Kay86K5 submitted a new Build:
1993 3/4 Ton Suburban Build (slow)
Read more about this build here...
1993 3/4 Ton Suburban Build (slow)
Read more about this build here...
CK5
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I have my 86 K5 that is a built crawler trailer queen, then I have my 89 V3500 I built to be mainly a tow rig. I’ve been wanting to have something that was somewhat in between that could still tow a car trailer or something similar, but can be used on more mild mountain trails/roads for hunting, camping, fishing types of trips that is still road worthy, can haul some people/gear and be dependable. I also dont want to put any more miles on my crew cab than I need to as they are pretty rare rigs now and I want mine around for the long haul. I was cruising craigslist (never a good idea, haha) and found this 1993 3/4 ton Suburban for sale. Has a TBI454, 4l80e, manual shift NP241, 14bff rear with 3.73 gears. Its was pretty clean as a whole and seemed like it ran well. It has 190k miles on it, but it doesnt concern me that much cause it has been very well maintained. After some wheeling and dealing with the seller, walked away paying $2900 for it 
. I felt like it was a heck of a deal!! I drove it home 45 min today and it runs real good and smooth. Shifts great (feels like it has a shift kit in it, owner said it did), and pretty much everything works in it, even the cruise control!
. I felt like it was a heck of a deal!! I drove it home 45 min today and it runs real good and smooth. Shifts great (feels like it has a shift kit in it, owner said it did), and pretty much everything works in it, even the cruise control!
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More pics
Couple more pics
So some of the plans for this build are I plan to do a SAS on this thing. I dont want to lift it too tall cause I would like to still be able to tow with it somewhat, was hoping for a lift somewhere around what @GWeakland620 has on his crew cab, some 33-35” tires, would love to have 4.56 gears, front and rear bumpers, maybe build some sliders/steps, bla bla bla.
None of this is going to happen anytime soon as all I plan to do immediately is clean up the interior and fix some small things here and there and make sure mechanically its good and dependable. I’m thinking i’ll do some power adders to the TBI454 at some point too. Probably some heads, cam, exhaust, tune, etc to try and get a bit more power out of it for towing. My brother was trying to convince me to just throw a whipple supercharger on it and go...and I’m not gonna lie, I’m thinking about it.
This will be a real slow build, but anytime I do anything to this rig, I’ll post it up here as time goes on.
What do you guys think?
None of this is going to happen anytime soon as all I plan to do immediately is clean up the interior and fix some small things here and there and make sure mechanically its good and dependable. I’m thinking i’ll do some power adders to the TBI454 at some point too. Probably some heads, cam, exhaust, tune, etc to try and get a bit more power out of it for towing. My brother was trying to convince me to just throw a whipple supercharger on it and go...and I’m not gonna lie, I’m thinking about it.
This will be a real slow build, but anytime I do anything to this rig, I’ll post it up here as time goes on.
What do you guys think?
Great project.
I've had the same idea except I sold all my K5's and now I am itching to build something that isn't a complete crawler and has AC.
Don't want to mess with the crew cab much more. It's set up for towing and I have a decent 99 Suburban with 454/4L80e, 2wd drive with less than 100k that I have been collecting SAS parts for.
Thinking something like an overgrown Penny.
Keep the pics coming.
I've had the same idea except I sold all my K5's and now I am itching to build something that isn't a complete crawler and has AC.
Don't want to mess with the crew cab much more. It's set up for towing and I have a decent 99 Suburban with 454/4L80e, 2wd drive with less than 100k that I have been collecting SAS parts for.
Thinking something like an overgrown Penny.
Keep the pics coming.
While the square bodies are my favorite. I definitely would pick up a suburban of that generation.
Should be a awesome build.
Should be a awesome build.
This should be cool!
So been doing some thinking, and research on SAS's, and also thinking about the overall use of this vehicle when it's all said and done. Obviously I've been thinking just find a Ford d60 to do the SAS with to compliment the 14bff in the rear of this thing already, but in the end I don't ever plan to take this thing on any hardcore off-road trails. Like I mentioned above, it's main goal will be backup tow rig and will see some mountain roads/mild wheeling trails (more destination trails) with my family to go fishing/hunting and those mild trails I don't want to spend the hassle to tow my blazer to when it's not even a challenge for my blazer.
So with that in mind, I'm wondering if it might be a little cheaper just to find a Ford d44 and swap that into the front of this thing instead? What do you guys think?
I guess it all depends on what deal I can find on a front axle when the time comes. I know the 78-79 ford d60's go for more money, but do the similar year ford d44's go for the same price?
So with that in mind, I'm wondering if it might be a little cheaper just to find a Ford d44 and swap that into the front of this thing instead? What do you guys think?
I guess it all depends on what deal I can find on a front axle when the time comes. I know the 78-79 ford d60's go for more money, but do the similar year ford d44's go for the same price?
That is driver side drop right? I would do either a late 70s ford dana 44 or get a super duty front axle as they are just as cheap.
Been contemplating the same thing for my 2dr Tahoe, still leaning toward the superduty unless I find a D44 cheap enough.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Why bother with a solid front axle at all?
From your description of the intended use, I am kind of at a loss why you would bother? Short of a coil setup a straight axle won't ride as well.
Unless your hardcore wheeling with it you probably won't break the ifs.
