Squarebody Burb Cummins Swap - Frame Plating and Strengthening

Plating or boxing the frame is considered necessary by some and overkill by others. Knowing some of the inherent weaknesses in the squarebody frames gives me an area to focus on. While I don't plan on boxing the frame completely, I do want to strategically add support where needed.
I also get my rear AAM detroit installed. Man that axle is HUGE!!!
Proverbs 14:23
All hard work brings a profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Big thanks to all the companies that are supporting and sponsoring this build. Make sure to check them out!
Big Bear Engines - @
Silver Sport Transmissions - https:/@
QuickDraw Brand -@
@ - lots of cool squarebody stuff and my crossmember!
@-design/ - check out the KILLER frame plates!
Check out my Patreon Account. I post behind the scenes, early uploads, Q and A and more. Help me keep the lights on and buying more shop and camera gear!
/ merricksgarage
Gear, merch, and parts all over on www.merricksgarage.com
If there is some item or product you saw in this video, it is more than likely to be found in either my Amazon Store or if it is a Milwaukee Tool over on Acme Tools
www.amazon.com/shop/jwmerrick
shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=636038...
Daily updates on the Instagram:
bit.ly/MerricksGarageInstagram
Link to the seat bracket mounts for late model GM third row for your Blazer!
www.merricksgarage.com/new-pr...

[@MrChad1987]

I cant comprehend how you don't have a couple million subscribers. Your videos are always on point. The way you break down what your doing is outstanding. You are a great teacher and a even better person. This channel is some of the best on KZbin and KZbin is failing people by not putting ur channel out more

[@MerricksGarage]

Thanks man! That’s very kind. I figure if I never chase the algorithms it will never feel like work, so when and if I do get big it still won’t feel like work

[@marcmmclellan]

This is a really good series! Love the Cummins in a square body!

[@chanteljoshplummer8745]

Well done, that is great to see the down and dirty side of a rebuild. Thank you good sir

[@MerricksGarage]

Yea it doesn’t get talked about much and in other “car shows” it seems to happen by magic! It’s prob 75% of the work!!

[@camikoedits3263]

It’s Camden hi uncle James your KZbin channel is awesome 👏🏻 🤩😝

[@MerricksGarage]

Hi sweetie! Thanks for stopping by!

[@camikoedits3263]

No prob

[@brokenwrench404]

Access to a forklift is huge!!! Burb project is looking good. 👍 it’s so cool that you can put lizard skin on the whole underside of the body

[@kirks22m]

Awesome channel, love the videos. Keep up the good work.

[@virtueofsunlight1342]

Week end is upon us... and we're off to a great start! Loving the build man!

[@MerricksGarage]

Thanks man! I chose Friday night years ago for that exact reason!!

[@jonbui1904]

Looks great. Awesome progress.Can`t wait to see the finished project.

[@hkg3a2]

Love the progress! It’s inspiration for getting my own Burb done!

[@ABooneBuild]

Good stuff! You keep making good video and I'll keep commenting and hitting the thumbs up to help your analytic. Cheers

[@dgarrison4789]

Great video brotha!

[@joshuapadilla8545]

Looking good I remember cleaning the bottom of my Burban no fun ended up sand blasting it had to build a plastic tent all around it in my garage created more work for myself but it paid off stayed nice keep up the hard work!

[@easyjerryl69]

You are doing an Awesome job of fixing up the suburban !

[@elijahcbr6009]

Awsome vid man🤘🤘

[@jdkoons1234567890]

Keep at it Merrick. Looking good.

[@DXFXmc]

Weekend is saved!!

[@PROXIMO22]

looking good!

[@evloftis4143]

Looking good Bud keep up the great work!! i think i got a little dirt on my nose lol !!!!

[@tonyvickers8659]

Another great video! Bummer! I wanted to see how close you were with the body and the 5.9. I did the same thing you did on my inner frame. This build is a crew cab. We have the same objective with our families. Except for dogs and my wife with a slide-in camper and maybe pulling a boat. We will see. Again, great video!

[@marcoschacon1768]

Sweet !

