Questions/Advice for 1988 Chevrolet Suburban 4wd

[DanF.]

I've found a decent looking 1988 Chevy Suburban on craigslist that the owner is willing to trade for my more fuel efficient car, and initially I was all gung-ho. Now I've found out that the A/C on the Suburban is not working because of a leak. It is the older (R-12?) system that is apparently pretty expensive to fix/maintain/replace. I've been a car guy my whole life (bunch of Saabs and a BMW), and haven't ever owned or dealt with with a domestic vehicle

Here is the ad for the Suburban: https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5552787823.html

I'm looking for a reliable daily-driver to get me to campus and back (about 5 miles each way) as well as being able to drive out on the beaches here in Galveston, along with the occasional off-road adventure. It would be my first 4wd, and I'm looking for some advice on why I should/shouldn't go through with the trade. My car is worth about what he's asking, and he's already said he'd be interested in trading. I've just invested a fair amount of time/money in DIY repairs (new radiator, O2 sensor, thermostat, coolant temp sensor, swaybar endlinks, tires) as well as paid the only Saab specialist in the Houston area to code a new spare key to the car.

I've got some basic hand tools/wrenches, etc... and I'm not too concerned about attempting DIY repairs (college budgets with European cars will teach you to do your own labor if you want to eat anything but Ramen for a month... )

Anyways, I'd like to hear what you guys have to say.

 

[DanF.]

This is a copy/paste reply I got when I asked about the condition of the Suburban:

All of the air conditioning components work fine, but the system is still the old R-22 system... and it has a slow leak. Which means refrigerant is hard to find and it needs to be recharged about every 6 months.

As far as it being an everyday driver, it can be. I work about 25 miles from home and I drive it back and forth to work at least once a week just to keep it from sitting too long. I load the family up and take it to the beach all the time.

Everything works on it... the 4x4 works great, it has a crate engine with about 15,000 miles on it, no body rust. It isn't the prettiest thing in the world but it runs like a beast. The only bad thing about it mechanically is this... when you're driving on the highway and the transmission shifts down from 4th to 3rd, it shifts kind of hard. Shifting up or down between any other gear is perfectly smooth, but that shift down isn't. I researched it and its a common thing with those 700r transmissions but it isn't cause for panic.

When I got it I changed out all of the lights, the belts, and changed all the fluids. The wheels and tires are brand new (less than 2,000 miles).

Overall, it's a great truck, but it's also 28 years old... so it's up to you if you want to drive it everyday

 

[Martinjmpr]

For that kind of money you can do a LOT better. IMO a huge vehicle like that is a pretty poor DD especially for a short commute like yours. And that one has known problems (the transmission and the AC to name two - I've been to Houston and I sure wouldn't want to be there without working AC!) And old vehicles like this ALWAYS have other little things going wrong with them.
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I realize that "square bodies" have a certain collector appeal and some people like older Chevies like that but that one is not "collector grade" in the first place. I also understand that in your part of the country, 4x4's aren't as common as where I live (Colorado) so that adds to the price as well. Still, I would call that about a $3000 truck at best, maybe not even that (I'm skeptical about the "no rust" thing, too. I have yet to see a square body Chevy without some rust, and as close to the ocean as you are? I'm guessing that ugly black primer paint conceals more than a bit of rust.)
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For a first 4x4 and a DD I would go (a) much, MUCH newer and (b) smaller (unless you have 7 kids and need to transport them all at the same time, that is, in which case I'd say get a mini van .)

 

[Martinjmpr]

Oh, yeah, looking at the pictures again, the interior looks trashed. Also look closely at that right rear quarter panel. Somebody put what looks like bed liner on there and painted over it. I'd bet money they didn't do that because it was a pristine, smooth metal panel.
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No way should any sane person pay $4600 for that beater. I wouldn't pay $2k for it myself but then I'm not a fan of square bodies anyway (I prefer the 67-72 3-doors.)

 

[subarubobby]

I agree, you could do better for the $$. Seems like a fun truck that is all ready for off-road, but the transmission issue isn't normal and I would save for a trans rebuild in the near future. The R12 can be converted to R134a pretty easily though, you really just need the service port adapter fittings. IMO I would keep looking, or if he adds $1500 cash on his end..

