Impart Your Wisdom: Suburbans

I've been looking for a Trail/Hunting/Fishing/Family Camping/Hauling/Boy Scouting/Dog-toting/SomeTowing Rig for occasional use (meaning, not my always DD, so MPG isn't really a huge concern), but enough use that it needs to be able to get me a few hours away without any worry.

I was originally looking at extended-cab F-series (I've been a Ford guy most of my life), but realized that I would be putting a topper on it and thought that a Suburban could give the kids more room in the back seat, but allow me to fold up that seat when I needed to haul something long, or use the space to sleep in when I'm hunting or fishing (I'm 6'). I'm looking at the '73-'99 models. It's got be 4x4 and come in under $3000.

SO, what do I need to know/watch out for/be prepared to immediately spend money on?

Eventually, I'd like it to be something along these lines:

If it can be had, I'd go for a 3/4 ton with a small block.

If MPG is no object, 454.

If you've seen that one, you've probably been on expedition portal. If not- go there. The suburban forum is pretty active- you'll have a lot more opinions to choose from.

I want one, too, for a lot of the same stuff- just haven't put together the $$$ to buy one yet.

How are the diesels in these things?

DustoffDave wrote: How are the diesels in these things?

The newer the diesel, the better, even though it isn't a powerhouse.

^ OK, good to know.

Jake: That Expedition Portal site is pretty good. I hadn't seen it before, just found the pic on google.

The diesels are turds in the chevys but they are good for 350k miles....

I would check very closely for rust behind the doors and on the rear fenders. If that is solid you don't have to worry about rust anywhere as a general rule.

Do not get the 305. 350 or 454 is the way to go. If you don't get a TH350 or 400 (strongest but terrible mileage) make sure the OD trans has a good 2-3 shift at 2/3 throttle... if it is sluggish get ready for a rebuild. You will most likely not be finding a manual in one of those, if you do buy it and sell it to me.

The steering likes to get loose on these... typically greasing them good will tighten them right up and the looseness will not return. If its overly loose play it up big time and then spend 4 hrs and 200 dollars and put in new ball joints.

check for the G88 code in the glove box, that means factory centrifical force limited slip.

The belt tensioner will be loose and wobbly if its a serpentine belt, its 15 dollars and literally takes longer to pop the hood than to change (again, play that up for a discount)

if the power steering pump is leaking and it has the aluminum AC bracket on the front of the engine.... you better be getting a deal on it because the first time I changed one it took me a whole Saturday and part of Sunday afternoon.

Other than that these things are reliable and great vehicles... Id invest in some rust proofing (diamond hard paint on frame and everything underneath) and a trans cooler if it doesn't have one but that's it.

I've had two suburbans and I loved them both. First one was a 83 3/4 ton with a 350, and the one I have now is a 93 1/2 ton with 350. The 83 was absolutely trouble-free for me, but then it was a stripper model, with manual windows and no A/C. The trans what giving signs of trouble when I sold it and the next owner put a reman in it and it's still running strong 5 years later. I've only had the 93 for a couple of months, but it's been pretty trouble-free so far. Had to change the fuel pump and one of the power window motor needed a little wack to convince it to work.

The only things that seem to go wrong on those trucks are the transmission and the electrical stuff as they get older. 1/2 tons are a lot nicer to drive than a 3/4 ton, like a big caprice. They are also a lot better on fuel. I get The 3/4 ton are really worth it if you want to do some real work (stronger diffs and tranny). The diesel are dangerously slow. If you're not worried about MPG's, I would look into a 454. Around here people ask a lot less for those, and they tend to be in better shape for some reason.

fanfoy wrote: If you're not worried about MPG's, I would look into a 454. Around here people ask a lot less for those, and they tend to be in better shape for some reason.

Answered your own question in the previous sentence. 8-9mpg at $4/gal with a near 30 gal tank....

DustoffDave wrote: ^ OK, good to know. Jake: That Expedition Portal site is pretty good. I hadn't seen it before, just found the pic on google.

Have fun, then. The guy who made that thing is on there, I think his username is dbreid. Search it up, there's a build thread.

In reply to Ranger50:

I've heard more like 10-14 highway, 6-8 city/towing.