Lifting it a won't help with towing.
You have bad ass blazer to beat on, why you would actually wheel this? Trails and fire roads the ifs will be fine.
Spend the money getting a rear locker and posi lock for the front diff, a supercharger for the fat block. Tires, good shocks. Etc, etc. Tons of things you can do to make this thing better without instantly junking the (probably in good working order ifs)
I honestly feel like enough due isn't made for the ifs systems on these trucks. They are actually pretty good. But because they don't articulate like a solid the hardcore guys like yourself want to junk them.
I have the pickup carbon copy of this ride and have taken it all around the mts, in Colorado and Wyoming, and never felt the need for a solid axle for (basic) trail running.
From your description of the intended use, I am kind of at a loss why you would bother? Short of a coil setup a straight axle won't ride as well.
Unless your hardcore wheeling with it you probably won't break the ifs.
Lifting it a won't help with towing.
You have bad ass blazer to beat on, why you would actually wheel this? Trails and fire roads the ifs will be fine.
Spend the money getting a rear locker and posi lock for the front diff, a supercharger for the fat block. Tires, good shocks. Etc, etc. Tons of things you can do to make this thing better without instantly junking the (probably in good working order ifs)
I honestly feel like enough due isn't made for the ifs systems on these trucks. They are actually pretty good. But because they don't articulate like a solid the hardcore guys like yourself want to junk them.
I have the pickup carbon copy of this ride and have taken it all around the mts, in Colorado and Wyoming, and never felt the need for a solid axle for (basic) trail running.
My question is, how cheap are 44's going for around there? We talked about the price on a BJ60, are they cheaper than that?
Correct, driver drop. Plus I have the manual shift 241 case...which I want to keep and just get a ford axle
Yeah, starting to think either one of those axles would fit the bill just fine, I guess just looking for the right deal.
Why bother with a solid front axle at all?
From your description of the intended use, I am kind of at a loss why you would bother? Short of a coil setup a straight axle won't ride as well.
Unless your hardcore wheeling with it you probably won't break the ifs.
Lifting it a won't help with towing.
You have bad ass blazer to beat on, why you would actually wheel this? Trails and fire roads the ifs will be fine.
Spend the money getting a rear locker and posi lock for the front diff, a supercharger for the fat block. Tires, good shocks. Etc, etc. Tons of things you can do to make this thing better without instantly junking the (probably in good working order ifs)
I honestly feel like enough due isn't made for the ifs systems on these trucks. They are actually pretty good. But because they don't articulate like a solid the hardcore guys like yourself want to junk them.
I have the pickup carbon copy of this ride and have taken it all around the mts, in Colorado and Wyoming, and never felt the need for a solid axle for (basic) trail running.
In short, it's cause I want to
. My blazer is not street legal so I have to tow it anywhere I go. And it's built hardcore enough that going through the hassle of loading it up and towing to do a mild/moderate trail is freaking annoying and stupid. That's why I want a rig that is more in the middle, but still be able to tow a car trailer ok enough to get the job done when I need to. Also, I might have this rig be my new snow wheeling rig, who knows.I do agree with you, the IFS's on these trucks, especially the 2500/3500 series trucks are fine and do well, and probably don't get enough credit...but I've wanted to SAS one of these GMT400 rigs for a long time cause I think they're freaking cool...and now I have a rig that is just begging for it!
I don't know yet, just started looking at them and really haven't even priced them out yet. I just know for sure the 78-79 ford d60's go for money! And the more I thought about it, even a d44 would probably do just fine, so I thought about it. I for sure am contemplating the BJ60 like what you did, and I'll keep that in mind as I'm looking at prices
beags86
Eastbound and Down
In short, it's cause I want to
I do agree with you, the IFS's on these trucks, especially the 2500/3500 series trucks are fine and do well, and probably don't get enough credit...but I've wanted to SAS one of these GMT400 rigs for a long time cause I think they're freaking cool...and now I have a rig that is just begging for it!
Fair. I won't argue with "want".
I'll shut up now. Just here for the ride.
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Yeah other than wanting a SAS you could just do some good skid plates and a rear locker and take it all over the place. I've seen our bone stock ifs F150s at work go places you would never think they could with a little momentum and no care for bashing into rocks.
I saw a newer version of this same vehicle for sale the other day on ksl.com. It was like a 2000 3/4 ton burb with a 454 and like 78,000 miles. I want one for a do-all rig like you are planning also or I'll probably just wait til the wife wants a newer ride and take her '08 Yukon xl denali and modify it for myself. I usually end up with her hand-me-down vehicles anyway.
I saw a newer version of this same vehicle for sale the other day on ksl.com. It was like a 2000 3/4 ton burb with a 454 and like 78,000 miles. I want one for a do-all rig like you are planning also or I'll probably just wait til the wife wants a newer ride and take her '08 Yukon xl denali and modify it for myself. I usually end up with her hand-me-down vehicles anyway.
the IFS maintenance will nickle and dime you to death, especially one with 200K miles on it.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Anything with 200k does that....
a straight axle has less moving parts to deal with though.
I know on my 79 3/4 ton Ford 44 has the same brakes as a 60....but even on my area they are getting tough to find. Was at a yard other day, other than one or two GM 60s I don’t think they had anything else. But rebuilding a 44 is almost as much as a 60!!!! I’ll be watching the build....
