'84 Diesel Suburban Build Thread

[nitro_rat]

After 534,000 miles, the right front spring and shackle gave out on my '84 Burb, so here we go. It's overdue for tires and shocks too.

I looked at 3 leaf stock replacements, '88-'91 style 3 leaf stock replacements, 4 leaf stock replacements, '88-'91 style shackles, ORD's super shackles...

I ordered 2" Tuff Country HD leafs, stock replacement '88-'91 style shackles, new U-Bolts, new spring bolts, 3" blocks for the back and Tuff Country Nitro 8000 shocks from sdtrucksprings.com.

I also ordered some 33x10.50r15 BFG A/T's. On my '88 burb, I ran 32x11.50 Buckshots, then 33x12.50 Buckshots. I liked the 33's, but couldn't fit a matching spare in the well. Hopefully the 33x10.50 will fit.

I'll update with some pics when the parts arrive. If anybody has pics of a burb with a 2" lift, post them up please!

By the way, the 6.2 has never been into, although the trans (700R4) gets replaced every 150-175k.

 

[375 H&H]

wow! that's a ton of miles.

my '91 has ~2" of lift (about an inch from the 1 ton axles higher perches, and 1" Zero Rates). i'll also be going with 33s next

not a great pic to show stance, but Photobucket won't let me upload lately. this is one already uploaded.

[

 

[nitro_rat]

That's an awesome truck you started out with there. '91 2500, 6.2, 4l80.
I'd probably be happy with that one stock + tires!

Got my tires mounted this morning, crappy cell phone pics coming soon...

 

[nitro_rat]

Ok, here's before...



and here's after...



Gained a full 2" all the way around. The old 31x10.50's were almost down to the wear bars. I know ya'll like porn, so here's a front and back view -





I tried to get a left and right side view (before and after), but I can't get them to upload correctly. The left front spring has sagged really bad and the shackle bushings are MIA, the shackle leans pretty bad. It's a full 2" lower at the left front than the right rear. Here's the before...



With all the space in the wheel wells before it wasn't readily apparent. I can really see the lean with the bigger tires! 33x12.50's would definitely rub. In fact, the 10.50's would probably rub with more offset. It doesn't help that the fender/bumper is crunched on that side too!

I think that I would be happy with this size at the current height, but with the lift I may have to go to 12.50's. We'll see.

Here's one more on the lift...



I'm going off-shore next week, so it will probably be a few weeks before I can get to the lift. The parts haven't even got here yet!

 

[Gunnar1971]

Nice! Can't believe 500k, that makes me look forward to, hopefully, not having to touch mine ever again.

I have been told mine has a 4" lift.

Just got new mufflers and the tailpipes put back on yesterday.

 

[nitro_rat]

I wish I would have found this before I started ordering stuff...



In this thread, down the page: http://www.nc4x4.com/forum/index.php?threads/pictures-of-daily-driver.120963/

No specs though. I found some other pics of it last night too, but no specs. It's definitely 33x12.50's and probably 2-1/2" or 3" lift. Perfect. But the 12.50 won't fit in my spare tire well. We'll see how it turns out. May end up with 1 33x10.50 in the well, and 4 33x12.50's on the ground.

 

[nitro_rat]

Gunnar, I think the flares help close in your wheel wells (and keep your truck clean!). The thumbnail of the red burb in my signature is 33x12.50's no lift. A 4" lift stock body needs 35's to look right to me.

 

[Gunnar1971]

Yeah, I need to update my spare, as it is still a 31, might have to check out under the truck and see if I can add an inch or two to the spare tire well.

 

[nitro_rat]

The 33x12.50's worked good on my '88 but the wheel wells looked a little too "full". I did have to trim the fenders in front, but only the lip at the bottom inside the fender. You wouldn't know if I didn't show you where. The back sidewalls would rub inside the wheel well at full stuff but no harm, no foul.

 

[Gunnar1971]

Gunnar, I think the flares help close in your wheel wells (and keep your truck clean!). The thumbnail of the red burb in my signature is 33x12.50's no lift. A 4" lift stock body needs 35's to look right to me.

