1991 Suburban 2500

[jscusmcvet]

Great vehicle choice, great mods and great thread.

Suggest you look into replacing the mechanical fan. Even with the clutch, it requires power to spin. Electric fans can require more power overall when they are running (stacked inefficiencies of the alternator and electric motors), but they do not run all the time for a significant net savings.

I suggest something like Flex-a-Lite as you want a good controller and a separate frame to mount the fans. Do not hang the fans off the core as today's cores will not take it and will decide to leak at an inopportune moment.

My full-size Chevy 4x4 has electric fans plus a louvered hood. It is amazing how seldom the fans come on. But some of this is because there is no hot pocket of air trapped over the motor.

You can pick up a mpg easily, possibly more, overall.

I am not sure of the requirements in your area, but if you can ditch the air pump that will be the end of another parasitic loss.

Finally, TBI motors like to run warm, so install a 200 degree thermostat. Aftermarket chips I have found to be unnecessary.

Wow. I really appreciate this information. The t-stat is as easy as they come so I will look into that right away. I think the stock gauge is a bit off so I do not know what temp we are operating at actually. The fan mod I will research for sure. Can you help me identify the "air pump"? And what so you think about modifying the air intake? Is there a better way to do this? Finally, hoodvents. I have done them on my last two jeeps with good results and will look into it further.

Thanks again.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Gee- are you my long lost distant cousin I never knew I had? You are selling your '05 LJ Rubicon to fund your Suburban for the same reasons I am building our Suburban- though I am keeping my '05 LJ Rubicon. You are thinking of running 255/85/16s- my favorite size! Just put the third set on the Jeep a week or two ago, second go on the Toyo MT's as they work so well as an all around do everything tire. Have had two sets on my Suburban prior to tearing down for the build. Hummmm....

Antenna mount? Decide on the look you're after and if you want it obvious or not- you can put it about anywhere. Front or rear bumper low profile or long, opposite side of main radio antenna with under hood mount, magnetic on roof- so long as you tune it right, don't really matter where it's at. Lots of area on the Burb to put it. Just put it where it's NOT in the way of general use and every day chores or danger of trail damage.

Wise choice going with the box brace. If you can only do one, I would do that over the weld kit simply because it ties into additional plane for more support. We just did another weld in kit recently on a buddy's rig which is great for frame repair but not enough to really stop the flex and it will crack again in the future outside of the weld area simply due to amount of force and pressure it has pushing sideways. Throw it on an alignment rack sometime and watch how much it flexes, it's crazy. The bolt in brace is great in addition to welding and added crossmember and/or boxing. We did away with the front/back by swapping a 60 under and went crossover, now working towards hydro assist. Should live long and happy after that. Borgeson is great to do away with the rag joint- I've used several on rigs in the past with good results. Adjust the box and that's about as far as you're going to get with steering feel outside of really fixing the frame flex situation. Those things move a lot without really addressing the problem at hand.

Great looking rig, interested to see where you take it.

Best of Luck,

Mike

Mike,

I remember you well from over on ROF. I have not spent much time there lately but in my previous rubi build it was my go to resource. I appreciate your input. I have always just thrown the CB antenna on the rig and called it good. Just did not know if it was different on a big ole girl like this.

Thanks for the support on the steering box brace... pun intended... It is always remarkable to me that every vehicle has it's own particular quirks... but I enjoy learning them and trying to modify to suit my needs.

Oh finally got the radio worked out, almost. By process of elimination, the issue was the antenna wire, or the mount itself. I have a spare ready to go in tomorrow. Also picked up the fuse block I needed to get the wiring done for the fridge to go in the back. Hoping to get this done in the morning before we go pick up Ann's new goat. She is in need of another bill to take care of her ladies :smiley_drive:

Today is my first day having some second thoughts about the Burb. I still have the LJ and as lifelong jeep guy I am having some difficulty putting her up for sale. The burb is awesome and a great family vehicle but... well, you are all vehicle guys of some sort, so you get where I am, I bet.

 

[jscusmcvet]

OK. Good day to day. I know you are all waiting anxiously to know... And yes... we did pick up the new goat. A big Nubian, biggest goat I have ever seen. I am going to strap him to the bumper instead of a winch...

However, a good day because I finally got THE RADIO up to 100% New antenna wire and antenna mount. Was a PIA to get it in but it looks OK. Also got a little fuse box wired in, hooked the warn lights on the front bumper to it and it sits ready for me to hook up a dedicated 12v socket for my fridge.

Finally, Ann and I have discussed Burb vs. Jeep and she has allowed me a grace period to decide. So I will work on the Burb and clean up the heep and decide as time goes on what to do.

 

[Rovertrader]

I knew Ann was special, but that is great news!!
Good luck, and sounds like the Burb is coming along nicely!

 

[MTCK]

Sweet rig. Did you figure out if the rear is a 9.5SF or 10.5FF. Detroit for the 10.5 (with open carrier) is reasonably priced as you keep factory carrier.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Sweet rig. Did you figure out if the rear is a 9.5SF or 10.5FF. Detroit for the 10.5 (with open carrier) is reasonably priced as you keep factory carrier.

