Searchin' for a Sub

[HighRideBOV]

I am trying to find a Suburban to use as a family expedition/Bug out vehicle and am still trying to determine what specs I am looking for when I buy the vehicle and what can be added later.

So far I've been looking at the 1973-91 models. I know it needs to be 4x4 and I've been looking more at 3/4 ton based on some previous advice I had received, but I don't want to base my decision on just one source of input. I was hoping to find a diesel, but they are not easy to come by. I know swaps can be done, but it's not something I could likely do myself any time soon. I've basically never worked on cars or trucks before, so this is also going to be where I build and learn those skills, which is part of why I'm looking at older trucks with less computerization and more room to work.

Specifics I'm trying to determine are:

1/2 or 3/4 ton
carb vs FI
Axles, trans and xfer cases
Lift and tire size
Tailgate vs ambulance doors

If there are other things I should be considering as part of the vehicle purchase I would appreciate any insight those of you in the D:FS crowd could provide, as well as any other feedback you may have.

Thanks

 

[redthies]

From my personal experience, the years you are looking at are all
fine. I have had 85, 86 & 89s. The 3/4 vs 1/2 ton issue is not a huge deal for me. If you are going to be towing or hauling big weight, then look 3/4. I am a builder and have loaded up my 89 1/2 ton pretty well. The big thing I would be concerned with would be ambulance doors and solid front axle. Both these things will make your life WAY easier. As far as lift and tires, a 4" lift with 35-37s is plenty for most things. The injected trucks are nice and a bit less fiddly than carbs. There are no bad suburbans really, in the era you are considering. There are simply some better options. Parts are as cheap as chips and they are simple to work on. A great choice for learning about trucks!

 

[HighRideBOV]

Thanks redthies.

I've been looking at various Subs available locally and I'm having a hard time nailing down which years had the ambulance doors. Can anyone give me a definitive answer on that?

I don't plan on towing anything, but you know the old adage "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it." so I'm still leaning towards the 3/4 ton. I am planning to do a bit of daily driving with this as well, would the solid axle be bad for that?

I think I'm going to shoot for a TBI so I've narrowed the search to the 86-91 range. I've seen some stock Subs and some already lifted with 33s-37s on them. If I buy stock then I will have to do the lift and new tires. That being the case what would I expect it to cost me to do a lift and get new tires? Knowing that will Help me determine which is the cheaper route.

 

[RR1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Suburban

Depending on what style of lift you do, will determine cost. For a leaf sprung vehicle, anywhere from $500-1500+.

For 35-37" tires, $250 and up, if you go steel wheels usually around $50 and up, alloy $100 and up.

Look at 4WD shops to get an idea for prices.

http://www.4wheelparts.com/

 

[ntsqd]

Mine is FS:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15439
93003 location

This Sub has "Ambulance Doors". They are an option, not a some years had tailgates and some years had doors thing.

 

[bftank]

i would go with 3/4t as well. with the 1/2t springs you will get saggy butt syndrome w/o towing anything. your wheels are already the right size for going to a dana 60 if you choose, and converting to a ff 14bolt is easier to. ibelieve if you get an 89-91 you get the 4l80e tranny as well. somebody correct me if i am wrong.

 

[1leg]

4L80 1991 and newer only. Th400 1990 and older. This is true for 4wd 3/4 ton only. 1988-92 1/2tons came with 700r4s

 

[HighRideBOV]

ntsqd,
Thanks for the info and the heads up on your burb, but for now I'm going to try and find something in state in part to avoid the impact fees of bringing another vehicle into the state.

RRI,
Thanks for the pricing estimates and the links

bftank,
Thanks for the input, I hadn't thought about possible axle swaps down the road.

1leg,
Is there any big advantage to the 4L80 over the TH400? Is one easier to work on than the other?

 

[1leg]

The 4L80 is a very good trans, it is as strong as th400 but with overdrive. You will want an overdrive trans, the 4L80 will be more $$ to work on.

 

[jp0863]

Just go steal 1legs, it's got a new engine with a few performance mods and he can't catch you...... i've been admiring 1legs for quite some time.

I agree with the 4l80 if you're going to do much highway driving, otherwise a th400 is a good transmission as well. for the lift, you need to figure out what size tire you want to run. to fit 35's a 4 inch will work, but you will have to do some fender trimming if you hit the dirt. A 6 inch will clear the 35's well and anything higher will be a bit on the top heavy side. A 3/4 ton will have a 10 bolt front and a semifloating 14 bolt rear. Both should survive 35's fairly well for most offroading. ck out www.coloradok5.com for more info. I'm a little partial to a tuff country lift cuz of the soft spring rate, but the shocks suck. ambulance doors are the way to go, but thats just my opinion, some prefer the tailgate which is heavier and has more moving parts to break.

For me it's an 89 3/4 ton, tbi 350, th400, 241 t-case, dana 60/14 bolt ff with 4.56 gears, 6 inch lift with 35's.... but my divorce attorney has all my funds now so that project is on hold for the moment

 

[ccarley]

After driving a carb equipped Jeep for a few years, one of my criteria when searching for a Suburban was fuel injection. I must say, after buying mine, I absolutely love being able to hop in & turn the key.

Mine has the heavy tailgate too. From what I can tell, the tailgate was the more expensive option? Doors were supposed to be standard? I think I saw that in a brochure somewhere. I do see the doors for sale on Craigslist from time to time, "hinges included", so I wonder if you could even convert to the doors if you wanted to.

By the way, have you considered the 6.2 Diesel as an engine option? I was very close to buying a 3/4T with the diesel... but it had over 300k miles on the chassis, and the interior was really grungy

Good luck in your search!
Clay

 

[ntsqd]

Reality check.

I won't discourage a 4L80E, but I would not say that the 700R4/4L60/4L60E isn't worth considering. Mine is a 700 and with a few mods to a healthy sample (Corvette Servo, Trans-Go stage 1 kit, stacked plate oil cooler) these are a quite stout trans. They got a bad rap from the early versions, but GM got that sorted out and the later trans' are a good part.

I do not think that 3/4t is necessary for this type of use, & in the Subs it won't come with a D60 front axle anyway. If you're going to build a crawler then your priorities would be different. For a camping - exploration vehicle it's overkill beyond excessive. A D60 front axle is a serious loss in ride quality due to much higher unsprung weight. If you're turning 37+ tall tires then sure. For 33-35 inch tires it's not worth it.

About the only reason that I can see for going 3/4t is to get rid of the dumb c-clip rear axle design, and even then not all of the 3/4t Subs got the 14bff. Some of the later models got the 14bsf, which is still a c-clip axle.

 

[West Coast Mags]

PM sent on my rust free 89 3/4ton 4x4, that may be looking for a new home.

 

[dbreid]

I have thought about this extensively (I own a 1989 SUburban I use as exactly this).

Here's what you want:

1991 3/4 ton Suburban with a BigBlock....

Why?

1991 is the only year for the 4l80e. And you REAAAAAAALY want that. The 4th gear is incredible for mileage. The TH400 is awesome, as long as you never want to go faster than 60.

The 3/4 ton has superior axles, superior brakes, and is essentially superior in every way.

The bigblock is debatable, but a Suburban is a HUGE heavy vehicle, and you tend to load it down with stuff. So get the biggest engine you can find.

Up to you whether you want tailgate/barns.

-Dan

 

[jp0863]

Big blocks only came in the 2wd's. All 4x4's got the small block. You can find one to swap in, but the big block was not available from the factory in 4x4 Suburbans from what I know of. Maybe a few slipped through, but i've never heard of it.