Good to know.

 

[nitro_rat]

How to clear 33x12.50's with no lift



Between my fingers is where you have to cut to clear 33's with no lift. 4 places. Front and back of each wheel well. You just whack the corner off at an angle with a sawzall or portable band saw. Got to pull the tire if you use the band saw. The guys at my local tire shop don't charge to cut stuff off my truck, so I let them do it!

If you don't want the trim to flap in the breeze drill a hole and put the screw from the part you cut off back in it. I usually just have them amputate the trim right below the next screw up. (I know, I just screwed up the truck, right?!!)

If you do a neat job, you can't even tell from looking at the side of the truck. You just about have to stick your head in the wheel well. The guys at the tire shop say this clearance = same as 3" lift. IDK, but I know it will clear 33's stock, all the way to full stuff/full lock.

 

[nitro_rat]

Nice! Can't believe 500k, that makes me look forward to, hopefully, not having to touch mine ever again.

It's had all the normal stuff replaced at normal intervals. The radiator has been cleaned out every 5-8 yrs, it gets the oil and filter changed every 2-2500 miles. Never over 3000. I use Delo 15w40 and WIX filters. If you have the original Stanadyne fuel filter you can use anybody's replacement. They're all reboxed Stanadyne units. Always keep a few in the truck. I keep a sharpie and write the date and mileage on all filters when I change them.

The screen mesh across the front really helps keep the condenser/radiator free of bugs and such. After 2 or 3 years without it, it looks like a massive rat's nest between the condenser and radiator! The 700R4 has been swapped 4 or 5 times (every 150-175K it seems like), and it's had a few injector pumps too. The heads have never been off though. No major service. Got 60G's and a manual glow button when they came out.

The rear end was totally rebuilt (gears, carrier, bearings, etc) at 300k. It's been painted once, and the front seat has been reupholstered once. Warn manuals on the front for 2lo at the boat ramp. Never been seriously off road or in mud.

I bought it from the original owner (friend of the family) at around the 500K mark. I'd known it for a good 10 or 15 years previously. I drive all over the country for work. If it dies tomorrow, I'll laugh and stick canned surplus CUCV motor in it.

 

[imiceman44]

I wish I would have found this before I started ordering stuff...



In this thread, down the page: http://www.nc4x4.com/forum/index.php?threads/pictures-of-daily-driver.120963/

No specs though. I found some other pics of it last night too, but no specs. It's definitely 33x12.50's and probably 2-1/2" or 3" lift. Perfect. But the 12.50 won't fit in my spare tire well. We'll see how it turns out. May end up with 1 33x10.50 in the well, and 4 33x12.50's on the ground.

My 33x12.5 fits fine in my spare tire well but mine are on 8" wide wheels.
If you have 10" wheels it won't fit.

 

[nitro_rat]

My 33x12.50 buckshots on aftermarket 15x8's wouldn't come close to fitting in the red 'burb's well, even aired down. I always carry a good compressor, so I would have been satisfied to haul it flat. My 32x11.50 spare would only hold air a few days anyway!

Maybe on the stock rims it will fit. Anybody want some 33x10.50's with 30 miles on them?

 

[imiceman44]

My 33x12.50 buckshots on aftermarket 15x8's wouldn't come close to fitting in the red 'burb's well, even aired down. I always carry a good compressor, so I would have been satisfied to haul it flat. My 32x11.50 spare would only hold air a few days anyway!

Maybe on the stock rims it will fit. Anybody want some 33x10.50's with 30 miles on them?

That is weird.
My wheels are aftermarket aluminum and the tire is a brand new truxus MT so as big as it gets, I did kind of had to put it in straight down then lean it to fit and it doesn't move at all.

As for the 33x10.5 if I was closer I would grab those for my blazer chalet.

 

[nitro_rat]

I'll have to see how it looks with the lift. I'm thinking 12.50s are in my future though. I can usually get a bald bfg at at the local tire shop for a $10. They might even mount one up on a rally's for me to try gratis. I've got to check that out. Leaving for the gulf tomorrow though, so it will have to wait a week or two.