Rot Box
Explorer
Oops I didn't know the 454 was not available in Suburbans those years sorry for being misleading 
I have dealt with the 6.2/6.5's quite a bit and spent time towing with them as well. Overall I've had good and bad luck with each from a reliability standpoint but one thing I always liked was the fuel economy and simplicity. While both engines are very similar the latest electronic 6.5's can produce pretty good power with the help of the aftermarket. A simple intake and full 3" exhaust makes a world of difference on them as the stock pieces are very restrictive. I had a 95 K2500 (F vin, 4.10's and 4L80E) and with an intake, exhaust and a #9 resistor in the injector pump it would out pull my stock 92 Cummins and my 91 IDI however it could not keep itself cool when it was working hard. Every time I pulled with that truck I watched the coolant temp without so much as blinking an eye lol. I was planning on the 96.5 and later cooling upgrades but ended up selling the truck before it happened I do highly recommend them though as all the early 6.5's suffer from building excessive heat. The updates consist of a higher gpm water pump and a dual thermostat housing..
I have never ridden in a 6.2 (turbocharged or n/a) that pulled a load good. I LOVE life in the slow lane and I rarely find myself in a hurry to get anywhere but trust me a 6.2 Suburban or crew cab with a big trailer behind brings new meaning to the word frustrating. If you do go the square body/6.2 route I would recommend finding a J code as they were updated in a few areas and came with heads that flowed a little better like the 6.5's. A 6.2 with a serpentine belt will typically be a J-code where as the V-belt 6.2's were typically C-code engines.
Again don't take this the wrong way if I were going to buy a Suburban I would still choose the 6.2 over the gasser. That said I don't own a 27' camp trailer that I plan to drag across the country :bike_rider:
http://www.forgottendiesels.com/gm_diesel.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Diesel_V8_engine
I have dealt with the 6.2/6.5's quite a bit and spent time towing with them as well. Overall I've had good and bad luck with each from a reliability standpoint but one thing I always liked was the fuel economy and simplicity. While both engines are very similar the latest electronic 6.5's can produce pretty good power with the help of the aftermarket. A simple intake and full 3" exhaust makes a world of difference on them as the stock pieces are very restrictive. I had a 95 K2500 (F vin, 4.10's and 4L80E) and with an intake, exhaust and a #9 resistor in the injector pump it would out pull my stock 92 Cummins and my 91 IDI however it could not keep itself cool when it was working hard. Every time I pulled with that truck I watched the coolant temp without so much as blinking an eye lol. I was planning on the 96.5 and later cooling upgrades but ended up selling the truck before it happened I do highly recommend them though as all the early 6.5's suffer from building excessive heat. The updates consist of a higher gpm water pump and a dual thermostat housing..
I have never ridden in a 6.2 (turbocharged or n/a) that pulled a load good. I LOVE life in the slow lane and I rarely find myself in a hurry to get anywhere but trust me a 6.2 Suburban or crew cab with a big trailer behind brings new meaning to the word frustrating. If you do go the square body/6.2 route I would recommend finding a J code as they were updated in a few areas and came with heads that flowed a little better like the 6.5's. A 6.2 with a serpentine belt will typically be a J-code where as the V-belt 6.2's were typically C-code engines.
Again don't take this the wrong way if I were going to buy a Suburban I would still choose the 6.2 over the gasser. That said I don't own a 27' camp trailer that I plan to drag across the country :bike_rider:
http://www.forgottendiesels.com/gm_diesel.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Diesel_V8_engine
