Man, I am going to live vicariously through you. I would absolutely love to build something like this and take my family on a trip like that. Excellent memories. Well done Sir.
I totally dig the way your ‘Burb turned out and think you built the ultimate family truckster. You’ve got a beautiful family and what an amazing road trip, creating a ton of great memories!
To fix the heat issue look into a 12v or 24v DC electric cab heater to put under the rear seat. They make them for industrial applications like heavy equipment cabs.
The cummins will do the same mileage towing a 5 ton tag . They are very noisy. You need to go triple insulation. Then it will just be noisy. They will wear a front end out every 2 years or so because of the weight. They are a great engine but I will stick with my 92 6.5 turbo mechanical diesel in my 85 Chevy K10. Bone stock 190 hp. 24 MPG all day long baby. I always enjoy your vids and want to thank you for all your work in making these come together. I can sure relate to bull work getting harder as you get older. I swapped the 6.5 for 6.2 diesel last summer. Took me a month. Had not installed an engine for 45 years or so. ( almost 66 now ) The sense of accomplishment on my first drive into town was hard to describe. cheers to you and your family
That upper radiator hose looks like it has a pretty sharp bend. May want to consider cutting some from the engine side. Also, may want to get a cover for the radiator in cold weather. I use a piece of cardboard to keep some heat in the engine. You could add a CUCV grill guard and use the military canvas cover for cold weather use. Welcome to diesel life!
I have seen most of the videos but idk if I remember watching one where you installed sound detening I installed it in my 83 burb in the doors and the headliner and is made it a whole lot quieter also if your door seals are flat I would replace them or fill with like a 1/4" foam tubing and it will stiffen them up and improve the seal
Your wife is great! My wife thinks I should just get a new truck every time something happens. This is why we carry tools and most importantly knowledge!
Yeah I own older vehicles including a 1983 K30 I'm putting a Cummins in. And people think I'm an idiot "just buy a new truck and be done." I guess they don't understand how you can wrench on something yourself and you learn to trust it, and you KNOW it's reliable because you did all the work. And you become so familiar with that machine that if something DOES go wrong, you're the best man to fix it. Also people who don't know engines don't get how legendary the reliability is on those 12 valves. There is no setup I would trust more on a long important trip than a 12 valve and a manual.
Mine quieted down significantly with rubber matting and dynamat in the bed. The road noise was incredible. I know you used lizard skin but I just can’t see how it could compare. I also added a hatch to access the tank and sender unit (I think I learned that from your Blazer build, thank you!).
Very Cool Burb. I live in Victor and saw this video....too funny! I'm heading to Pismo beach at Christmas......hopefully not having to tow with my Mog again... Quality family travel adventures. Chas
Next time you’re having trouble keeping the engine warm just put something like cardboard in front of your radiator to stop as much air flow from going through. Edit…I posted this right before your paper bag comment lol.
Bro nothing but respect every episode is another step forward in inspiration 2 keep going the Suburban sounds tough as hell nothing like a long road trip to work out all the bugs🇺🇸🚛🇺🇸🚛🇺🇸🚛🇺🇸🚛💰
Great Job on the build! You have no idea what an inspiration you’ve been,I just bought one tons for my Daughters full-size Bronco and I’m gonna tackle it myself!!
Great job and awesome build! Love my 79 K30 400ci and 99 k2500 454ci. I know everyone likes the patina look but I would love to see fresh white paint on it:)
Vacuum to defrost might not be working or blend door issue .you might need a block heater and check the blower motor might need a replacement and if not working give it a few snacks with a hammer handle it might kick back on
Such a cool rig. My best friends mom drove an 84 for most of my life giving us rides to and from the bus stop in the sierra snow. I love what you’ve done with it!
I've been watching your video's for awhile now and its inspired me to fix up my 86 K1500 to be able to pull a small camper for me and my wife to go exploring this Great land. Thank you
That’s funny, I’m building a c30 converted to a k30 3+3 long bed dually 12v and I spent a lot of time cutting out the floor to mount 2018 chevy seats with a console so she could be comfy and lay back. When I finally got them in I had her come out and get in, she tells me “I don’t know why you didn’t keep the bench seat”…. 🤨
On keeping the kiddos warm in the back. I have used cheap heaters that plug into the outlet for cigarette lighter. "Yes myself and my truck are old". They work great and are very cheap, so when they stop working its no biggie.
Love the build! You gotta stop listening to the GPS and go 126 jog over the 5 to the 14 north then hit the 58 east, cuts out all of LA. I'm in Ventura and make the drive twice a week to Vegas. Safe travels!
