Your opinions on older Suburban

[ILIANBG]

Hello everyone. Merry Christmas! I really like the look of the older Suburbans (Chevy or GMC) 3/4 ton. I see they are between 1983 and 1990. I would like to get one, 4x4 and I understand they are pretty stout and reliable. I think they have the Dana 60 with lock out hubs and kingpins instead of ball joints. If those are in there I would love that- how can you tell just by looking at it? What kind of transmissions are the autos in them? The diesel versions seem very rare so I think it will be the gas 350 ci engine. Is that correct? Also I don't think the diesels in those are worth looking at, probably really slow. It still requires a smog here in CA so I don't think an engine swap is possible, even though I would love to have a Cummins in it

So if anyone has one of those, please let me know what are things to be aware of and pay attention to. I'm sure the mpg will be horrible, but it will not be a daily commuter vehicle.

Ilian

 

[Hoefler]

Front axle is a Danna 44, same as the half tons, only different hubs and rotors. The Dana 60s has been seen only in the heavy duty 1 -tons in those years.

 

[Wayne M.]

MERRY CHRISTMAS INDEED!!
In the early 90's I had a 3/4 ton 4X4 'Burban as an assigned vehicle. As I recall it had a carbd 350, TH400, np 205 transfer case, big GM rear and matching GM front axle on leafs. It was the real deal. It rode just like a first gen Ram. It had the barn doors in back. The cool factor was off the chart. At the time I hung around a off road club, and those guys loved it.
I'd love to take one and do a 6B slam. I don't think you'll find Dana axles in a GM truck of that era.

 

[Regcabguy]

'87-'90 had Throttle Body Injection which was simple and a huge improvement over carbs.
Hopefully,I'm right on those yrs.
I had a '89 Chevy 3500 TBI 350,with a Turbo 400. Quick truck.

 

[jhenderson]

Don't overlook a 3/4 ton with a big block. More fuel, but a great ride. Try to find a late enough model truck to get
throttle body injection. It's a big improvement.

 

[AH64ID]

Generally the rules on smog trucks for engine swaps is the same year or newer, so put a newer ISB in it and it would be killer!



My dad had an '84 1500 burb with a 6. 2, and a banks turbo. The motor was reliable, not as common with the 6. 2, but the 10 bolt rear and 700R4 were not fond of the torque. He sold it in '92 with 250K and saw it on the road for many years and still might but I haven't asked him in 5 or 6 years.

 

[AClayton]

The Chevy Suburban of that era did not have dana axles front or rear. They had the Chevy 10 bolt front rear with 8 lug outers(basically the same axle as the 1/2 ton 10 bolt front rear- it just had 8 lug outers). The rear rear was the real joke! Chevy had 2 14 bolt designs..... the full-floater with 10. 5 ring gear and the 9. 5 semi-floater 14 bolt rear. The full floater was and still is, highly regarded and sought after. The 9. 5 semi-floater was basically junk! Unfortunately, that is what 3/4 ton Suburbans came with - the semi-floater. Junk! The good news is they are easily swapped in with the 10. 5 full floater. Not familiar with any 80's model Chevy's coming with a 205 X-case... ... most came with the NP208. The 208 had it's quirks, but with proper care and no heavy throttle, they can live for quite a few thousand miles. There were 3 basic auto's that went into the 3/4 tons..... the aforementioned TH400, the TH350 and the 700R4. The early to mid 80's 700's were not very reliable but with certain transmission upgrades, thy work very well. The 86' 305 was the 1st model year to get throttle body injection. The 350 got it in 87' and the big-block got it in 89'. The 80's carb motors were not very powerful with the 350 only putting out about 170hp. The early to mid 80's 454 only had 230hp! The 89' 454 was upgraded to I think 270hp-don't quote me on that one! The Chevy 10 bolt front rear boasted an 8. 5" ring gear..... sorry-forgot to mention that earlier!

 

[Bob4x4]

PM me I have a 94 diesel suburban but it's 1000k miles from here