I've always liked the way a Suburban looks when it is set up correctly.  A mild lift, big tires, and clean body.  I wasn't really looking for one, but this one caught my eye as it sat on the side of the road in my neighborhood with a For Sale sign in the window.  It had all the qualities of a soccer-mom kid hauler, but I could see potential! 

(Click on picture for larger image.)

It left the factory with most of the good stuff.  350, overdrive automatic, power everything, dual a/c, towing package, etc.  It had just one problem...  The engine smoked.  Bad.    But this helped with the price!

So I bought it and planned to drop in a new 350 or 383.  The engine swap would be a piece of cake and wouldn't place too much of a strain on the 10-bolt rear end.  OK, so this project isn't going to be too hard.  I even ran across a set of nice 15x10 Centerline wheels and then a set of fairly new 35x12.50x15 BFG Mud Terrain tires.  Add in a 4-inch lift and a bit of judicious fender trimming and I would have a nice ride.

Then I saw what looked to be a good deal on a slightly used GM 454 crate engine.  Oh no!    Suddenly everything changed!  Forget the 10-bolt rear end.  It would die a horrible death trapped between a big block and a set of 35 inch sneakers!  Then I ran across an ad for a 4.10 geared 14-bolt full-floater rear end.  And the seller also had an 8-lug 10-bolt front end to go with it.  The front axle had been completely disassembled and had 3.42 gears, but it was a starting point and all the parts were there.  So the next thing I know, I've got a 454 and a set of 3/4-ton axles sitting in the garage! 

Suddenly this "simple" project had grown wildly in scope...  

The 14-bolt full floating rear axle has been sandblasted, shaved, painted and bolted under the truck.  The front axle has been converted to 8-lugs to match the rear.   The factory 6-lug wheels and tires were sold and a nice set of 5-spoke Ultra Wheel Type 50/51 16x10 wheels are now on the ThunderBus(tm).  Wrapped around the wheels are a set of Maxxis Buckshot Mudder radial 315/75R16 tires. (The 35x15 inch BFG Muds referenced above are now on the ThunderTruck(tm) )

 I came across a deal on a factory 4.56 gear set and carrier for the 14-bolt rear, so I also tracked down a 4.56 ring and pinion, along with a Detroit Truetrac gear driven limited slip for the front axle.  More parts piled in the garage...