1991 Suburban 2500

[warrpath4x4]

There are 14 bolt semi floats which is what it would originally, the easiest way (and I can't tell from your picture because it looks like you have a center cap) is with a 14 bolt full float there is a hub that sticks out through your wheel with bolts around it. The semi float will not.

 

[jscusmcvet]

That is a VERY pretty suburban you've got there, nice find!!!!

Thank you!

 

[jscusmcvet]

There are 14 bolt semi floats which is what it would originally, the easiest way (and I can't tell from your picture because it looks like you have a center cap) is with a 14 bolt full float there is a hub that sticks out through your wheel with bolts around it. The semi float will not.

Awesome, I will check today when it gets light out. I appreciate the help.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Yep you are right warpath... semifloat. Thanks for the clarification. I feel confident that they will hold up to my DD/overland ideas for this rig. Thanks again.

Jon

 

[justcuz]

If you decide later to upgrade the rear axle, full floats are plentiful and any 14 bolt FF from a 1973 to 1987 3/4 ton pickup or Suburban will bolt right in.

I don't know about your radio, but some car radios have an adjustment for radio reception. I don't know if it is to tune the antenna or the radio. Might want to check online to see if yours even has one. Called a trim screw I believe.

As for the seats, all I can recommend is finding a confortible height and making some risers out of square steel tubing. Newer seat bases may work (88 and up) but not sure of the bolt pattern on them. Floors are flatter on the newer trucks making the mounts a bit higher. Edit: Squarebody Blazer seat risers. Square body Blazers had flatter front floors and their seat mounts were taller as I recall.

I started with a Jeep, graduated to a 1974 Cherokee and then a Suburban after we had kids. Now that the kids are grown and on their own, I still use the Suburban, but I sleep in back of it now.

 

[jscusmcvet]

If you decide later to upgrade the rear axle, full floats are plentiful and any 14 bolt FF from a 1973 to 1987 3/4 ton pickup or Suburban will bolt right in.

I don't know about your radio, but some car radios have an adjustment for radio reception. I don't know if it is to tune the antenna or the radio. Might want to check online to see if yours even has one. Called a trim screw I believe.

As for the seats, all I can recommend is finding a confortible height and making some risers out of square steel tubing. Newer seat bases may work (88 and up) but not sure of the bolt pattern on them. Floors are flatter on the newer trucks making the mounts a bit higher. Edit: Squarebody Blazer seat risers. Square body Blazers had flatter front floors and their seat mounts were taller as I recall.

I started with a Jeep, graduated to a 1974 Cherokee and then a Suburban after we had kids. Now that the kids are grown and on their own, I still use the Suburban, but I sleep in back of it now.

Thanks for the tips on the seats. The seats are in great shape and comfortable, I figure you are right to just use square tubing. Not a priority but will be done sooner or later.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Quick update. I have in the hopper and ready to go... a full tune up, oil change, new door weather stripping, winch relocation (from jeep to Burb), light relocation (Warn floods from jeep to Burb). I had brakes and steering checked out at my local mechanic. No surprises there, which is nice. Getting about 12mpg on my normal 2 lane commute, hoping that goes up even just a bit after tune up. It is clear that it has been a long time since a tune up was done on this rig... as in the spark plugs are rusted.

I downloaded the manual for the radio and learned how to tune it to specific frequencies. That helped but reception still sucks. going to replace all wiring from unit to antenna and see what happens.

Ann's aunt passed away last night, so we are headed to Georgia on Sunday. Hoping to get rig ready to go by working on it Saturday and then off we go for our first "adventure" in the Burb. One of the reasons for this purchase was to have a comfortable, yet capable vehicle for long drives...

John

 

[warrpath4x4]

Sorry to hear about the aunt, we just found out last night that the wife's dad passed away last weekend. They were not close though.

I just checked my mileage the other day and with only in town driving I am at 15MPG, I need to do a tune up also and have the parts but no place indoors and it has been snowing.

Good luck on your trip.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Thanks Warrpath. Hoping I can get some of that gas mileage at some point!

 

[justcuz]

Sorry to hear about your wife's Aunt. In spite of the occasion, this trip will acclimate you to the Suburban. You will learn to appreciate the all weather versatility and space you have. We frequently load friends and family members in ours so we only have to take one vehicle to events. It will grow on you.
Platinum plugs seem to help with mileage and good mag wires. Also look on YouTube an how to test your MAP sensor. Lots of people say the TBI engines are real sensitive to a good working MAP sensor. Also make sure you EGR port is clean and the valve is working properly. YouTube again on this. Yours should be a negative pressure EGR valve operated by an electric solenoid on the passenger side of the engine next to the TBI. A regular EGR valve will not work correctly. Check your vacuum lines and couplers. The plastic tubing gets brittle with age and cracks. The couplers, especially the 90 degree ones will get unseen cracks in them. I replace most of mine with copper tubing when the plastic breaks and use fuel injector hose in place of vacuum line because it's heavier wall than vacuum line.
Have a safe trip, looks like you are getting your fair share of rain over there.
My sister and her family live in Blountsville, Tn. All the eastern mountain area is very pretty. We have been over the hill into Asheville, down to Charlotte. Lake Norman area looks nice. If I had to live east of the Mississippi, that area would be at the top of my list.

 

[1stDeuce]

Nice 'burb!! That semi-float rear axle will be fine. And you have about 1.5" more clearance under the diff than a FF version.

Love the old school warn style front bumper too. And the newer wheels. So many great ideas, so little time and money to do them all...

 

[jscusmcvet]

Justcuz and Duece I appreciate the input! I am going to try and understand the MAP sensor stuff, etc.. at a later date. This evening I finally go the oil changed and got half the plugs and wires changed over. Factory specs on the plugs is .035 gap but I .read .045 in multiple places. The plugs coming out are dirty, not fouled and at about .040. I am going to try .035 and see what happens.

Before we leave (looking like Sunday morning now) I will finish the plugs, and wires, change the cap and rotor, change the pcv. If I have time I will wire in my winch and lights from the jeep. The winch is an Engo 9000 so a bit underpowered for this big ole girl but better than nothing.

I may go out, time allowing, and buy a brand new radio with antenna set up, just to get something going. I am at a loss on this radio and lack of reception. Time to start from scratch.

John

 

[warrpath4x4]

Under powered winch= get yourself a quality snatch block. A single snatch pull will make your 9000 pound winch an 18000 pound winch.

 

[justcuz]

Yep Warrpath, I was going to post the same thing! I think our minds must be on a parallel plane somewhere out there!
MAP sensors are easy to test, just need a mighty vac and a digital volt meter.
As for plug gap, go with what is on the core support decal if it is still there.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Well as duty called us to travel to Georgia and back over the last 48 hours... about 700 miles total... the burb got her first highway shakedown run. Ran approx. 14 mpg. PO said it got better than that but I can live with 14 for the moment. She ran flawlessly. I still need to work on steering as previously mentioned, and getting the cruise control back working would be nice... and getting a real radio would be nice (if we all want John to keep his head about him... and we do)...

All in all I am very pleased with the truck so far. She is very happy at 55 - 65... just lopes along. A definite preference for the 2 lanes rather than the interstate, which suits me just fine. So is Ann, which is 90% of the battle.

Warpath and Justcuz, I have a full kit for recovery including a quality Warn snatch block. I am going to run the Engo on there until I can get my Warn HS 9500 rebuilt and that'll be the end of the winch talk. Hoping to stay out of needing a winch on this rig anyway, but want it for work around the compound.

John