The Budget Suburban Project

A 1980 Suburban purchased for $350 in June of 2006 and driven home that day with working A/C and a solid drivetrain. From there it took on a few changes; many parts on it now come from other rigs that have been parted out or are the remainder of other wheeling and dealing, so I calculated it all into the Suburban.

BODY and FRAME:

1980 GMC ½ ton 4x4 Suburban Cost: $350

Money reclaimed from parts sold:

+45 Tailgate

+80 rims and tires

+35 Running Boards

+180 ½ ton axles

+5 Spare Rally wheel

+25 Front bumper

+450 TH350/NP205

+50 Steering Column

+10 Tow hooks

=530 profit [Kept the Body/Frame for free plus $530, and stock 350 motor went to another rig]

MOTOR:

1972 Open Road Motorhome Cost: $250

-50 Fuel to get it= $300 total cost

Money Reclaimed from parts sold

+300 rims and tires

+200 TH400 tranny

+10 stock intake manifold

=210 profit [Kept 402 Big Block for Suburban for free plus $210 profit]

FRONT AXLE:

1979 Chevy 1-ton 4x4 Dually parts truck  Cost: $1500

Money reclaimed from parts sold:

+450 350 motor

+200 400/203

+125 Nose Clip

+65 Exhaust

+80 Hydroboost setup

+125 Dually wheels

+536 Steel flatbed

+4 Mirror

+200 Rear Dana 70

+10 Front bumper

=295 Profit [Kept Dana 60, frame]

-100 Gear installation

=195 Profit [Dana 60 front with 4.88 gears for free plus $195 profit- gears explained below]

FRONT GEARS:

Came in trade from a 1990 Dodge Cummins truck I parted out. Sold the motor and parts for what I was into it in cash and on top of that received in trade 4.88 gears for 14-bolt and Dana 60, 36” Swampers, Q-jet carb, and 3-core radiator.

Therefore the 4.88 front axle gears for the Dana 60= FREE

REAR AXLE:

-$200 from 1984 Blazer deal [14-bolt 4.88 gears- cost $200]

LIFT:

8" Suspension all spring- Traded parts and labor from Kevin- No cash

FRONT BUMPER/WINCH:

Taken off Stepside

DRIVELINES:

Off Parts trucks

STEERING COLUMN:

Out of parts truck

MOTOR ADD-ONS:

Edelbrock 750 CFM [free- kept off parts rig]

Edelbrock Performer RPM intake [free- kept off parts rig]

Comp 268 .485 lift cam- used out of other motor [free]

Misc fluids, gaskets, etc:

-$100

RADIATOR:

4-core- [free- kept out of 78 crew cab]

DETROIT LOCKER:

Kept out of '91 K30 Crew Cab- parted out truck kept Locker for free

TRANSMISSION & TRANSFER CASE:

$450 Allowance from sale of TH350/205- taken from 1978 Chevy parts truck:

1978 Chevy Crew Cab  -1500

Parted out and TH400/NP205 kept for Suburban

-450 Balance allotted to Suburban investment for 400/205 [Cost $450]

TIRES AND RIMS:

40” tires kept from parting out a previous Suburban

16.5x12 Rims traded motor cores for

NO Cash spent

TOTAL INVESTMENT: +530+210+195-200-100-450= $185 PROFIT

$185 Cash ahead and a lot of time/labor

OVERALL SPECS:

1980 GMC Suburban with 1971 402 Big Block, factory forged steel crank, Comp 268 cam, .485 lift, Edelbrock Performer RPM Intake and 750 CFM carb, Heddman headers, TH400 automatic transmission with NP205 T-case, 14-bolt full floater rear end with 4.88 gears and Detroit Locker, Dana 60 front end with 4.88 gears open, 8" all spring suspension lift, Ramsey 8000lb winch, dual 3" glasspack exhaust.