 

[Martinjmpr]

This part got my attention:
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it has a crate engine with about 15,000 miles on it

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A crate motor is not a small investment. People only spend the $$ to put in a crate motor if they're planning on keeping a vehicle for a while. My guess is that this person bought this truck in pretty poor condition, dropped a huge amount of $$ for the motor and then realized how much more work it was going to be to get it into an acceptable condition, and now he's just trying to get his money back.
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Oh, and this too:
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I researched it and its a common thing with those 700r transmissions but it isn't cause for panic.

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Mmmm hmmmm.... yeah, like I'm gonna take your word for that.
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2000 miles on the tires? Another red flag for me. Either he put uber-cheapies on there because the previous tires were crap and he wants to sell it, or (more likely IMO) he spent a lot of $$ on tires but, once again, when he realized how much of a project he was in for, he started bailing out and he's trying to get his money back.

 

[DanF.]

IMO I would keep looking, or if he adds $1500 cash on his end..

You'd want the $1500 for impending repairs (gearbox and A/C)?

 

[Martinjmpr]

I always get a kick out of CL sellers who say things like "the only problem is X and it's easy to fix"
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Okay, numbnuts, then YOU fix it and then put it up for sale.

 

[DanF.]

I always get a kick out of CL sellers who say things like "the only problem is X and it's easy to fix"
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Okay, numbnuts, then YOU fix it and then put it up for sale.

That's fair. Ok I'm swayed. I'll let the guy know I'm going to pass.

Finding a decent and inexpensive way to get out of my car and into something with 4wd is proving to be a bit difficult.

 

[Martinjmpr]

That's fair. Ok I'm swayed. I'll let the guy know I'm going to pass.
Finding a decent and inexpensive way to get out of my car and into something with 4wd is proving to be a bit difficult.

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Could be your location. If you cast a wider net you might find something more suitable. Even DFW might have more 4x4s than the Houston area.
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What are your requirements? Here in CO that $4600 could buy any number of decent 4wd vehicles.
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EDITED TO ADD: Ah, I think I see the problem - you're looking to trade. Unfortunately there are not a lot of other people out there willing to do trades and that is going to severely limit the pool of people who are potential customers. If I was you I'd do some serious research and figure out what your car is worth, then try to sell it on your own so you can raise cash for a 4x4.
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A buyer with cash can dictate terms, but a "trader" is almost always a beggar who has to settle for what he can get. Get a bicycle to get you the 5 miles to school, sell your Saab and then start scanning CL for good deals. They're out there. :sombrero:

 

[DanF.]

It's funny, because at first, I thought that a girl in my engineering program was selling her Suburban. My car is in the middle for reference (stock ride height).

 

[DanF.]

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Could be your location. If you cast a wider net you might find something more suitable. Even DFW might have more 4x4s than the Houston area.
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What are your requirements? Here in CO that $4600 could buy any number of decent 4wd vehicles.

It was going to be a trade. I got a very good deal on my Saab, and thought* I'd be getting the better end of the deal. I'm trying not to spend much, if anything, on this. Obviously I'd have to pay for vehicle registration. I just don't have a ton of $$$ to work with (in college) and have to pay for summer classes on top of my normal rent/utilities/bills.

 

[Martinjmpr]

BTW the fact that this person is so eager to trade should be another red flag. He's trying to sell his truck for a "firm" price of $4600 but he's willing to trade for a Saab? Yeah that's because he knows he won't get anywhere near what he claims that truck is worth.

 

[rayra]

The only thing 'expensive to fix' about an R-12 A/C system is the political decision to make R-12 unobtanium. It's a simple matter to convert an older system to the 'approved' refrigerant, but the older design will lose about 10-15% of its effectiveness. I changed the seals and refrigerant on my '85 C-10 many years ago, I'm in SoCal, and it works well enough in my standard cab pickup.

$4600? That's way too much money for that old beater. You could get something 10yrs newer for the same money. I got my excellent condition '02 Z-71 K1500 for $6000. 14 years newer for 1400 more.

 

[DanF.]

I just emailed the seller/trader and told him I wouldn't be going forward with the trade. My eyes were bigger than my brain, and I was jumping the gun on getting into a different vehicle. I would like to sell my car, but I really can't be without transportation for more than a day or two. I'm going to figure something else out.