What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

89 V2500 Burb- Camping rig

S

socoinslo

1/2 ton status
Joined
Mar 7, 2013
Posts
141
Reaction score
1
Location
Sacramento
Since there isnt a whole lot of action in the Suburban section I thought I would start my own thread about my 1989 Suburban V2500 4x4. Well, that and I would also like to maybe take advantage of the forum knowledge to help me out with my projects:whistle:. I'll start with some background.
My dad bought what my mom has always called "Big Blue" brand new in 89 for our annual family reunion ski trips to Colorado. I remember very well the day he got it and picked me up from second grade the day we were leaving for CO. To say the least I loved it! On that first trip, I could lay comfortably across the third row seat, now I'm 6'5" and can barely even sit back there:haha:. Long story short, after many years of trips to CO with the whole family in big blue (I have 3 brothers and 1 sister) I eventually bought it from my dad when I was 16. I drove it in high school and then took it to college. After college I got my first brand new truck and sadly I lost some interest in big blue. Big blue sat out in our shop for about ten years and took a bit of a beating. Now, I have regained interest/money to try and resurrect big blue.
My plan for it is to make it a mild offroad capable, camping vehicle. I would like it to be reliable and capable of getting me to cool "off the beaten path" places to camp. I plan on building out the back with a platform with drawers for storage underneath and a bed on top.
I have already done a few things to it since I got it to my house so I think Ill just post some pics instead of writing it all out... everything is pretty CK5 standard issue stuff. That being said, thank you to everyone on CK5 for posting their projects... this forum has been a huge help for me to lurk around!:bow:
Some Pics to follow
 
So far I have:
Swapped axles to 14bff and D44 with 4.10s
new tires 35x12.5x17
ORD shackle flip w/greasable bushings
new body mounts
rear disk conversion w new rotors and calipers on all 4 corners with SS lines
tore out the headliner and carpet
bedlined the entire floor, then didnt like it so installed new molded carpet
installed new headliner
new shocks...oops I got RSX9000s and I kinda hate them.
cleaned up rust/grime/? from undercarriage and painted.

To Do list:
New front springs
different shocks
lockers
rear bumper with tire gate
winch
install steering brace
probably cross over steering
build rear bed platform for storage and bed for camping
roof rack
install LQ9 :whistle:

20140209_084044.jpg

20140209_084101.jpg

20140209_084129.jpg
 
So my next task for Big Blue is to get rid of my tired 350 TBI and install a 2006 LQ9. The hardest part of this swap is going to be getting it to pass CA Smog inspection. I plan on doing the install CA legal which creates a lot of issues for me. This is where I would really appreciate any advice, general info, etc.
My plan for right now is to install a fuel tank out of a 99 suburban or tahoe which will already have provisions for the tank pressure sensor and vent solenoid. I think this is going to be the easiest way to incorporate all the evap emissions stuff, without having to really rig up the stock tank. Any one see any major issues I might ave with this?

2013-01-20_17-05-36_527.jpg
 
Nice to see you put the carpet and headliner back in. So much nicer inside with that.

Martin
 
Thank you. It will be a little slow until the end of Feb when I get the LQ9. Right now I am gathering parts for the swap and I am going to pick up the motor from BD turnkey on 2/28 or 3/1 assuming everything stays on schedule.
 
hmm, an 89 2500 suburban thats been in the family for a long time that's getting a BD turnkey engine swap? how about that!

awesome truck man! you've even got the tires i'm looking at getting. my dad bought my suburban in '93 so i'm technically the 3rd owner of mine.
 
Muddysub, ive been lurking around your threads! Its coming along great, thanks for posting. I cant tell you much about those tires yet since ive probably put about 10 miles on them to date, but I can tell you I got them from 4 wheel parts in a buy 3 get one free deal that they do every year around xmas.
Are you going to get yours smogged soon? Bryan at BD was saying that they have recently gotten a little tougher on the smog check in NV.
 
socoinslo said:
Muddysub, ive been lurking around your threads! Its coming along great, thanks for posting. I cant tell you much about those tires yet since ive probably put about 10 miles on them to date, but I can tell you I got them from 4 wheel parts in a buy 3 get one free deal that they do every year around xmas.
Are you going to get yours smogged soon? Bryan at BD was saying that they have recently gotten a little tougher on the smog check in NV.
Click to expand...

he and i talked about that also, i'll be getting to that point within the next month or so. i guess i'll find out when i get to that point. he left the rear O2 sensor pigtails on my harness to add them later if needed.
 
Great build so far. I like it and you have done some axle suspension stuff im planning on doing. How do you like those greasable bushings?
 
Looks like a good plan!

Wish i had my family's 90, but the 91 with the 4l80e keeps me from complaining.
 
eclipse85k10 said:
Great build so far. I like it and you have done some axle suspension stuff im planning on doing. How do you like those greasable bushings?
Click to expand...

Thanks! The bushings are good so far. I haven't put very many miles on them to speak of yet, but the theory behind them seems good to me.
 
dhcomp said:
Looks like a good plan!

Wish i had my family's 90, but the 91 with the 4l80e keeps me from complaining.
Click to expand...

I would love to have the 4L80e, but I have enough money tied up in the motor swap already! Maybe in the future, although I understand it's a bit of a project to get the LQ9 to work with the 4L80e since they were never run together factory.
I like that 91 of yours.
 
socoinslo said:
I would love to have the 4L80e, but I have enough money tied up in the motor swap already! Maybe in the future, although I understand it's a bit of a project to get the LQ9 to work with the 4L80e since they were never run together factory.
I like that 91 of yours.
Click to expand...

It doesn't sound that hard to get the 4l80e to work with the LQ9.

The LQ4 ran with a 4l80e, so i think its just a matter of programming. BD said they could do it with the LQ4.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom