More Suburban work

ccarley

ccarley

Adventurer
Well, it's apparently been a few months since I've been on here. Too much work...

So I had struggled with the thought of selling my much loved 1987 Grand Wagoneer... and sadly, last week, I had to let it go. Didn't pass CA smog, even after a new cat & muffler. It has now moved to So Cal.

Anyway, on to the '89 Suburban. Turns out the front bearings were way loose, and it looked like the PO had used needle nose pliers on the adjusting nuts. So, last week, I tore into it, installing new bearings. I messed up one of the outer bearings on the auto hubs, and although I fixed it, I ordered a set of Warn Premiums.

I have installed 4 Bilstein 5100's for it, and although I love the shocks, I was disappointed to see that Bilstein makes you mount them body down. I had 5125's on my FSJ, and they were body up. Not that it makes a difference really, but I just prefer them that way. Now I'm looking for a matching steering damper setup.

I also installed a Midland 5001z CB. It's facing up on the front of the center console. I will get pics today; it's larger than I thought it was going to be, but a nice unit. I have about 26 feet of antenna cable leading to the back bumper, where I used a Radio Shack mirror mount bracket (bolted through the bumper) and a single whip. Not sure how well it's working yet though; I haven't heard much traffic on it so far.

Yesterday I got some boxes from JC Whitney :) I now have a "push bar" or "brush guard", as well as a long add-a-leaf set for the rear. My wife helped install the push bar last night, and I threw on my old KC fog lights to see if I like them or not... I'm on the fence, but once I wire them I think I'll like them. They shine sideways & low, which is quite nice for night-driving, or perhaps finding your friends at the campsite at 10:00pm in the fog...

We also got new tires on the thing, shortly after purchase. $1000 for 4 BFG A/T KO's, 35X12.5X15 in size. As far as I can tell, they don't rub yet even after a few trips to the gun range at Cow Mountain in Ukiah, CA. I have not flexed it out to see if they rub yet.

We have done 1 camping trip this year in it. Nothing extreme or out there, just Stewart Horse Camp in Point Reyes, CA. We were able to sleep inside, with our mountain bikes disassembled in the rear as well. It was nice & quiet in there, and the few bugs that were out didn't bother us after a spraying of DEET around the windows that were open a little. Need a mattress of some sort though, the floor with the seat folded was a tad hard with my bad shoulders.

I'll be snapping some pic's later today, after the fog burns off.

EDIT: Here's a teaser:
DSC_0679.sized.jpg


Clay
 
Last edited:
ccarley

ccarley

Adventurer
Photos!

Front bearing work.
DSC_0856.sized.jpg


CB installed:
DSC_0866.sized.jpg


Closer look:
DSC_0869.sized.jpg


Bilstein in front:
DSC_0871.sized.jpg


New "Brush Guard":
DSC_0873.sized.jpg


Nice frontal view:
DSC_0875.sized.jpg


Clay
 
ccarley

ccarley

Adventurer
Outback said:
Nice work! A Suburban is my next project rig. What year and which engine?
Click to expand...

Thanks!

It's a 1989 model, and although the grille & wheel say "GMC", it's actually a Chevy. The Previous Owner(s) preferred the GMC name... which brings me to another list item, get the original Chevy grill & headlight trims.

It has a 350 TBI for the engine, and TH700r4 trans. It seems to be in pretty good shape, and has decent power even though the axles have not been re-geared. Hills are usually 3rd gear, depending on steepness... sometimes pedal to the metal, but most cruising on the freeway is in 4th.

10 bolt axles front & rear, which I think I want to upgrade at some point. I'm considering a 12 bolt for the rear, but I'm still undecided at this point. The front seems scary to me, having like a foot between the spring mount & end of the axle! I'm sure at some point that thing is going to be smiling at me!

Clay
 
ccarley

ccarley

Adventurer
I think they must have different combinations for different models LOL!

My switches are:
Left side: Rear defog, rear window up/down
Right side: Rear A/C

Rear heat would be nice, especially for the places we go. I think I'd rather have that than rear A/C!

Clay
 
xpndbl3

xpndbl3

Adventurer
looks great, i mounted my mic to the left of those switches. I hooked up the rear heat in my suburban and it doesn't work that well IMO, thinking I need to put some cardboard in front of the radiator since when I would flip it on, only cold air would come out and the hoses never felt hot either, this was in 20 degree outside temps, never tried it now that it's 90+ out in chicago. I also have the JC whitney brush guard, it also came with pieces to bolt to that center piece for headlight protection, did you just skip tossing them on?