You need one with three doors.

a good late 80's/early 90's 4X4 3/4 ton Suburban with a 454 can be had for a couple grand, a 350 powered 1/2 ton for a little less.

Appleseed wrote: You need one with three doors.

yup- give me a 70 3 door 3/4 ton 4X4 suburban and i'd be a happy camper. swap in an 8100 and i'd have the ultimate do anything/go anywhere monster machine..

We have an '01 2wd that has a tick over 150,000 miles on what I assume is the original transmission(some people have said that is unusual).

Around town the worst mileage we've seen was 11 mpg and the best was 15 mpg calculated when it was refilled. heading down to St. Louis and back, with a little in town driving, we've seen 19.7 mpg. When we took a trip to Springfield, Mo and drove across Missouri where there are hills and everyone is doing 80+ we netted 18 mpg with the A/C running. Hardly any in-town driving on that trip.

Other than sub par interior quality and some weirdness from the transmission a few months back it's required nothing but routine maintenance...and gas.

Before the 4L60E dies I'm planning a rebuild with a 5 pinion planetary, essentially turning it into a 4L65E.

If you have the need for something as big as the Suburban, then they are absolutely awesome. I had a '93 with the 350. Mine was 2WD, so I never drove it offroad, or in snow for that matter. But as a tow vehicle, family hauler, carrying tons of crap (it helped us move 3 times) I loved mine. It's typical 90's GM inside, but so what. They're workhorses, and damn good ones. I very, very much want another one. Never had any real major issues with it.

My dad picked this one up for under $3k. He's got more into it now with the tires, the lift and some rust repair. 1990, 1/2 ton with the 350 and 700R4. It has a conversion pack on it so it had some very small extras. He got this one because of the barn door back end (much better than the tailgate with the electric window), and the extensive maintenance history. It drives like a land barge would, I'd imagine.

My only experience is with the diesels, and even that has been great. I currently own two ('87 6.2 1/2 ton - listed in the classifieds here, and a '94 6.5T 3/4 ton). The only things that seem to kill them is rust or transmissions. Both of those are pretty easy to check out before buying.

I like 6.2 diesel. It isn't quick but it will tow pretty well, last forever and gets ok gas mileage.

Any Suburban made before 1992 qualifies as an "Old Chevy Truck" and as such will last forever.

The barn doors are a big upgrade, as the electric rear window can be problematic, and adds a foot and a half of reach before you can actually touch your cargo. My parents had two in the square box years, an '83 and an '87. Both were 1/2 ton, 2WD models with the 350/700R4 combo. The '83 had 2.73 rear gears and regularly got over 20 MPG on the highway (Dad has a light foot), with a high of 25 MPG. The '87 had 3.42 rear gears and would top out around 21 MPG on the highway, but was much better at towing. Both towed a 22' camping trailer extensively, both had aftermarket transmission coolers, and neither had any transmission issues during the time my parents owned them.

IMHO, Suburbans of that vintage are very comfortable for long trips, both as a driver and as a passenger.

Rust is the big item that I would try to avoid.

I keep shopping and shopping for one. I am looking for a Government Auction sale, because I want the vinyl seats and the simple grille, 2500 with 4WD. I have seen a few, and as soon as I have the cash together, I will pull the trigger on one. This is good info to have!

^^ That -- a former GSA -- is almost exactly what I'm looking for. Does that vintage have solid front axles (mine will need to be 4wd, and being an old Jeep guy, I like the solid front axle)? How about the '79-'92s?

Thanks for all of the info, gents.

93EXCivic wrote: I like 6.2 diesel. It isn't quick but it will tow pretty well, last forever and gets ok gas mileage.

absolutely. Dad had an 84 that was lifted on 1T axles with 4.10 gears. the thing was an absolute BEAST. He bought it with 210k miles, put a GM cert trans in it (bought it with the trans toasted), put 110k miles on it and sold it for $100 more than he paid for it (paid $1100). All 6 doors were rusted, both rockers were rusted through, but that 6.2 was a monster. The things that thing pulled in low range with the front hubs locked would blow your mind.

My personal dream is a 1991 (last year of that body style) with a D-max/Allison swap, custom interior, 35's and make it an expedtion vehicle and then drive it to the northern most roads in Alaska.... from Indiana.