Got my new-to-me rig: '04 Suburban 1500 LT...

[Burb One]

Plans: This will not be much of a "build" at all as the truck is fairly ready for its primary duties as a family truckster/tow vehicle right now.
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I do have a "punch list" of things that need to be done though:
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First off is to get the trailer brake control wired up. The "pigtail" is in the glove box, looks like it's never been used so I'll have to have that wired in, then I'll plug in the brake controller and mount it to the dash below the steering wheel.
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2nd "critical" need is to get it set up so we can listen to the iPod. Factory stereo has XM1 and XM2 and from what I've read I can "tap into" the XM connection to put in a standard 3.5mm audio plug, that way we can listen to an iPod or iPhone. Of course I could always replace the head unit but to be honest, I kind of like the factory head unit on this, except for not having BT and an aux input.
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After that there are some minor repairs that need to be done, the kind of thing that, honestly, I expect on a 12-year-old, 136k mile vehicle: Possible broken seat motor in the driver's seat (will go back and forth and recline but won't go up and down), dim PRNDL light (this is apparently a known problem on these GMT800 trucks and requires a resistor to be resoldered.)
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It would be nice to also wire in my Scangauge II. Even though the DIC (Drivers Information Center) on the dashboard gives me things like instant and average MPG, the nice thing about the SG is that it will show me transmission temps, too.
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Way "down the road" it might be nice to wire in a dual battery setup, although I'm not sure there's room even under that gargantuan hood. With 4 12v power plugs (2 in the dash, 1 in the center console facing towards the 2nd row seat and one in the cargo area) I should have plenty of places to hook up all my electric gadgets. More tiedowns in the cargo compartment would also be nice. A mild lift (keys and Z71 springs) is also a possibility and if I do that I may go to 33" tires (currently its shod with 265/70/17 Kelly Safari ATRs. I don't know much about them but they're in decent shape and certainly performed well enough in our recent 10" snow storm that I'm inclined to at least keep them until the Spring.)
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Beyond that? Just a lot of traveling and exploring the country. We already have plans to visit Washington (state), Montana, Yellowstone NP, Sturgis SD (Liz will drive and I'll ride my Triumph) and a whole bunch of trips within CO. I'm thinking this beast will be a great traveling vehicle as long as I can convince my wife not to fill it with too much crap (I know, probably useless.)

I've got a matching 04 in Black. It' been the best car I have ever owned. I've been meaning to do a build thread, but most of the mods you mentioned, I've been through.

The scangauge is key, being able to see the Transmission Temp for the 4l60E is important. I also wired a E fan to the Transmission cooler. (If you don't have the tow package, make sure to add AT LEAST the cooler, while you're at it, add a fan with a 180 degree auto-switch. I will do a write-up for these soon.

Dual battery setup- There was an option for this from the factory (Or maybe it was in the silverado), as such, Chevy sells a bracket, you can find for ~$60 on ebay that mounts it behind the coolant bottle on the passenger side.

I did the keys and 33's for almost two years now, and liked them. Am now moving to a 6 inch lift (staying on 33's) for more ground clearance as well as putting BOLT IN 14 bolt rear end into it (don't want to have to trust the G80 for too long). There's a thread on it documenting the buying of the parts for it. I will document the install over the Christmas weekend. Honestly, I didnt believe it, but once you start going taller, it's never enough.

I think these are the best long haul expedition vehicles. Always reliable, large, and with a little work surprisingly capable off road. Only thing I would do over again is get it in white and not black (jealous). Also, I like the 1500 vs the 2500, you did good. Mine, now with the 14 bolt, it's bullet proof, and getting 15-16 mpg fully loaded on the highway is amazing for a vehicle this size, not even mentioning the ride quality.


Edit: Just noticed you said you tow, MAKE SURE THE TRANSMISISON COOLER IS ACTUALLY IN THERE. Mine had the tow package, but Chevy forgot the cooler! At least I got a free transmission out of it at 100k miles. I ended up going with an even larger B&M cooler than the factory one.

Also- Pepboys always has a 30% off coupon on their website. You can get a nice prodigy tow controller and also the matching wiring harness plug for $100 bucks. It will be plug and play other than the mounting of the tow controller. I tow 6000lb enclosed race trailer (even with 33's and 3.73, no problems. I am moving to 4.10's because with the larger tires, it is a little slow towing)

 

[Martinjmpr]

You can get a trailer plug that plugs right into the tail light loom, no splicing required. Also most tow packages had a 7 pin I think plug pre wired next to the hitch. I thought the trailer brake was part of the 7 pin receiver?
Looks nice and clean, obviously a well cared for Suburban.

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Mine has the 7 pin connector on the bumper, the pigtail I'm referring to is to allow me to plug the brake controller (that sits inside by the steering wheel) into the wiring harness.

 

[meatblanket]

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In keeping with that theme mine could be "La Vaca Blanca" or perhaps more accurately, "La Ballena Blanca." :sombrero:
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If it's a white whale, Moby ******** seems appropriate.

 

[4x4x4doors]

On the topic of RPO stickers, does anyone know if there is a reverse lookup of some kind, maybe by vin? My 94 had a hand full of lug nuts in the glove box for a long time so the sticker is completely gone.