Also about that 12 bolt, skip it--not any stronger than what you have. Perhaps pick up a 14 bolt full floater axle instead, they are much stronger. This year I did the 14bff rear swap along with a dana 60 front with crossover steering, it's nice to not worry about the axles anymore. Running 35" tires with 4.10 gears, probably regear to 4.88s when I get the chance since it's still a dog accelerating.
 
ccarley

ccarley

Adventurer
xpndbl3 said:
looks great, i mounted my mic to the left of those switches. I hooked up the rear heat in my suburban and it doesn't work that well IMO, thinking I need to put some cardboard in front of the radiator since when I would flip it on, only cold air would come out and the hoses never felt hot either, this was in 20 degree outside temps, never tried it now that it's 90+ out in chicago. I also have the JC whitney brush guard, it also came with pieces to bolt to that center piece for headlight protection, did you just skip tossing them on?

Also about that 12 bolt, skip it--not any stronger than what you have. Perhaps pick up a 14 bolt full floater axle instead, they are much stronger. This year I did the 14bff rear swap along with a dana 60 front with crossover steering, it's nice to not worry about the axles anymore. Running 35" tires with 4.10 gears, probably regear to 4.88s when I get the chance since it's still a dog accelerating.
Click to expand...

As far as the JC Whitney grille guard, well, I only ordered the center section. I wasn't sure if I would like the headlight protectors. Have a pic of them?

I was wondering about the 12 bolt strength. I sadly missed an opportunity at getting a set of 1 ton axles (complete set) for $500... maybe I'll get lucky again, now that the Jeep is gone...

Clay
 
ratkin

ratkin

Adventurer
xpndbl3 said:
I hooked up the rear heat in my suburban and it doesn't work that well IMO, thinking I need to put some cardboard in front of the radiator since when I would flip it on, only cold air would come out and the hoses never felt hot either, this was in 20 degree outside temps, never tried it now that it's 90+ out in chicago.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the valve to allow the hot water to go into those rear hoses isn't working. Could be mechanical with the valve itself or electrical from the switch in the dash to the valve solenoid. Hopefully one of the hoses aren't plugged.
 
ccarley

ccarley

Adventurer
Still working on my saggin rear issue.

I don't think I'm going to go with bigger blocks, that just does not seem like a good idea. The springs will need new pins anyway if I do that, since the old blocks are bolted through the springs.

I was looking at just rear springs, but it's difficult to say how much lift you will get apparently? I'm pretty sure at this point that the front springs are 4 inches, with the 4 inch rear blocks (causing about 1 1/2" of sag in the rear). I found these:
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Lift-Kit...c=1&t_s=399&t_pt=4113&t_pl=1831&t_pn=EXP13411
But, they say "4 to 6 inches of lift". Does that mean 4 inches if the old ones are not sagging, and 6 if they are? That kind of makes sense to me, but I want to make sure before heading over (yeah, 4 wheel parts is like a 15 minute drive for me!).

I also came across this ad for a grille:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/pts/1855356721.html
Although I emailed (didn't call) for some clarification on what year it came from, it looks like it should have come off a '90 or '91, which should fit my '89. Google Image searching shows me that a '92 has the plastic non-sealed headlights, so I'm guessing (hoping) this grill would fit mine.

Thanks for any insight,
Clay
 
ccarley

ccarley

Adventurer
OK, Leaf springs are now ordered for the rear. Pro-Comp 56" long by 4" lift.

The guy with the grille got back to me too, and it's off a 1990 model year. Perfect! Now I need to somehow get it.

And, I installed the Warn Premium hubs. Darn near complete pictoral here:
http://carleynet.net/familypictures/album48

DSC_0095.sized.jpg


So far, so good.
Clay
 
ccarley

ccarley

Adventurer
More stuff!

A buddy of mine (norcalbronco? something like that) is trading a rack for a winch I had.

http://www.everythingsuv.com/surco_safari_roof_racks-esuv.asp

I guess it's the 50X60 model (he thinks).

While it looks like it will work & all, and seems like a good idea for my travels, I have no clue on how to attach it to my roof! I have no roof rack right now, just a "spoiler" in the back. Anyone have some photos on how their safari style racks attach to the roof of a Suburban?

Thanks,
Clay
 
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