So, I really like burbs and blazers...

[BIGdaddy]

But both of mine were pretty darned un-reliable.

1989 silvarado K5
-700r4 tranny puked its fluid on a trip across the us, then got stuck in 1st gear
-Same trip, blew both rear DS ubolts
-Same trip, rear end started leaking at the cover
-Dead A/C shortly after purchase and right before trip. Recharging it didn't fix it...


1988 3/4t suburban
-rattly rear barn doors
-brakes were very grabby, and even after replacing them, never really felt right...
-loose steering column that I fixed
-dead window motors shortly after purchase. 3, I think
-Dead A/C
-engine ended up being a non-start that I couldn't fix. Might have ended up being a fuel pump, but I couldn't diagnose it after 2 weeks of trying. Sold it for $500.00.


All that being said, I still LOVE those trucks and their simple stout good looks, and comfy seating arrangement

I'm a much better mechanic now, than when I owned either of those rigs, especially the blazer, but man they both seemed to have more than their fair share of issues. Did I just get two lemons, or has anyone else here simply had BAD luck with these rigs?

[ExpoMike]

Sorry to say, most GM products during the '80's were junk. And just so no one thinks I am GM bashing, I am a die hard GM (Chevy) guy. I have found GM products mid '90's and later seem to be of better quality. My '98 C1500 Silverado ran great and I bought it used at 147,000 miles. Sold it to my dad a few years later and it was his daily driver for a year until he retired. Much nicer build quality than many friend's late '80's C1500.

That said, even if you bought a 1990 rig, it's still 22 years old.

[Rot Box]

Maybe I've just had exceptional luck wih Toyota's and Honda's but Every American made vehicle I've owned (Dodges, Fords and Chevrolets) have all made me happy that I am mechanically inclined--some more than others lol. I have had many of the same issues as you and plenty more trust me At this point I try to just stay on top of maintenance and research common problems and solutions for that particular year make and model. Keeping a very detailed log of maintenance is very important to me as well. If I turn a wrench on the Ford it gets documented .

[edlaffoon]

My truck is a '73 K5 and has had every major component replaced in the 4 years I've had it. Engine, Trans (700R4 also) and 203 T-case all puked. Lost a drive shaft too. All of that from just driving down the road with no abuse.

That said I challenge you to find an equally equipped and priced Toyota or Land Rover that is 40 years old and perfect or even close to it. Odds are you will see the EXACT same issues.

It's all about what you like. Japanese trucks are more reliable, but I LOVE my K5.

[BIGdaddy]

My truck is a '73 K5 and has had every major component replaced in the 4 years I've had it. Engine, Trans (700R4 also) and 203 T-case all puked. Lost a drive shaft too. All of that from just driving down the road with no abuse.

That said I challenge you to find an equally equipped and priced Toyota or Land Rover that is 40 years old and perfect or even close to it. Odds are you will see the EXACT same issues.

It's all about what you like. Japanese trucks are more reliable, but I LOVE my K5.

Oooh, I like that body-style. very nice. How many miles did you have on the parts that failed, and that you replaced? Do you remember by chance?

My blazer only had about 80,000 miles, and the suburban had about 150,000.


So, what your saying, just so I'm clear, is that if you took a 1980 land cruiser, land rover, etc... you'd expect to see the same issues? If so, to be perfectly honest, I guess you're probably right about that. Similar to what Mike was talking about...

I see lots of fj40's with chevy small block/th400 swaps around here. I see lots of fj60's with the original 4speed, and 2f motor's, but they're probably the exception. Same with toyota mini-trucks with the carb'd 22r motor, but those are too freakin' small for me and mine. haha!

I know the early jeep XJ's (my rig) were crap, too. Puegeot trannies, and the precursor to the long-lived 4.0L inline six were boat anchors.

[Kermit]

All of the problems you listed I wouldn't consider major, stuff fails, simple as that. Or was never good from the get go...everything can be fixed.

With anything, there are going to be problems...best solution to fix an automatic tranny is to drop a manual in its' place.

Every single vehicle equipped with an automatic trans no matter the brand, I have ever owned has had problems. The manual trans vehicles, never a problem. I have the original clutch in my current truck with 260K miles on the odo.

The compressors go out on the AC units, no big deal in fixing them.

