The Evolving Suburban....

[Ken B 3,116]

This Suburban started out in life as a 1960 550. I'm not really a Techy/Lauson guy myself so she became a 400. Since the Big Show my son hasn't stopped telling me he wants a rat rod / hot rod Wheel Horse. Since seeing Vins SUPER RAT GASSER at the Zagray Farm show Cole kicked it up a few notches with asking for a Rat. Well, this isn't a rat rod (Resto mod maybe?) but let me tell you, he is now one happy 10 yr. old! The rear tires and rims are 23x10.50's off a 520. I had a spare set of front rims with no tires. While cruisin the local TSC today I saw these narrow tires that match the rears perfect! I have never seen a narrow set like this while at TSC so I had to make them mine. I used chrome paint for the rims and it don't look half bad. I'm going to bust out the welder and do a custom dual exhaust straight out the back for it. I'm also going to look for a few sets of spindles because I think it will look cooler with another 1.5 inches added. Foot throttle is a maybe as well as possibly adding a vintage 1960's red metal flake Superior 500 chrome steering wheel. I'm not cutting or hacking anything on this, I can easily switch it back to a regular old Suburban if I want to but if Cole has any say that ain't gonna happen. Nothing over the top here, just clean and cool. I'll add more pics as it evolves.

[Jake Kuhn 1,547]

Looking good ken! :bow-blue:

[Ken B 3,116]

Its funny, I was strolling thru the local Home Cheapo and I couldn't decide on paint color for the rims. Antique white or black rims. I couldnt decide. I then thought to myself, HMMMM what would Cole want? That is when I reached for the chrome paint! He loves the color! I sure wish I could afford some real chrome. These rims wouldn't be good canidates for chroming. They were badly pittled and I had to use easy sand filler to fill them in.

[AMC RULES 36,945]

Powder coat comes in chrome now...colored chrome too.

Tractor is cool Ken, just needs a big twin stuffed in there now.

[rmm727 8]

I just saw those same tires the other day at TSC as well. Wondered how they would look on my RJ project. Think I just got my answer. Looks good.

[clintonnut 126]

Won't be long until he wants to change the engine and trans pulleys! Doesn't take much to make one of them move! The cheesegrader has a 4" engine pulley and a 2" trans pulley.

[Coadster32 793]

Looks pretty cool from here. The foot rests look like jacobson cheif.

[VinsRJ 721]

That thing look right on Ken. I'm thinking dumping the front end is in order!

[Ken B 3,116]

I think you might be right Vin. Cole is a little worried about flippin it backwards so I think I'm gonna drop it instead. :)

[AMC RULES 36,945]

A wheelie bar would look good on there too.

[Ken B 3,116]

Today I fabbed up a foot throttle. I also added a rev limiter so Cole isn't always into it at 3600. These are so much more fun to ride around like this! Tomm. it gets the dual pipes out the back. I'm gonna add some head lights and I'm gonna fab up a trunk box lid.

[KC9KAS 4,741]

Looks good...Maybe paint it BLACK.

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,041]

Cole is lovin that throttle! I can hear it now....

[Ken B 3,116]

Cole now has his dual exhaust. It sounds pretty cool especially with the foot controlled throttle. I'm going to add some chrome tips to the pipes as well. I'll take a quick video later.

[Wheelhorse84 87]

That looks great. What color paint is on the wheels?

[Ken B 3,116]

The paint is Rustoleum Chrome paint. For chrome in a can its actually not bad!

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,041]

I stopped by Ken's today and took this bad boy for a little ride ... It looks very cool and sounds even better !!Now all I will hear from my son is he wants one...

[Ken B 3,116]

Hey Steve, I think you might have an extra Suburban or two kickin around! :ychain:

[Coadster32 793]

^{Awesome build!! Nice and clean.}

[earlleecliffton 37]

:ychain:

[johnscag 7]

amazing Job!!!

what kind of tires are those?

[speedyleedy 205]

Great looking little horse ! :)

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,041]

Those tires are off a 95 520 I think ..

[wh22366 7]

Ken, I hope you don't mind but I'm going to copy some of your design features for my old 551! I like the 520 type rears and 10.5 tires but those rims are a bit scarce (with that minimum WH backspacing) so I guess I'll go with 7" rims and 8.50's. I'm going to use ag's as I already have tri-ribs up front and mostly fields for the grandson to cover. Where, might I ask, did you find that back rest support?

Wayne

[sgtsampay 117]

Man, I love tht foot throttle idea. Hmmm, great idea for a plow tractor.