My 1989 Suburban overland/expedition project

[Little Red]

I bought this Suburban early January 2011 and I am building this to be my new overland / expedition rig.

Specifications:
1989 Chevy Suburban 1500 4x4
5.7L 350 V8 TBI
700R4 4speed auto

I wanted to get a ¾ ton but got a good deal on this one, because it has a rebuilt engine and transmission both with less than 30k miles on them. Maybe doing an axle swap in the feature? I also wanted a red one with grey interior.

I have owned a 2000 Dodge Durango before that I modified as my overland vehicle but used it as a trade in to buy a Dodge challenger. I had been to Yellowstone with it and many other camping and road trips. However it was a little too small to sleep 2 people and haul all our gear (I am 6’7”). Specially if we bring the dogs too.

I always liked the older square body style Suburbans (1973-1991) and have had an 86 ¾ ton suburban that I recently sold. I used that one mainly for hauling fire wood, dump runs, etc.
I chose the 89 to 91 model year suburbans above any other year because it has TBI (the fuel injection gets me about 2 to 4 miles more than my 86), has overdrive and has the newer grille and some newer interior and these are the last years with solid axels.



Here is a picture from when I bought it.



This is after I did some modifications.

I took the ski box off, took the running boards off (better clearance) and installed 2 Bully aluminum steps up front so my wife can get in. Took off the ugly spoiler and installed a LED 3rd brake light.



This picture is from late January

I bought black 17” rims and 33”Dean mud terrain tires (just in time before the snow), also got a 2nd battery for dual battery set up. (still have to get everything hooked up and decide what system to use)


I found a roof rack for it, repainted it (with spray on bedliner) and mounted it. (April 2011)


As it sits now (June 2011), I spray painted the rocker panels black with spray on bedliner, I mounted some backup lights, put the spare tire on the roof rack, installed my CB radio and made a storage/sleeping platform for the back.

Current modifications:

- 17” black steel wheels
- 33” Dean Mud Terrain tires
- Custom safari roof rack
- Cabalas Trail gear seat covers
- LMC bug shield
- Dual batteries
- 2 pro comp off road lights
- Emergency warning lights

Future modification I plan on doing:

- finish dual battery setup
- 3-4 inch lift (ORD)
- winch bumper with brush guard
- 12000 pound winch
- rear bumper with gas can mount and tire carrier
- Snorkel (like the Suburban in Dante's Peak)
- Fog lights, spot lights and backup lights
- Diesel engine (Cummins if I can afford it)
- 3/4 ton axels
- Bushwacker fender flares
- Paint job
- and who knows what else

I will post pictures and keep you guys updated of the progress.
It will be slow as I have limited money and time to work on it.
But I am planning on driving this truck to Alaska summer 2012 (if I can afford the gas) and hope to have all modifications done by then.

There is lots of great info on this site and I am glad I found it, (I wish I knew all this when I build my Durango) thanks to everyone for sharing this…

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

We had an '89 Suburban when I was growing up. It took us to many a fishing hole. Great rig!

Welcome and good luck with your build!

[coreys88burban]

nice, i love red/black combos. what 3rd brake light did you install? i was looking at the tailgate fire/ice blinker ones from recon

[Little Red]

what 3rd brake light did you install? i was looking at the tailgate fire/ice blinker ones from recon

I installed a factory 3rd brake light of a 92-99 suburban, the picture has too much snow on it to really see it but I will post some more soon.

[Northman]

Nice Truck !

[Little Red]

Alright here is a little update on my project

I am planning on driving my suburban from WA to Alaska summer 2012
So I am hoping to have all the work done by then.

Just replaced the front brakes last week and I finally found a pair of bucket seats that match my suburban, I will be driving to Bellingham today to pick them up.

[ratkin]

I installed a factory 3rd brake light of a 92-99 suburban, the picture has too much snow on it to really see it but I will post some more soon.

Any update on this? I'm really interested in this mod as well.

[coreys88burban]

i asked 4wheel parts to verify my info i found and they say, it is in fact a Safari snorkle made for any 80 SERIES Toyota (passanger side) 4wheelparts in tacoma will charge $409 for the parts, but you havve to install on your own.

[Little Red]

Any update on this? I'm really interested in this mod as well.

Sorry I have not posted an update on this yet, I lost my SD card out of my camera. I am going to buy a new one today and then I will post some pictures.

[shovelbill]

I bought this Suburban early January on Craigslist.
It’s an 1989 half ton with a 350 engine (5.7L V8) 4 speed auto with overdrive and TBI
I wanted to get a ¾ ton but got a good deal on this one, because it has a rebuilt engine and transmission both with less than 30k miles on them. Maybe doing an axle swap in the feature? Also I wanted a red one with grey interior.

I have owned a 2000 Dodge Durango before that I modified as my overland vehicle but used it as a trade in to buy a Dodge challenger. I have been to Yellowstone with it and many other camping and road trips. However it was a little too small to sleep 2 people and haul all our gear (I am 6’7”).
I always liked the older body style Suburbans (1973-1991) and have had an 86 ¾ ton suburban that I just sold. I used that one mainly for hauling fire wood and large materials.
I chose the 89 to 91 model suburbans above any other year because it has TBI (the fuel injection gets me about 2 to 4 miles more than my 86), has overdrive and has the newer grille and some newer interior and these are the last years with solid axels.



Here is a picture from when I bought it.



This is after I did some modifications.

I took the ski box off, took the running boards off (better clearance) and installed 2 Bully aluminum steps up front so my wife can get in. Took off the ugly spoiler and installed a LED 3rd brake light.



This picture is from late January

I bought black 17” rims and 33”Dean mud terrain tires (just in time before the snow), also got a 2nd battery for dual battery set up. (still have to get everything hooked up and decide what system to use)

Future modification I plan on doing:

-finish dual battery setup
-winch bumper with brush guard
-12000 pound winch
-rear bumper with gas can mount and tire carrier
-custom full size roof rack
-4” suspension lift
-Snorkel (like the Suburban in Dante's Peak)
-Fog lights, spot lights and backup lights
-emergency lights (as I am a volunteer fire fighter and will be using this as a rescue rig also)
-upgrade the front bench seat to bucket seats
-and who knows what else

I will post pictures and keep you guys updated of the progress.
It will be slow as I have limited money and time to work on it.

There is lots of great info on this site and I am glad I found it, (I wish I knew all this when I build my Durango) thanks to everyone for sharing this…

it all sounds good so far, but i would be more concered with upgrading to a 1 ton (not 3/4 ton) axle setup sooner than later.....all the weight you want to add will snap those 10 bolts at the worst possible time. all the goo-gaz are nice, but a bullet proof drivetrain would be my first choice if i was going where i couldn't expect help in short order.