2004 suburban build

[Martinjmpr]

Let's see what those 'burbs look like with 285s on them.

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Yea it's an LT, I'm not a fan of sunroofs or leather interior so it took me forever to find a suburban that was a dark color and cloth seats. I've built alot of jeeps of all kinds but this will be my first IFS vehicle. I've heard the z71 springs will lift the burb but I was worried it would be to much, I'm already sagging a little in the front...and I'm with M35A2 let's see some lifted burbs... WOOT WOOT

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Here you go: My '04 LT with keys up front and Z71 springs (no spacers) in the back, on 285s:
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Pretty happy with this setup so far, it's done well for me through the winter and even on some very mild 'wheeling. I replaced all the shocks with Bilstein 5100's. Much improved ride!
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I'm with you on the sun roof but I deliberately did NOT want a dark colored vehicle (they get too hot in our high altitude sun!) I wanted leather just because I'd never had a vehicle with leather seats before. Now I'm kind of over the leather (although I appreciate the fact that it's pretty resistant to spills and moisture.)
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Mine has a few little things that need fixed - the driver's seat doesn't go up and down and the seat heater is broken (some say these problems may be related, which seems odd to me but maybe when the seat heater burns out it takes out a wire for the motor? Not sure.) I've been getting a very intermittent "Service 4wd" message but I already bought a replacement transfer case motor (unlike the Toyota I used to have, where they put the motor inside the T-case, on the GM vehicles it's on the outside and can be replaced without dropping the t-case.)
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Depending on you miles you may want to budget in a couple grand in case the transmission goes out. It's not a huge deal - mine went out on a road trip and I was still able to limp home in 2nd gear (I lost 3 and 4.) The fuel pump is another known weakness. What sucks about the fuel pump is that while supposedly it's not difficult to replace, it does require dropping the fuel tank which is a PITA.
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Overall I'm very pleased with my Suburban. I swore off Domestic vehicles back in the 80's when the quality seemed to be in the crapper but I'm pleasantly surprised at how well made this one is. I've already decided that my next tow vehicle will be either another Suburban or an Avalanche if I can find one with low miles.

 

[jonb8]

Thanks Martinjmpr, I like the stance, how much did crank the front? I only hate leather and sunroof because I had a trailblazer LTZ before the suburban and since it was a black vehicle it was miserable till the A/C got it cooled down and the sunroof leaked no matter what I did... Here's my old set up and I learned to hate the popup as much as I did the Trailblazer....LOL

 

[Martinjmpr]

Thanks Martinjmpr, I like the stance, how much did crank the front? I only hate leather and sunroof because I had a trailblazer LTZ before the suburban and since it was a black vehicle it was miserable till the A/C got it cooled down and the sunroof leaked no matter what I did... Here's my old set up and I learned to hate the popup as much as I did the Trailblazer....LOL

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My T-bars were cranked to give it about 2" at the front. In my thread "GMT-800 lift options?" I put my measurements, before and after. My Suburban had spent its first 8 years in Wisconsin and had a fair amount of rust underneath. As a result, we could not get the t-bar keys to budge and I ended up taking it to a shop where they put it on a lift and (I think) used a power hammer to loosen the keys, and then they installed the new ones. Everything else was done in my garage with the assistance of another ExPo member, Explorer Tom.

 

[rayra]

jonb8 I've got the same heat issues (worse, in SoCal), I'd owned a black off road vehicle before and knew better, but my quest for an acceptable used 4x4 Suburban dragged on for over a year, until I just didn't care what color it was in order to get a mechanically-acceptable project vehicle. And wound up with a black vehicle again. It's what drove my ideas for the solid roof deck. The whole idea is a second skin and an air gap. It's made a substantial difference in solar insolation. With the full tint and the roof deck I can tool down the highway in 100F+ temps with just the front AC on the lowest settings and get too chill.

I want to re-execute the design using aluminum plate. Once I get some wind noise abated. I think I might have to delete the handhold holes.



I'm still looking for a material source for some 3M security / e-rated film to both up window-smashing security AND block out more solar heat from this traveling greenhouse. I've got fairly good at window tinting over the decades, I'm willing to try it again, rather than pay the premium rates for an installer of this product. Or I might take it to an inexpensive vehicle tinter.
I also tinted my sunroof glass.

also, the usual fix for these GM sunroofs is to make sure the thru-drain is not clogged. Tube down the A-pillar. Acts as a downspout for the built in gutter around the sunroof. It's a tiny drip tube, clogs easily especially in dirty / snowy / leafy environments. Once it clogs the sunroofs readily leak into the interior.

 

[jonb8]

Cool idea on the false roof, I love dark SUV's but that comes at a price. It's also why I went with cloth seats so it doesn't seem as hot. The suburban has been grazing in the back yard for the last couple months so I brought it up and did a thorough scrubdown and bought a new battery since it was weak. Hoping to get started after we get back from camping on Memorial day weekend...

 

[tbisaacs]

Welcome! Here is my 2004 Z71 with 285s. Stock keys, Bilstein 5100s and moog links all the way around.

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[jonb8]

Well life seems to alway's get in the way and I haven't got anything done to the Suburban,, We did get out and did some exploring/camping over the weekend.. I love pulling with the Suburban, alot easier and I make alot better time.

 

[rayra]

Better to be driving it about in the summertime, than wrenching on it. They certainly make cruising easy.

 

[jonb8]

I'm going to revive this build thread, I got behind on this project and ran out of time so I bought a rooftop tent and went jeepin. Spent 2 weeks last summer in CO and UT...

 

[jonb8]

I hated the rooftop on top of the jeep so I built an offroad trailer to put it on.

 

[jonb8]

This year is going to be another out west trip to NV and CA so I sold the tent trailer and teardrop and I'm going to build the suburban into something me and the wife can cross the country and sleep in (We both hate hotels). I also want it capable enough to get off into the desert, and off the beaten path... Here's a link to are trip last summer.. https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/wv-to-moab-with-some-colorado-mixed-in.197004/

 

[jonb8]

My plan is to level the burb with key's and 285's, I want to keep it as road worthy as possible. I'll build front and rear bumpers and a nice roofrack, tire carrier and a place to sleep.. Solar is a must and a fantastic fan (we love the one in the teardrop).. Trip starts in May so I got to get going, parts start showing up tomorrow.... Woot woot...

 

[jonb8]

Parts for the suburban started showing up today, I was on the fence when I ordered the Falken Wildpeaks but I dig them when I see them in person....

 

[wvracer821]

The falkens are great tires. I have them on 3 different trucks and I’m satisfied with them. My best friend bought a set and he got one that was out of round. The seller replaced it free of charge.


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[jonb8]

I've got upper arms, wheels and everything to build a tire carrier coming tomorrow, I hope I don't have any trouble balancing these out..