'89 GMC Suburban restoration/build up project.

[Calplaya]

You have a gorgeous, rust free burban there! I am officially jealous haha! Wish mine was in as good of condition. I cant wait to see what you do with it, it sounds like we have similar ideas for our 89s, mines going a lot slower then i would like, but I will be intently watching your build for sure! maybe I can learn a thing or two from watching you if you beat me to the sleeping/storage platform. Good luck on your build! I love the 5.3L, my dad has that in his 01 Tahoe, it has 230k miles on it and has superb power and is one of the most reliable vehicles he has ever had. Almost as reliable as my 3800 Bonneville I had. But they are torquey engines too, I love them! Keep us posted as you work

 

[dieselfuel]

Keep us posted!!! Interior looks good as well. My one question....why did it sit for six years?

it sat for 6yrs while i went to college and then bought, wheeled and sold a few other rigs. i was mostly concerned with rock crawling so the suburban didn't really do anything for me. i could never quite bring myself to sell it but at the same time, never wanted to take the time to build it right. now that its in my driveway and i see it everyday, its a good motivation to keep moving on it. and as soon as i get something else as a second vehicle i'm tearing apart my '99 chevy and its donating its engine/trans to the suburban.

You have a gorgeous, rust free burban there! I am officially jealous haha! Wish mine was in as good of condition. I cant wait to see what you do with it, it sounds like we have similar ideas for our 89s, mines going a lot slower then i would like, but I will be intently watching your build for sure! maybe I can learn a thing or two from watching you if you beat me to the sleeping/storage platform. Good luck on your build! I love the 5.3L, my dad has that in his 01 Tahoe, it has 230k miles on it and has superb power and is one of the most reliable vehicles he has ever had. Almost as reliable as my 3800 Bonneville I had. But they are torquey engines too, I love them! Keep us posted as you work

thanks man, as mentioned above, i could never bring myself to sell it, being rust/dent free made it hard to let go. i'm really looking forward to it running and being able to do smaller projects like a platform, barn door mounted tables and a roof rack. i doubt it'll get a 5.3L now, ive got a '99 chevy C2500 sitting in the driveway that i paid $600 for. its got a vortec 5.7L and a 4L80E trans that after a quick rebuild will make a nice reliable, damn near free drivetrain for the suburban.

 

[Joanne]

Neat Suburban! They aren't compact, but you can certainly go most places and haul a ton of gear along with you. I'm going to start getting serious about rebuilding my '72 Blazer. It isn't rust free so it's going to be a lot of extra work (I mean $$$$). None the less, I love the 1st gen blazers and want to get this one put together. My dad had one and it was the first vehicle I ever drove.

When I saw the pictures you posted up I was thinking how much it looked like Vegas, then I looked at your city.

Anyway, good luck on your build up! It looks like you've got a great start.

Joanne

 

[dieselfuel]

Neat Suburban! They aren't compact, but you can certainly go most places and haul a ton of gear along with you. I'm going to start getting serious about rebuilding my '72 Blazer. It isn't rust free so it's going to be a lot of extra work (I mean $$$$). None the less, I love the 1st gen blazers and want to get this one put together. My dad had one and it was the first vehicle I ever drove.

When I saw the pictures you posted up I was thinking how much it looked like Vegas, then I looked at your city.

Anyway, good luck on your build up! It looks like you've got a great start.

Joanne

this was actually my first vehicle, i learned how to drive in my suburban.

i got some work done on my Dana60 the other day. installed hubs, WFO crossover steering arm/cap and repacked the bearings. ive got to cut off the old shock mounts and weld on the new ones, fabricate a drag link and tie rod and replace the wheel studs. i've also got new upper shock mounts to install, i need to cut a bunch of parts off the frame and possible re rout some brake lines to do that. still not positive i'll even go through with that, there's nothing wrong with the stock shock upper/lower shock mounts i guess. ive got to get a 2wd steering box and pitman arm also. damn, its kinda depressing when i list it all out like that. i need some pictures to cheer me up.

 

[chilliwak]

Nice looking:Wow1:front axle Diesel! I cant wait to see pics of your truck with that puppy mounted up front.

 

[dieselfuel]

Nice looking:Wow1:front axle Diesel! I cant wait to see pics of your truck with that puppy mounted up front.

if my u-bolts show up tomorrow it'll be happening this weekend. it'll be mounted at least, no steering, brakes or H1 wheels yet...

 

[kfgk14]

You haven't updated the build in a while. You finish the D60 install and hi-steer?

 

[dieselfuel]

no real build progress to post, been collecting parts and working a ton, leaving little/no build time. haven't gotten the 60 done but i did get an engine/trans to throw into it. ive got a '99 chevy C2500 that i paid $600 for, which is donating its vortec 5.7L and 4L80E to the suburban, backed up by a divorced mount NP205. still trying to find the NP205, ford 205s are common as hell, dodge/international ones (passenger drop) are considerably harder to find.

 

[dieselfuel]

I tore the Chevy apart, kept every inch of wiring, the ECM, the engine and trans. The engine is torn down, the heads are at a machine shop, trans is at a shop getting rebuilt, I've been painting chassis/suspension parts and getting ready to install the axle and a bunch of other ****.

 

[dieselfuel]

damn, this hasn't been updated in a while...

lots of progress made, and a few changes along the way as well.

i got the Dana 60, steering, brakes, steering braces (weld in and bolt on), crossmember, ORD upper shackle kit installed.

i cut and machined the DRW (dually) hubs to make the SRW (dingle rear wheel) hubs.

i pulled the 14 bolt and cleaned it up.

installed disc brakes, a DIY4x shackle flip with custom made 6" shackles and spring bushings.

then i bought this from BD Turnkey Engines (www.bdturnkeyengines.com)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jqwgj8qth5hongr/Ultrasound 3GNEC12T64G319311.mp4

some ceramic coated hooker headers

they clear everything great and i got some MSD wires and heat socks to go with them.

mounted the throttle (engine is drive by wire)

the engine in its happy new home.

 

[dieselfuel]

today i got the engine/trans/case set at the angle i need and got the transfer case mocked up so the adapter can be welded.

I've got the case clocked up enough that i only hangs below the frame 2" and i've got room to remove the 2" body lift still.

it's an "infinitely clockable" GM transfer case adapter from Trail tech fab on pirate4x4.com

i also got some wiring cleaned up and painted/installed the front inner fenders. in another week i'll order up a new dash with a set of auto meter gauges from classic dash. while a friend of mine (electronic guru) is wiring all of that in i'll be making fuel lines, power steering lines, heater hoses, etc...

 

[ThrottleHappy]

This is sick, dude. Please keep the updates coming...

 

[arrover]

Yes, please keep the updates coming. This thing is awesome! I especially want to see the Classic Dash set-up. I think they have at least three different gauge panels styles for the 73-91 trucks and I haven't seen enough pictures of them.

 

[VTreker08]

Great work. I will heading towards a re power in my 1991 sub here soon.

 

[dieselfuel]

Nothing new to update, the t-case adapter is at my friend's shop waiting to be welded, gauges are ordered and I'll be working on an PCM mount this weekend.