New rig 1990 V1500 Suburban

[lt1fire]

After a recent move from NC to WA I was planning on getting myself another cruiser, particularly a diesel one from Canada.

I did however, last week, stumble across a deal that I couldn't pass up. I've had 2 burbs before one diesel 4x4 1984 and one diesel 4x4 1995 and I grew up working on chevy muscle cars so I know my way around the bowtie.

So here is my new rig. It was part of all those "conversion" square bodies of the late 80s and early 90s that seemed to have about 14 different countries doing it for GM depending on the part of the US the car was sold in.

Mine was one of the collaborations from Chinook. So its got real Oak wood all over the place. Also seems like weather or not you got the High Top or regular roof line Chinook put a switch in there labeled TV, lol.

279k the guy I bought it from said the guy he bought it from said the engine and trans had been rebuilt but doesn't have anything to prove it so didn't factor anything like that into the price. Looking at it it may have been replaced because it is very clean under the hood for that kind of mileage and I don't believe a stock 700R4 could last those miles anyway.

So there it is...... I'm in the process of pulling all the wood out, sanding and re-staining it all. As you can see someone painted the oak center console black so that will have to be sanded and restained also.
It has 35" toyo MT's and is lifted.... not sure 4"??? 6"??? I'll have to figure that out.


Known things wrong with it.

Broken DR shock
Leaks a tiny bit of tranny fluid (not sure where yet haven't really had much time around my work schedule to check it out)
Radio Doesn't work
Seems to be down on power. (So i'm going to check the compression on the cylinders, if they check out i'll just build up the stock motor with bolt ons and maybe a head swap, if the compression is bad i'll just buy a rebuilt stroked 383 to throw the TBI stuff on as I don't want the down time of having to rebuild myself because I don't have much time to do that stuff anymore)


Mods i'm planning.
14B and D60 swap
37" tire when the current ones wear out.
Locker in the Rear
sliders/bumpers/roof rack
Sleeping platform in the back.

Price I paid for this beauty..... $1450

 

[locrwln]

Looks like a solid platform and a solid plan. There is a 90-91 3/4t sitting in a neighbor's driveway that I have absolutely no reason to buy, but I still want it...

Jack

 

[justcuz]

Sounds like a solid plan. Remember a Dodge front 60 is also a bolt in, just a 1/2" difference in spring perch width.

 

[lt1fire]

Sounds like a solid plan. Remember a Dodge front 60 is also a bolt in, just a 1/2" difference in spring perch width.

Good to know
Looking for a combo from a CUCV used to see them all the time but now that I actually want them I can't find them anywhere around me.
So I may have to source them separate.

All year dodge D60's work??

 

[justcuz]

All leaf sprung ones, yes.
You may even find an older oddball external hub Dodge Dana 70 with rear steer. 60 guts can be used in them and disc brake brackets are available. These are easily identified by the tie rod being behind the axle. Usually found in old 1 ton Power Wagons from the 60's and 70's. They are closed knuckle but I see no big deal with it, all Toyota solid axles are closed knuckle, king pin design. Nobody knocks those.

Hopefully the transmission is not leaking out of the front pump seal. They do that when they set for a while, usually will swell back up with some driving. Most other leaks on that trans need to be fixed. Usually pan gasket, shifter shaft seals or modulator O ring.
I avoid cork gaskets on these transmission pans, there is a nice gasket mounted to a piece of cardboard you can get from the dealer and NAPA as I recall. I usually stick the gasket to the pan and put a thin layer of grease or Vaseline on the sealing surface of the pan to trans. Makes the gasket reusable and lasts for 3 to 4 fluid changes. I do mine very 10 to 12 thousand miles.

 

[lt1fire]

Nice.... thanks for the info.

Now I just need to find a 3/4 ton FF 14 Bolt as well.

 

['05TJLWBRUBY]

Good find. We've had a few Trail Wagons conversions on past Burbs, from the old Trail Wagons conversion place in Yakima. Brings back memories. Haven't seen one in long while. Looking forward to what you do with it.

Best of Luck,

Mike

 

[lt1fire]

Is trail wagons still around??

 

[lt1fire]

All leaf sprung ones, yes.
You may even find an older oddball external hub Dodge Dana 70 with rear steer. 60 guts can be used in them and disc brake brackets are available. These are easily identified by the tie rod being behind the axle. Usually found in old 1 ton Power Wagons from the 60's and 70's. They are closed knuckle but I see no big deal with it, all Toyota solid axles are closed knuckle, king pin design. Nobody knocks those.

Hopefully the transmission is not leaking out of the front pump seal. They do that when they set for a while, usually will swell back up with some driving. Most other leaks on that trans need to be fixed. Usually pan gasket, shifter shaft seals or modulator O ring.
I avoid cork gaskets on these transmission pans, there is a nice gasket mounted to a piece of cardboard you can get from the dealer and NAPA as I recall. I usually stick the gasket to the pan and put a thin layer of grease or Vaseline on the sealing surface of the pan to trans. Makes the gasket reusable and lasts for 3 to 4 fluid changes. I do mine very 10 to 12 thousand miles.

Thanks for the info.... I found a D60 F D70 R combo from a 75 dodge truck. I know that chevy did use D70's in some square bodies. I wonder how close to a bolt in it is or how much i'd have to move the spring perches..... price is good $800 and they are already 4.56 geared.

 

[johnson4x4]

Wow, this is the first burb I've seen with the exact same Chinook conversion as mine. Sounds like our plans are about the same too. I snagged a FF 14bolt and 8 lug 10 bolt that I'm building up right now. It's no 60, but it will do for now. I never realized I was missing the wood trim pieces around the cut outs in the barn doors until I saw yours either. Where are you at in WA? Going to the Expo?

 

[lt1fire]

Sweet.... got any pics of yours??

I'm in Bonney Lake WA.... was planning on the expo but just put myself on a huge spending freeze..... long story but my house back in NC had a buyer back out 3 days before the closing date and i'm not really spending anything until it sells now other than bills and essentials. I'm not sure if I can make it to the expo and resist buying a bunch of stuff... lol

 

[justcuz]

GM used Dana 70's in square body duallys, and dual wheel cab and chassis models.
The Dodge axles should work fine if single rear wheel. Same size ring gear as a 14 bolt and a little less of the housing hangs down. It will be totally bombproof in the Suburban.
Dana's also have a great selection of traction adders, LSD to lockers are all available.
Spring perch width in front is 31.5/32" not sure about the rear. It's only 1/4" per side and usually the spring bushings are flexible enough to wiggle them in with no ill effects. You can always die grind the spring pad holes a little if it's a concern.

Expo West is probably breaking down now. Expo East is on the grounds of the Biltmore this year! Should be a great venue.

My last edit for the day, H2 wheels look great on these old Suburbans, there are a couple on here running them.

 

[boll_rig]

Awesome Suburban and what a deal. The models with the wood panelling are sick it will be great to see it all redone and sitting on 37s!

 

[Woofwagon]

Awesome score for a square bodied 'Burb. I'm over in Issaquah getting things lined up to transplant a 500 Cadillac engine into my '89.

 

[FBJR]

First post guys, been checking the sight out for some time now.

I have a Dodge D60 for my 91 burb and a 14ff for the rear with discs. A few places sell offset bushings just for the swap into the GM. Think I got mine from Ruffstuf.

I paid 700 for my burb with 200k on it. Has a 5.7-4L80 now but getting a 12v.

Doing a build on another site, may post some here later as I am laid up some now.