Thanks! It is the 9.5 sf. I think it is plenty of axle for my needs but I do want to get a locker as soon as I can. With all the rain we have had recently, I darn near had to use 4wd just to get out to the road.

 

[jscusmcvet]

I knew Ann was special, but that is great news!!
Good luck, and sounds like the Burb is coming along nicely!

Thanks Dale - still working things out as she turns over to a 1/4 century, but I am enjoying the learning process.

 

[justcuz]

Air pump, is a smog pump. If it has one you will have the air tubes into your exhaust manifolds and the pump (alternator sized) mounted on the front of the engine with its associated plumbing and hoses. I don't recall seeing air pumps on TBI engines. The front of your engine should just have the alternator (upper drivers side) ps pump (below alternator on drivers side) and AC compressor (upper passenger side).

I have a Lock Right in the back of a 93 K2500 Light Duty Silverado (six lug 9.5). For your use I think it would be a decent choice. I run 285/75x16 tires on the truck and it behaves fine. You do get a slight clicking noise in tight turns, (u turns or the end of a cul-de-sac) but not obtrusive. All in all easy to live with.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Air pump, is a smog pump. If it has one you will have the air tubes into your exhaust manifolds and the pump (alternator sized) mounted on the front of the engine with its associated plumbing and hoses. I don't recall seeing air pumps on TBI engines. The front of your engine should just have the alternator (upper drivers side) ps pump (below alternator on drivers side) and AC compressor (upper passenger side).

I have a Lock Right in the back of a 93 K2500 Light Duty Silverado (six lug 9.5). For your use I think it would be a decent choice. I run 285/75x16 tires on the truck and it behaves fine. You do get a slight clicking noise in tight turns, (u turns or the end of a cul-de-sac) but not obtrusive. All in all easy to live with.

Awesome info. Thank you. I do not think I have the air pump.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Mounted my Engo 9000 winch today. Pulled it off the jeep. Had to add some holes since this old school Warn Bumper is set up for an 8274. Install went fine. Here are some completed pics. This commits me to taking the suburban on my trip to the Winter Safari in Western North Carolina later this month. Should be a good test of the vehicle. Still hoping for locker install beforehand.

 

[Bushcoat]

OK. Good day to day. I know you are all waiting anxiously to know... And yes... we did pick up the new goat. A big Nubian, biggest goat I have ever seen. I am going to strap him to the bumper instead of a winch...

However, a good day because I finally got THE RADIO up to 100% New antenna wire and antenna mount. Was a PIA to get it in but it looks OK. Also got a little fuse box wired in, hooked the warn lights on the front bumper to it and it sits ready for me to hook up a dedicated 12v socket for my fridge.

Finally, Ann and I have discussed Burb vs. Jeep and she has allowed me a grace period to decide. So I will work on the Burb and clean up the heep and decide as time goes on what to do.

It's obviously not my choice, but I know what I would be doing with that jeep. I think I can predict what you will do with the vehicle situation. You got to admit that a suburban will haul the goats, hang with the high class, road trip like a king, and gather the groceries like no other.
I think you are secure in your manhood and far beyond the midlife crisis, got yourself a solid burb. Leave the jeeps for the rookies.
In fact, every time I pull up beside a jeep at the stop light, I need to glance over to see if its the highschool punk that dosent know what a transfer case is, that "cool guy" with his midlife crisis, or barbie herself.

 

[justcuz]

I have both, but I do use the Suburban more than the Jeep.
I can take the Sub more places with less worry about vandalism and theft than the Jeep.

 

[M35A2]

I own a Sub, a full size 4x4 pickup and multiple Jeeps. The Sub is indispensable.

 

[jscusmcvet]

It's obviously not my choice, but I know what I would be doing with that jeep. I think I can predict what you will do with the vehicle situation. You got to admit that a suburban will haul the goats, hang with the high class, road trip like a king, and gather the groceries like no other.
I think you are secure in your manhood and far beyond the midlife crisis, got yourself a solid burb. Leave the jeeps for the rookies.
In fact, every time I pull up beside a jeep at the stop light, I need to glance over to see if its the highschool punk that dosent know what a transfer case is, that "cool guy" with his midlife crisis, or barbie herself.

Haha... your reference to midlife crisis is funny. In 2004 when I bought my first Rubicon (moved up from a Cherokee) my son, who was 8 or 9, said, "Dad is this your midlife crisis?" I replied, "Maybe but a jeep is better than 20 and blonde". He and I went on for the following years hitting every trail system in the southeast. Both he and my daughter learned how to drive on the trails, as my youngest who is 6 now will in whatever we roll with. As funny as it seems Jeep guys have the same thoughts as you do when pulled up next to a mall crawler.
I understand the capabilities of the Suburban, hence the dilemma.

 

[jscusmcvet]

I have both, but I do use the Suburban more than the Jeep.
I can take the Sub more places with less worry about vandalism and theft than the Jeep.

Yes, security is one of my concerns as well. I considered going to a hard top for the jeep, but that kind of negates part of the allure of the vehicle.