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.

[Little Red]

I just watched the movie Dante’s Peak and it has an awesome suburban in it with a snorkel.
I now have to add a snorkel to my list of future modifications!

So far I have only found 1 write up on CK5 forum about installing a snorkel on a suburban.
Has anyone here done this? If so please post some pictures.
I have read the ARB Snorkel from an FJ80 fits on the suburban with a little adjusting.

[BIGdaddy]

I just watched the movie Dante’s Peak and it has an awesome suburban in it with a snorkel.
I now have to add a snorkel to my list of future modifications!

So far I have only found 1 write up on CK5 forum about installing a snorkel on a suburban.
Has anyone here done this? If so please post some pictures.
I have read the ARB Snorkel from an FJ80 fits on the suburban with a little adjusting.

I heard it was an fj60, actually

and yeah either way, some time with a heat gun to help massage it against the A-pillar is required, otherwise it fits pretty darned well.

The movie studio actually made 2-3 of them if I remember correctly, and the one in the river actually did ford it, without much drama.

[az_eric]

Do you have a link to the ck5 write up?

[chilliwak]

Can we ask how much you payed for that wicked Burb?