[@highoctain113]

Hey Merrick, so I haven't followed this build as closely as I did your k5, but I remember you and I had a conversation when you got the burb, based on the fact that I have the same build.... I haven't touched it yet, I'm still nickel and diming my way to having everything to accomplish a finished ( drivable ) result and I can continue building while I drive it... So I decided to go a slightly different direction. Instead of using the gm chassis and making it all fit and work, such as what you are doing, I decided to use the chassis that all the donor parts came from. I figure if the roller and everything involved is designed to carry that kind of weight, why discard it, I might as well rebody what's already mostly good. I say mostly because there are quite a few places Mopar failed, such as the steering and ball joints... So I figure you and I will likely have the same end results, but we are going to get there from either side of the picture. That's kinda cool. I see how you are doing it, and I'm headed to the same destination going the opposite direction.. let's play round the world. Hahaha

[@MerricksGarage]

lol thats awesome

[@hongmihnhahn7081]

The most i wanna do!

[@gilhernandez605]

Those uprights on the inside of the "C" channel are called stiffeners.

[@hunterbrock2347]

Selectively plating and ribbing the frame, obviously most around the engine but what went into deciding where to plate and rib? I'm asking for ideas to strengthen my OBS Ford F-250 that has a 7.3L and I'm aspiring to add 37s and a truck camper but the stock frame has the flex of swiss cheese before having all that additional load added.

[@easyjerryl69]

Wich do you like better 373 or 410 gears ? I had 410 in my crew cab, But I bought 373 for the hi way . I haven't installed them yet.

[@doubleeeee1531]

Merrick, lovit bro!!! Been watchin since the start, but i gotta ask, what do u do for a living??

[@MerricksGarage]

Well...haven’t really announced it but. I do KZbin full time now. I was in medical device sales for years.

[@ryany4941]

Where did you get the crossmember, motor mounts and plates?

[@MerricksGarage]

Agan Fab Works

[@tonyvickers8659]

So how are you liking that AAM11.5 now since you have had time to play with it some :-)

[@MerricksGarage]

It’s an absolute monster. Zero complaints. The locker is noisy but I kinda dig it lol!

[@l.c.o.r2024]

id love to find another barn door burban. current one an oregon rust test lol

[@loganpark7993]

Let me know if you're serious. I'm in Portland area with a 90 3/4 ton. 5.3 4 speed 44f 14b 4.56 gear. I will let it go right price to good home.

[@l.c.o.r2024]

@@loganpark7993 what price you looking at? I'm trying to sell my camper I made For funds .

[@loganpark7993]

@@l.c.o.r2024

[@MerricksGarage]

I love this!

[@jeromeburrasca6710]

Cool build! How much torque to the wheels does that diesel put out and what do you think the GVWR will be?

[@MerricksGarage]

I don’t know for certain yet but I am aiming for around 500-600 ft lbs and I would guess I will prob come in around 7800. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@johnjr3870]

What, no Abomb or B52? Can't believe you only have 23k subs. Sure it has all been done before, but your entertaining and explain things many miss. Just finished putting a steering box brace (DIY4x) on my 85 K20.

[@213spaceforce]

Thought you had a couple boys why are they absent from this learning experience

[@MerricksGarage]

I would prefer them to not get the black lung! ha ha

[@213spaceforce]

@@MerricksGarage probly one of the only valid reasons to wear a mask

[@lanceroark6386]

James, do you have an email address that you give out?

[@MerricksGarage]

[e-mail]

[@lanceroark6386]

Woah. Ending with a Proverb? Gangster! Awesome, James.

[@MerricksGarage]

New feature! I love Proverbs

[@lanceroark6386]

@@MerricksGarage hast thou considered quick-connects for the power steering lines? That’s something I want to do. Also for the AC; who wants to bleed and charge an AC system when one can quick-connect the line?

[@MerricksGarage]

That’s not a bad idea. Haven’t come across something that would adequately handle the pressure and not let any air in

[@gilhernandez605]

I kno you kno this but using welding sleeves & a full face shield will cut down on you getting so dirty.

[@MerricksGarage]

I did the second time lol but I do need to pick up a shield