This page is dedicated to my 1981 Suburban Urban
Gorilla Project.
This project started when I was online looking for a
quad on Ebay.
Gorilla Project.
This project started when I was online looking for a
quad on Ebay.
I retired to the "reading room" and saw an ad in
Petersons 4 Wheel & OffRoad for an Urban Gorilla.
I saw an open air model that I thought would be a
great substitute for a Quad. When I can have cubic
inches instead of cc's, SIGN ME UP!
I started watching Ebay for a Suburban and this
white beast showed up in my 500 mile search
criteria. I bid, got outbid, waited, and finally sniped
the other guy at the end of the auction. Sorry to
whomever bid $3000, the Suburban was mine for
$3001. A new GM 350, new tires, a winch, and
onboard air all came with the Sub. I took pictures
when I got it home (after driving 200 miles with no
license plate).
Petersons 4 Wheel & OffRoad for an Urban Gorilla.
I saw an open air model that I thought would be a
great substitute for a Quad. When I can have cubic
inches instead of cc's, SIGN ME UP!
I started watching Ebay for a Suburban and this
white beast showed up in my 500 mile search
criteria. I bid, got outbid, waited, and finally sniped
the other guy at the end of the auction. Sorry to
whomever bid $3000, the Suburban was mine for
$3001. A new GM 350, new tires, a winch, and
onboard air all came with the Sub. I took pictures
when I got it home (after driving 200 miles with no
license plate).
No, I didn't wreck it. This was a fun
part of the project - reverse building
a Suburban. I removed all of the
pieces that I did not need and sold or
disposed of them. The new Urban
Gorilla body wouldn't have any doors
anyway, so I got to see what driving
around with no doors was like.
While it is not exactly street legal, I
did have fun driving around the
backyard in this state. I had to drop
the gas tank, and what better way to
remove the gas than by driving
around until it runs out.
When it was done, I hauled it into
work (It's nice having a towing
company). These pictures were
taken right before we lifted the body
off of the frame. Goodbye Suburban!
part of the project - reverse building
a Suburban. I removed all of the
pieces that I did not need and sold or
disposed of them. The new Urban
Gorilla body wouldn't have any doors
anyway, so I got to see what driving
around with no doors was like.
While it is not exactly street legal, I
did have fun driving around the
backyard in this state. I had to drop
the gas tank, and what better way to
remove the gas than by driving
around until it runs out.
When it was done, I hauled it into
work (It's nice having a towing
company). These pictures were
taken right before we lifted the body
off of the frame. Goodbye Suburban!
Now comes the fun stuff! Fire up
the Peterbilt, extend the wheel-lift
and snatch the body right off! At
this point, there was little left in the
Suburban, so I gave it to some guys
that take scrap metal.
At this point, I dropped the gas tank
and found out that it was just 25
gallons instead of the 31 that I
thought it was - glad I didn't run
out of gas on the way back from
Cali, as there was no working gas
gauge.
I also cut off the exhaust system. I
plan to put headers on the 350 and
glasspacks - keeping it simple with
no worries about sound. I want
people to turn and look!
The smog pump and hoses all went
goodbye also. These may be
required in Cali, but not up where I
live. More power and less
hardware to haul around under the
hood.
the Peterbilt, extend the wheel-lift
and snatch the body right off! At
this point, there was little left in the
Suburban, so I gave it to some guys
that take scrap metal.
At this point, I dropped the gas tank
and found out that it was just 25
gallons instead of the 31 that I
thought it was - glad I didn't run
out of gas on the way back from
Cali, as there was no working gas
gauge.
I also cut off the exhaust system. I
plan to put headers on the 350 and
glasspacks - keeping it simple with
no worries about sound. I want
people to turn and look!
The smog pump and hoses all went
goodbye also. These may be
required in Cali, but not up where I
live. More power and less
hardware to haul around under the
hood.
What a pile of junk! After removing the
body I couldn't believe how funny
looking just the frame is. All parts seem
sturdy and I actually get comments on
how nice the frame looks!
I tarped the engine and stuck it in our
impound yard, awaiting the body.
body I couldn't believe how funny
looking just the frame is. All parts seem
sturdy and I actually get comments on
how nice the frame looks!
I tarped the engine and stuck it in our
impound yard, awaiting the body.
I got a call and email
from Merick, owner
of Urban Gorilla and
he sent me a picture
of what my UG body
looked at the
current time. This is
my first look. The
excitement is
beginning to build,
and I will be heading
to Salt Lake City to
pick it up soon!
from Merick, owner
of Urban Gorilla and
he sent me a picture
of what my UG body
looked at the
current time. This is
my first look. The
excitement is
beginning to build,
and I will be heading
to Salt Lake City to
pick it up soon!
On February26th, I drove
to Salt Lake City (650 miles
one way) to pick up the
body. 25 hours later, I was
back in Arizona.
After grinding off the old
body mounts, We set the
new body on the frame to
see how it all fit.
The new frame mounts did
not work out for me -
perhaps they were meant
for another donor. I called
Merrick and he said he was
mailing out some new ones.
to Salt Lake City (650 miles
one way) to pick up the
body. 25 hours later, I was
back in Arizona.
After grinding off the old
body mounts, We set the
new body on the frame to
see how it all fit.
The new frame mounts did
not work out for me -
perhaps they were meant
for another donor. I called
Merrick and he said he was
mailing out some new ones.
I had him reverse the frame mounts in order to gain more ground clearance
for the body. As this vehicle will be used mainly off-road, ground clearance is
a must. The body will sit approx 2 inches lower than where it is in these
pictures.
for the body. As this vehicle will be used mainly off-road, ground clearance is
a must. The body will sit approx 2 inches lower than where it is in these
pictures.
With the body set on and still sporting 1/2
ton axles, the height makes the 35 inch tires
look small. We pulled the 1/2 ton axles off
and swapped in some 3/4 ton axles from
another suburban. These bigger axles were
8 lug, so the old tires and wheels had to go.
ton axles, the height makes the 35 inch tires
look small. We pulled the 1/2 ton axles off
and swapped in some 3/4 ton axles from
another suburban. These bigger axles were
8 lug, so the old tires and wheels had to go.
| Goodbye small tires, hello 41 inchers! |
41 x 14.5R18 Interco Irok
radial tires on some 18 x
9.5" wheels I found on
Ebay.
Next came steering. I
purchased the column on
Ebay and the linkage was
supplied with the UG kit.
radial tires on some 18 x
9.5" wheels I found on
Ebay.
Next came steering. I
purchased the column on
Ebay and the linkage was
supplied with the UG kit.
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