I kno it would be a little bit expensive but maybe run a can of sea foam or deisel fuel supplement in every fill up. Keeps the injectors clean and running better, and keep moisture build up in the fuel system, would help especially if your traveling somewhere cold
Hope you enjoy your trip to Montana I live in Montana few miles from polson. Alot of our vehicles have engine heater for cold Montana weather just plug it in during the night and your ride will start right up
That mpg is a bummer. Last time I used a Cummins to drag home a truck, we averaged 22 with an empty trailer, 21 pulling a 79 chevy 3/4 ton 4x4, and only lost a mile to the gallon. Is it gearing do you suppose? Maybe one of those gear vendors units could slow your rpm and improve that a bit? Keep things a bit quieter for Wifey in the process. Lol
@@MerricksGarage That's good to hear! Great build btw! I look forward to joining you guys on RU-vid in a few months. I've got a hand full of half assed videos up now, but I will be more able to contribute when I get down to one full time job. Lol
@@MerricksGarage In my opinion a rig like that is better on 35's. Then its the ultimate s.u.v. More diversified. Anyway its great but, thats my opinion. My family rents one of the forest service cabins every summer for a week, at Como lake. Its our annual reunion.
Those cummins should have a intake manifold heater for starting in the cold. At least every cummins I've ever seen has one. But you just wait for the indicator light to turn off and it will Start in the cold just like if it was warm. Ever time! I've been around those Cummins engines my whole life. In my opinion there's not a better engine for the application.
That's a cummins thing. Traffic gets em pissy mad n hot. Edit: thats also a cummins thing. They don't really break in until 75k. Then start getting worse around 650k if you take care of it. But it'll still keep going no matter what really. 2nd Edit: I didn't know you went through idaho! I totally saw you guys! Thought the burb looked familiar. Lol.
If you don't mind me asking from start to finish where you're at on it currently what did it cost you for all upgrades. Just picked up in 1988 suburban Auto that is stock and want to build it up for off-road hunting and family camping vehicle. Thank you for your time.
My build list comes in around $70k. That gets it pretty much to what you see in this video more or less. I do offer build consulting if it would be helpful. www.merricksgarage.com/build-consulting
Such a rad build! I just brought home a 91 Silverado 1500 with barn doors, rear a/c and clean red interior. My dream come true! What did you use for your floor mats? I've been hunting for that exact style.
NICE NAN!!!!! Sounds EXCITING!! Just Made a 3,000 miles trip from Chicago to Twin Falls Idaho in my 1989 Diesel suburban...EXCEPT..EXCEPT....when I hit the plummeting, freezing cold temperatures of 25 degrees... I had to crawl up in the back and sleep🥲😂🤷♂️😌 Congratulations.
I like the Burb you built but as a long distance road trip vehicle it is not ideal. I suppose there is no footage of being on the highway because it is so loud and conversation is more of a screaming match so you can be heard. It is an awesome overlanding vehicle but not a comfortable long distance cruiser. I spent most of my 35 year career on the road and driving a loud vehicle for hours on end makes you more tired than driving a more quiet vehicle. I do love what you have done with it though.
Yea it’s loud but it’s not as bad as people think. I did order new rubber seals for all the doors and will be sound deadening the doors and floor still. But it wasn’t terrible.
ha ha. She doesn't get it. I mean she is starting too. She definitely likes the convenience of how much we can carry etc. She doesn't understand the diesel attraction!
Cool road trip. Bummer you had to go to riverside first. It’s so much faster to take the 126 to the 5 and the 5 to the 14 to Mojave and the 58 to the 15. It will shave off hours from your trip. There’s also a back road to avoid the newhall grade. A pizza box in front of the radiator works well. Was confused the first time I found one while working on a truck in Oregon. 🤷🏻♂️
Move your rear axle forward with an easy inch. Since you have so much gear in the rear it wouldn't hurt the height. Really nice job you've done there, I want to do the same build with a crew cab and flatbed square body when my LB7 silverado is retired. I definitely don't want anymore new technology in my future trucks.
My father in law and I just took a almost 9hr trip in my 12 valve swapped 05 chevy 2500hd to pick up a unicorn car 1960 studebaker lark 4dr with only 4k miles on it unfortunately the engine is a lost cause but the trip went great no issues at all from the truck closing in quickly on 10,000 miles since building it and other than a power steering leak and a very small oil leak I really cannot complain! The burb looks awsome and so happy it's working out so well and man is that some beautiful country out there!! Keep up the awsome work and vids!