Those old trucks tend to leak oil...the gaskets were poor quality back then, but there are newer materials now, that can be retro fitted.


Buying an old vehicle there are going to be issues, it just a case if you're wiling to work on them all the time....or rebuild them from the ground up, and "fix" the problems that were there even since they were new.

[edlaffoon]

Oooh, I like that body-style. very nice. How many miles did you have on the parts that failed, and that you replaced? Do you remember by chance?
My blazer only had about 80,000 miles, and the suburban had about 150,000.
So, what your saying, just so I'm clear, is that if you took a 1980 land cruiser, land rover, etc... you'd expect to see the same issues? If so, to be perfectly honest, I guess you're probably right about that. Similar to what Mike was talking about...

Yeah it's my favorite too. The previous owner did all the overhauls so there was only 6000 miles on the clock supposedly.

That goes to show that who does the work and how has a lot to do with it.

As for the miles don't get too wrapped up in that because if regular maintenance lacks in the first 5 years of a vehicles life it will fall apart in 6, much less 20 years later. It could only have 30k on the odometer and still be a heap if the gaskets and seals were not cared for.

And yes I was talking about 40 year old trucks but the same is true for 10-30 year old vehicles as well. Japanese trucks are better, marginally to me, but better regardless at being trouble free.

I think that Toyotas are too small, can't tow, are uncomfortable and plain ugly. I love my Blazer. This is how she sits today, patiently waiting on a new trans:

[BurbanAZ]

yea ive had 3 suburbans. I had a 95 1/2 ton Burb with the 350 that has 280k miles and is still running great and i sold it to a friend and he still uses it as his dd. I have a 92 3/4 ton burb with the 454. This truck has taken us all over on some very bad terrain in bad weather, everything always been bomb proof never had any issues except the time i burned up an alternator winching out of snow. Now i have a 94 3/4 ton burb with the 6.5 turbo diesel, and its been great so far. So id vote for the early to mid 90s chevy trucks especially with the TBI if ur going with a gas engine. These are some of the most reliable trucks around in my opinion with just basic maintenance. I used all these trucks very very hard loaded up with gear and never had any major issues.

[BIGdaddy]

yea ive had 3 suburbans. I had a 95 1/2 ton Burb with the 350 that has 280k miles and is still running great and i sold it to a friend and he still uses it as his dd. I have a 92 3/4 ton burb with the 454. This truck has taken us all over on some very bad terrain in bad weather, everything always been bomb proof never had any issues except the time i burned up an alternator winching out of snow. Now i have a 94 3/4 ton burb with the 6.5 turbo diesel, and its been great so far. So id vote for the early to mid 90s chevy trucks especially with the TBI if ur going with a gas engine. These are some of the most reliable trucks around in my opinion with just basic maintenance. I used all these trucks very very hard loaded up with gear and never had any major issues.

interesting. Was there a big change over after 1990-1991-1992 that changed the overall reliability?

For example, my MIL has a 1999 GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab dually with the 454. Despite chugging gas and getting 11mpg's consistantly ($$$$) it's been bombproof drivetrain-wise. They've had stupid little issues with the tailgate latch and the driver's interior door handle, etc, but nothing catastrophic or out of the ordinary. This is with about 160k on the rig.

[ExpoMike]

I think GM took to just building better vehicles starting in the mid 90's. I was watching a report regarding GM a couple years back and one of the top GM execs was on and apologized for how bad the vehicles were in the '80's. He said they were just pushing out as many as they could without any real quality control. GM had been trying to make amends to win back buyers who were burnt back in the "dark days" as he put.

To me, it seem that GM got their head out of their butts and realized that brand loyalty was a lost cause by the '90's and they had to build better quality vehicles to stay competitive with Japan built vehicles. Many people were jumping off the American vehicle bandwagon because of being burnt during the '80's and seeing how much more reliable Japan built were (or persieved).

I know my dad had been a die hard Ford guy until his '81 Bronco. It was the biggest POS I think he has owned and he didn't own another American vehicle until '91 with a Pontiac Firebird. 10 years without an American vehicle due to this one Bronco. Since the Firebird, he has owned 3 more American vehicles and has had nearly zero problems during that time. I know a few others with very similar stories.