1996 suburban 2500 info needed

[calstar]

I'm looking for a used Suburban, haven't seen it in person yet but located one to look at. 4x4 5.7 vortex, 1996. Any issues with this engine and trans, or other things I should know? Will be used for camping and exploring, maximum I will tow is 5000lb, has 107,000 miles.

thanks, Brian

 

[justcuz]

Vortec injector spiders go bad. Check the gear ratios should be 4.10 GT5 or 3.73 GT4. Option tag is in bottom of glove box, has all the RPO codes for options ordered on the vehicle. Probably has a 14 bolt full float and a G80 Gov Lock. If it's clean and the price is right, they are pretty durable. Not sure about the transmission, hopefully a 4L80E. Other stuff is usually fairly easy to fix.

 

[calstar]

Thanks justcuz, Brian

 

[1stDeuce]

Yep, I'll second the notion that it should be a solid truck. With decent maintenance, that powertrain will last almost forever. Keep up on trans fluid changes if you use it hard. Or even if you don't if you want it to go forever. Check that glove box sticker. You're looking for G80 (rear locker) and GT4 (3.73 ratio) or GT5 (4.10 ratio). You can find what the other codes mean by searching "GM Truck RPO codes".
Chris

 

[firefighterm9]

97 k2500

 

[calstar]

Sold before I could see it, was about 150 miles away. Thanks to all that responded, Brian

 

[justcuz]

No worries, now you know where to look for regular production option (RPO) codes and find out the running gear. If you look them up there is a code for the transmission too. The tag in the glovebox has every option on that vehicle listed.
Suburbans are all about condition, running gear is generally trouble free, some pre 2000 have front brake issues and Vortec engines have spider injector issues and the distributor has a thermoplastic body the cap screws into, so you have to be careful not to over tighten the cap. We also drilled a 1/4 hole in the back of the cap just above the bottom rim to help with condensation issues. Condensation would corrode the wire contacts inside the cap and make it misfire. The only other issue is the 1500 10 bolt rear axle. We have blown up every G80 10 bolt we have. My wife and daughter actually, others have had good luck with them. Same with the 4L60E trans. Annual trans services seem to make them last longer.
One last thing is the 2000 and newer 2500 Suburbans are reasonably priced also and come with 4 wheel disc brakes, but not always the 14 bolt full float.