked at shackle flip kits and didn’t find anything I liked until I came across a 6” leaf spring drop bracket kit by Superior. I ordered the kit for a pick-up not realizing the difference between the burb and the truck frame.

You must be registered for see images attach


After realizing the front bracket would not work, due to the fact it actually dropped the front spring eye 12” due to the frame differences, and that I had to drill new holes for the rear bracket. I emailed Chad from superior to be sure I received the correct parts, long story short he allowed me to send back the front brackets and he exchanged them for a universal bracket that would easily work. So I ordered new replacement springs, and a set of “Off-Road Design” super shackles. I had to grind the access hole for the stock front spring eye bolt flat for the new bracket to sit flush.

You must be registered for see images attach


Measured and scribed where everything was supposed to line up, drilled my new holes and voila!

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach


My measurements should be right on the money, but in case I have any alignment issues once the rear axle is in, I found a company that makes a thrust plate alignment kit for leaf springs.(Specialty Products Company)

I will also need to adjust pinion angle once everything is together for sure, I am limited by the height of my garage, so installing the axle and tires won’t happen until I push it outside into the driveway haha.
 

Jman95

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
May 19, 2020
Messages
71
Reaction score
304
Location
New Lenox
With the frame completed and the undercarriage finished. It was time to put the thing back in one piece.

You must be registered for see images attach


I bought some dollies to help with moving the frame around, made things much easier.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach


Greased up my new polyurethane body mounts.

You must be registered for see images attach


It was very tight getting it between my makeshift stand, but after a night of cuss words.

You must be registered for see images attach


There she sits, I’m in the process of the interior now. I have everything removed, gonna sand down the floor and firewall on the inside and spray epoxy primer, redo all the seam sealer on the inside and I got enough Dynamat Extreme to line the entire interior. Then I plan to spray the dash board, door panels and seat frames a respectable looking black.
Tracking down a nice 60/40 bench seat for up front (I’m a sucker for bench seats), reupholster all the seats. My plan is black leather/vinyl on the outer edge of the seat and suede inserts (perforated, want to install seat heaters and vents in the front at least), and blue stitching. Nothing super flashy or too over the top, going for nice and clean look.

That’s how she sits now, got some stuff going on right now with renegotiating contracts at my work so, holding onto my money at the moment. After that is all sorted out I plan to be full speed ahead! I would give an ETA, but I know better.. :banghead:
 

Jman95

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
May 19, 2020
Messages
71
Reaction score
304
Location
New Lenox
Here is some pics of the stripped interior, also have some rust coming through the rear d/s wheel arch.

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach


It rotted under the factory fender flare, water got it and well.. I hate the salt belt. :(

Here is the outside of the fender, the p/s was spotless. In my experience the p/s goes first being on the edge of the road most of the time, weird to me.

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach


All in all for a 21year old truck, I’m happy. I helped my brother tear down his 2005 Sierra and his is way worse than mine.
 

HotWheelsBurban

Gotta have 4 doors..... Rawhide, TOTY 2023!
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Messages
9,686
Reaction score
17,583
Location
Houston, Texas
Looking good! You have a full scale Suburban model you're putting together LOL! My family is on our 9th Burb, but we've never had one apart this far. But we are in southeast Texas, so rust isn't near as much of a problem as further north like y'all are.
If my current Burb stays going for a few more years, and I can get a reliable daily driver vehicle, it might get this nekkid (at least inside, I'm thinking about swapping a newer Burb interior into it).
 

Jman95

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
May 19, 2020
Messages
71
Reaction score
304
Location
New Lenox
Looking good! You have a full scale Suburban model you're putting together LOL! My family is on our 9th Burb, but we've never had one apart this far. But we are in southeast Texas, so rust isn't near as much of a problem as further north like y'all are.
If my current Burb stays going for a few more years, and I can get a reliable daily driver vehicle, it might get this nekkid (at least inside, I'm thinking about swapping a newer Burb interior into it).

Lol 1 to 1 scale.. It’s gonna be a great feeling once I get to drive it. I looked into swapping newer interior into mine, but I honestly liked my interior. Except for the weird bubble console it had between the buckets, but I’m swapping for the fold down armrest bench seat.

There is some slight modification to the trans tunnel to swap gmt800 seats (‘00-‘07). I didn’t look into any newer than that.
 

Jman95

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
May 19, 2020
Messages
71
Reaction score
304
Location
New Lenox
Looking good, I'm also from the rust belt. I'm jealous of the work that you are able to get done. I'm limited by what I can get done in the street.

I hear you, I live in an apartment with no garage at the moment. I’m very fortunate to have parents that allowed me to take up their garage, I do feel very bad though, it’s been torn apart since May of ‘16. My mom understands though with the whole father passing away thing.. Also they loved the truck as much as I do, very fortunate haha. Gonna get it out asap then get me a house with a garage big tall enough for the big guy lol
 

Jman95

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
May 19, 2020
Messages
71
Reaction score
304
Location
New Lenox
That's how I feel lol. Even after my wreck. Really awesome to see though. Most I've stripped was the interior and the front end lol

It was intimidating at first for sure, but after digging in it is really quite simple. I put every bolt in a sandwich bag marked with where it belongs, wrapped painters tape around every connector marked where it plugs in, hopefully it will be painless. Also I’m very lucky that right around the corner from my moms house is a ma and pa bolt shop that has every thread and bolt size I could ever need.. so I just take my baggies in there as I’m putting it back together to replace any bolts that are ruined. Very nice haha
 
Top