89 Suburban Build

[All Steel]

Hey everyone! Just picked up this 89 Suburban 2500 last night. It has it minor flaws. The steering is very sloppy, thats going to get fixed first. The previous owner thought it would be a great idea to swap the axles from 8 lug to 6 lug. I guess they came from a blazer. He also trimmed the fenders to fit 33s which I didn't like at all. I'm trying to figure out why my tail lights blink when I turn on the right turn signal. Here's pics:


Converted to 6 lug


Whole front steering system needs to be rebuilt.

Rag joint needs to be replaced.

 

[82355]

My guess is the Blazer was getting a 3/4 ton swap, and your Suburban was the donor vehicle.

What don't you like about the trim? Looks clean enough.

What are your plans?

Martin

 

[All Steel]

My guess is the Blazer was getting a 3/4 ton swap, and your Suburban was the donor vehicle.

What don't you like about the trim? Looks clean enough.

What are your plans?

Martin

Yeah, the previous owner still has the 8 lugs if I want them. Still debating if I should make it a pavement pounder or a off road toy.

Plans:
Rebuild the engine and th400.
Paint the truck black
6 inch lift with 35s
possibly convert back to 8 lug.
Bedline the back of the truck

 

[82355]

What gears are in the current axles? What gears were in the 3/4 ton axles?

Martin

 

[All Steel]

What gears are in the current axles? What gears were in the 3/4 ton axles?

Martin

I have no idea what gears I have right now. I tried using 4x4 and the truck skips a little. The front is moving faster the back. So the front is kinda pulling the back.

 

[D Rat]

First, you have a very good looking suburban, it could be a twin to mine when I first brought it home.

Second, I would not try four wheel drive on the street till you find out what gear ratio is in both axles, you could have some left overs under your burb.

If you decide to go hard core, I have one ton set D60/14ff for sale.

 

[All Steel]

Got most of the parts to rebuild the steering: Center Link, drag link, inner and outer tie rods, adjusting sleeves. Just waiting for steering box,pitman arm, rag joint, and steering arm. Got everything? Also do our trucks have a idler arm? Couldn't find one when I looked under the truck.

 

[All Steel]

First, you have a very good looking suburban, it could be a twin to mine when I first brought it home.

Second, I would not try four wheel drive on the street till you find out what gear ratio is in both axles, you could have some left overs under your burb.

If you decide to go hard core, I have one ton set D60/14ff for sale.

I'd be interested in your one ton axles. I did try to use 4wd and I went slow. When I was driving in 4Low the truck skips a little like the front tires are dragging the rear. Haven't put it in 4wd since.

 

[All Steel]

My fuel pump decided to go out after I just filled up the tank. Should I just syphon all 40gallons out and drop the tank? Or just cut a hole in the rear of the burban?

 

[hidesertwheelin]

My fuel pump decided to go out after I just filled up the tank. Should I just syphon all 40gallons out and drop the tank? Or just cut a hole in the rear of the burban?

Cut a hole in the rear. I did that, then got a piece of floor a little bit bigger and used self tapping screws to hold it in place. Not it's a removable hatch

 

[82355]

Don't cut a hole. The previous owner did that to my Blazer. I wish he hadn't.

Martin

 

[D Rat]

Get a GOOD transmission jack or atv jack and lower the tank with skid plate.

 

[All Steel]

Cut a hole in the rear. I did that, then got a piece of floor a little bit bigger and used self tapping screws to hold it in place. Not it's a removable hatch

Right now I'm trying to think if it's the actual fuel pump or just wiring or the relay. It keeps blowing fuses, so I heard that if the fuel pump is bad it draws too much amperage and blows the fuse. It just gave out last night, the truck was idling rough and surging.

 

[drumbound]

Try jumping the pump to see if it operates. It is quite easy, behind the aircleaner just above the distributor and to the passenger side there is a connector with one shielded female spade. Run direct power to it and if the pump operates then the pump is working. I would make sure I ran the power through an inline fuse, just in case. But that should help you a little with troubleshooting.

 

[All Steel]

I found the problem. It's the oil pressure switch. I unplugged it and there's a crap ton of oil in the oil pressure switch connector and in the oil switch itself. I unplugged it and the fuel pump turned on, started the truck, and it starts up then dies. My dumb ass tried plugging it back in without cleaning it and there was **** ton of smoke. I hope I didn't fry the connector. I might just buy another connector and try splicing it in.

 

[All Steel]

Finally got to the oil pressure switch. Removed the spark plugs, distributor cap/distributor.



Old oil pressure switch, notice all the oil and debris in the socket?



Here's the new one.



Started the truck, oil pressure stays steady now. But now it idles rough and stalls if I don't give it gas. Drove it and it hesitates and doesn't go above 10mph until it's in 2nd gear. Before the pressure switch went out on Thursday night it was idling and running fine l. I thought it was the injectors and rebuilt the tbi in the parking lot. It could be a few things: fuel pressure regulator, clogged fuel filter, Idle air control valve, or TPS. I'm leaning towards a clogged fuel filter cause it looks like it hasn't been changed in years.

 

[cyclic]

You also pulled the distributor, could be timing issue.

 

[All Steel]

You also pulled the distributor, could be timing issue.

Before I even pulled it to change the oil switch. I started it with the switch unplugged and it was doing the same thing. I can drive it but it hesitates to get up and go after 5 seconds it has power again.

 

[cyclic]

Also might be the fuel hose inside the tank. If it's old it can bleed off all the pressure before it even leaves the tank.

 

[All Steel]

Rebuilt the TBI with new gaskets and seals and new FPR.Tried starting the truck it wouldn't start up. the right injector sprayed fuel from the top. When the fuel pump primes before you start the truck. Some gas comes out out of the injector, they're brand new injectors.