Opinions???

71ChargerRT

71ChargerRT

Well-known member
I'm looking at a 90ish Suburban 2500 for a family/tow vehicle. The body is straight, with no rust, cancer anyway, it does need a paint job and some TLC. I'll find out the asking price tomorrow, it looks like a small block, probably a 350. I was wondering what you all think of these trucks. I have 3 kids so I need something with room, and 4 doors that'll haul them, their gear and pull a trailer be it a camper, car or boat. Do any of you know of any issues that I need to keep in mind when looking at one of these?
 
Get the engine warm, then shut it off for 20 minutes. Fire it up afterwards, and look for blue smoke. That era of 350 is notorious for wasting the cylinder heads. Being a 2500, if memory serves, the 350 was the smallest powerplant available.

Depending on the year, it may be a solid-axle R/V chassis (this would be the ones with the '73 doors and the copycat '88 grille). If it's '93 or newer, pay attention to the half-shafts and front wheel bearings. One way or the other, the transmission was a trouble spot on those trucks, so give it a close ear when you test drive it.

Realistically, other than those items, those trucks were pretty indestructible.

Opinions? The Democratic party has gone insane... Middle America will vote for neither a black man, nor a woman--particularly Hillary.
 
This one is a 2wd, it is the older, square body style. The newer ones just don't seem to be as tough. It has just over 200K but I was thinking, being a 2500, it would be a good canidate for a Cummins transplant in the not too distant future...besides Chevy 350's are cheap and plentiful
 
Well, Chev 350s may be cheap and plentiful, but not so much with the post-'87 TBI engines... because they're all sporting shot heads.

A Cummins swap would be way cool. Be forwarned, though: even an early 12V Cummins is still relatively expensive. Being that you're in TX, you might do alright on resale with it, but I can tell you that here in the north country, a 2WD Suburban brings less than a same-year Camry.
 
Not much need for 4wd's down here, probably for the same reason the body's not rotted off the frame :bwuhaha: Besides with the diesel swap, even if it were a 4wd it would be too nose heavy to be a good off road vehicle. Thank you for your opinion Doc. :bravo:
 
Just do some research before you buy... those ¾-ton trucks can be pricey to repair. Look into common-wear items such as front-end parts, steering linkage, and brakes--that bit of slop in the steering wheel may equate into $1000 at the alignment shop, and I can tell ya right now, 8-lug brake parts are never inexpensive.
 
Yup, doing research as we speak. Full floating rear axle, are they the ones where the axle unbolts before you can pull the drum? I can never remember
 
They have axle shafts that can be removed without pulling the drums... just pull the cover off and slide it out. Handy if you break a shaft, but yes--the drums are more of a pain in the ass to remove.
 
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