I built my suburban in 38 days from junk. We drove it 10k in 17 days thru 11 states. We got 6.5 mpg. 2 years later it now has 40k on it the hard way. I don’t ask my wife’s opinion on it … she doesn’t want to be left home.
@@MerricksGarage GM 602 Crate , 3,000 stall TH 350 , NP 203 on 37’s. It’s 6,678 pounds and I live in Oregon. If you are not going up hill you are going up a big hill. Aero dynamically challenged at 75 , fuel is 20% corn by volume. It’s just part of it I guess.
Not trying to rag on you but sure hoping for some more content. I understand how hard it is to create it especially good content so don't take anything personal just a small gripe. I have 5 channels that I really watch yours being one, maybe I just need to suck it up. none the less looking forward to the next video.
Yea the challenge is real. I have some huge news coming up about the future of the shop and channel and been buried with that stuff. Working on something for tomorrow though!
@@MerricksGarage Please don't take it personally its just you created these fans and those jerks can be needy lol... good work hope things are going well and you will have good news for everyone.
Beautiful.......concealed.....4X4 SUBURBAN TRUCK. Great work .......watching from Germany. Whats......scary......the amount of fuel needed.......for your .....vacation .....
Wow fucking wow LOL man that looks nice man nice looking truck there holy shit that you were selling that you’re going to keep it now yeah the only thing I wanna do different is I just wanna put a 62 diesel in it with the bank sidewinder AARP the heads and you would’ve had power with the bolo standard transmission you want to save yourself a lot of headaches but wow nice fucking truck man I’m cool thx
Merrick I’ve been told by several different people that have put Cummins motors in the square body trucks that they will get over 20 mpg on fuel??!! At 13mpg that you said that you are getting with the burban makes it hard to think that over 20mpg is pretty far from even being able to achieve those numbers??? It would definitely be nice to no what you think will be the best mpg that you will get with the burban after you get some time to get everything adjusted and in order Wright?? I would definitely definitely love to know because I do have several 1TON 4x4 GMC and Chevy pickups that I would definitely love to swap over to a diesel!!! One for the reliability and what I thought I might get for fuel mileage also!! I mean really a 1TON pickup with nothing bigger than a 35” tire and a sbc or even the BBC top mpg maybe 13mpg if lucky were as my Duramax gets 22 to 23 mpg every day all day all year every year is definitely a good range with all the benefits!! The power, the size of the truck, and the ability to pull a gooseneck trailer also and still get at least 18mpg is pretty good and it’s a 2007 classic body style!! But the old square body style trucks are just one of my favorite body style trucks and with any luck at maybe getting 10mpg with a gas motor just isn’t what I want!!! And even with the lack of power loaded or unloaded on a motor that is new and putting out 400hp they just don’t have the torque that the diesel motors have and that is why I’ve been wanting to put a diesel in my 1981 GMC 1TON 4x4 plus it’s a manual witch is great for pulling a big trailer!! Please let me know buddy!! And it was definitely awesome to see you be able to get out in the 95% finished build burban with the family on a vacation!!! Hopefully you didn’t have your mind on the burban the whole time out and back and was able to remember what all that you did on vacation!!! Lol!! Because that is definitely what I would have done!!!
The title of the video is a lie.. you didn't build it General Motors did you just up graded it for off road the truck was already built for you jajaja..
Love the Burb... Man you did a great job, . , Ill get to that level someday. I have a GMT800 Burby 04 Z71. Would love to do a SAS one day, to be honest I do a lot of off roading and over landing in it, it is awesome. Burbs are so BIG. Love how you take the family on adventures, I have a wife and 4 kids. We have XXL roof top tent and love to camp. Can fit everything we need and the kitchen sink lol. I daily it for work, and a couple weeks ago i took the seats out and picked up a sectional sofa with it... The whole thing fit inside. Keep truckin man, maybe ill see ya out on the trail one day. I roll with a friend who has a Chanel too with a lot of cool vids and some adventures on there too. We are in Vegas. Its KnightDriveTV.
What gearing and tire size are you running? I was surprised you were only getting13mpg. The truck is awesome. Its like the square body version of my GMT400 Cummins project.
I have a 2001 24V. Same thing with the heat in the winter. The cooling system works so good i out cardboard in between the radiator and intercooler. Nice rig! Love watching your vids.
If you stop in at any of the big truck stops, you can find off-road magazines made by local off-road groups that cover East, Central, and Western Montana.
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My dad and I saw you guys in barstow! Your rig is sick man it caught my eye from a distance but when you passed and it was cummins swapped was what made me nearly turn around 😄 nice build man!