Might try this one. http://www.decodethis.com/Decoder

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Yeah, yeah. Well, it was that or black and I wasn't going to get a black vehicle.

Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. :coffeedrink:

 

[4x4x4doors]

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2nd "critical" need is to get it set up so we can listen to the iPod. Factory stereo has XM1 and XM2 and from what I've read I can "tap into" the XM connection to put in a standard 3.5mm audio plug, that way we can listen to an iPod or iPhone. Of course I could always replace the head unit but to be honest, I kind of like the factory head unit on this, except for not having BT and an aux input.

Take a look at something like this: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_581PA15GM/USA-Spec-iPod-Interface-for-GM.html (Verify that this is the particular one as I made some assumptions about your setup to come up with link).
Sometimes find them on eBay or CL. Pretty much plug and play, charges the i-whatever and plays thru existing stereo using one of the XM bands.
I run one in the Colorado. My only complaint with it has been the truncated text in the info display on the factory unit.

 

[zigsrig]

Also having an '04, I'm jealous at how nice your interior is (though mine has seen more than 100k more miles, and my kids are messy). It looks like a clean slate to start with.

The great news about these trucks, is that they are not really that hard to work on. But, you will notice little things going out every so often (like window actuators...)

NOTHING is better in the snow than my 'Burb (ok, its a 2500 with KO2's), and in the event that you have to spend the night in it, its a spacial palace compared to my JK :sombrero:

I look forward to see how you "expo" it.

 

[Martinjmpr]

If it's a white whale, Moby ******** seems appropriate.

It sounds a lot more "ExPo" in Spanish though. :sombrero:

 

[Martinjmpr]

Take a look at something like this: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_581PA15GM/USA-Spec-iPod-Interface-for-GM.html (Verify that this is the particular one as I made some assumptions about your setup to come up with link).
Sometimes find them on eBay or CL. Pretty much plug and play, charges the i-whatever and plays thru existing stereo using one of the XM bands.
I run one in the Colorado. My only complaint with it has been the truncated text in the info display on the factory unit.

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Ah, nice find, Keith! That's pretty much exactly what I need. Still wouldn't give me Bluetooth but to be honest after about 3 years with BT i'm fairly "meh" on the whole thing.
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Now, since the paint is peeling off the knobs and buttons on the factory stereo (another common, well known problem), does someone make a simple sticker sheet I can buy and stick on?
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See my other thread in "General Vehicle Mods", though: First order of business is a new battery!

 

[Martinjmpr]

Rust!

When I bought the truck I knew from the Carfax that it had spent the first 8 years in Wisconsin. As a result it does have some rust although at least the body doesn't seem too bad.
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I know Neil Young says it's better to burn out than it is to rust but I'm not sure about that. :sombrero:
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.Here are the door sills:
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Driver's side rear is actually the worst:
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Underside looks a bit worse:
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I'm a little concerned about this. Basically I don't want it to get worse. Any recommendations? The rest of the undercarriage doesn't look too bad, I think it's mostly surface rust. They don't use salt on the roads out here, although they do use mag chloride which is similar. Still, as dry as CO is, we generally don't worry too much about rust.

 

[meatblanket]

On the doors I'd clean it off as much as possible and shoot it with Fluid Film. The undercarriage looks like it could use some wire brushing, some Ospho and then Rustoleum from the rattle can. Then some WaxOyl if you plan on keeping it forever.

 

[Burb One]

On the doors I'd clean it off as much as possible and shoot it with Fluid Film. The undercarriage looks like it could use some wire brushing, some Ospho and then Rustoleum from the rattle can. Then some WaxOyl if you plan on keeping it forever.

+1, what he said. Check it ALL. Anything that is surface rust, brush it down and treat it.

Anything that looks more than surface rust, cut it out, repair it, and cover it in POR15. (Also can use POR15 on the surface rust as well.)

Even though I'm in CA, I go through the udnerside of the truck once a year, and get it before it starts. Do it right this time, and you'll only have to touch things up once every year/ every few years.

 

[4x4x4doors]

Not sure how much will still be a factor since you've removed it from the salt of the Midwest.

On the doors, you may want to take a look inside the doors. Some of that is probably coming from inside. Moisture leaks down past the window wipers (rubber at the opening) and collects inside the pinch at the bottom. I've seen more of the "little" ones rust through about an inch above the lower edge from the inside to the outside than I have rust from the bottom up. That's an area that doesn't get much paint/corrosion prevention sprayed on either.

My experience is more on the S10/Colorado platform where they relocated the drains after the 1994/1995 body style change so may not be fully applicable.

 

[justcuz]

Rumor is once started, rust never sleeps. Kill it, kill it all!

 

[Martinjmpr]

So would a hand-held wire brush work or should I use the one on my drill?

 

[rayra]

Very nice! Is that rear cargo area longer than usual?

So I meant to broach this when you were still shopping, but based on the 4wd trails around here, something that big won't jive too well.

What kind of trips do you typically do?

That's pretty much the standard Suburban / YukonXL length of many years. The overall length and wheelbase are almost exactly the same as my '85 C-10 standard cab / long bed pickup. So anywhere a longbed pickup has gone, the Sub will go. And that's pretty much every Forestry road. Maybe not some jeep trails. But anything govt-owned / maintained.