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help me plan my build: 1987 suburban

FlatBlackBurb

FlatBlackBurb

1/2 ton status
Joined
Mar 23, 2007
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Location
Santa Cruz, CA
i'm getting large paychecks, school gives me 3 free days a week, and my job is getting easier. you know what that means, its time to build up the burb...

here's a list of what i want to do:

1. 383 stroker, or a 454.
2. dual battery setup (already have a deep cycle and a regular battery. the deep cycle is used for ignition right now and the new battery is just sitting there (i got it free from work) i need to do a dual setup because the new KC's i put in yesterday are draining the battery pretty bad)
3. 8-10'' lift (im debating wether or not to do the 4'' lift 52's in the front)
4. crossover steering
5. 39'' or 40'' swampers or boggers
6. new steering column (or just figure out how to fix mine the steering wheel wobbles up and down really bad)
7. dana 60 front. eventually i'll regear both diffs to 5.13's... of corse ill do it myself and if anyone has any pointers then please help me out



right now this is how my suburban is:

3/4 ton 350 TBI with a 14b semi float in back and the standard GM 10 bolt in front.

4'' lift springs and 4'' blocks in the back.
36'' swampers


thats it: (pic is before daylighters)
cimg1653co7.jpg




if anyone has any ideas or suggestions for items or products to get, let me know. i'm just learning as i go and any input is appreciated. once i start i'll post a build thread with pictures and everything.
 
FlatBlackBurb said:
i'm getting large paychecks, school gives me 3 free days a week, and my job is getting easier. you know what that means, its time to build up the burb...

here's a list of what i want to do:

1. 383 stroker, or a 454.
2. dual battery setup (already have a deep cycle and a regular battery. the deep cycle is used for ignition right now and the new battery is just sitting there (i got it free from work) i need to do a dual setup because the new KC's i put in yesterday are draining the battery pretty bad)
3. 8-10'' lift (im debating wether or not to do the 4'' lift 56's in the front) 4-6" lift and fender trimming
4. crossover steering
5. 39'' or 40'' swampers or boggers
6. new steering column (or just figure out how to fix mine the steering wheel wobbles up and down really bad)
7. dana 60 front and back. eventually i'll regear them to 5.13's... of corse ill do it myself and if anyone has any pointers then please help me out 14bolt rear
Click to expand...

....
 
Personally i'd go 383 over BBC just cuz it's easier to bolt it in. I don't know alot about fuel injection but I know there's more adjustability in EFI and more potential for power. You said you're going dana 60 in the rear?? I wouldn't do that since you also stated that you're going with 40 inch tires, 14FF is what you you should be installing. If you're not afraid to cut the fenders i'd keep it around 6 inches lift and trim it up.

Just my 2 cents.
 
jtrux said:
Personally i'd go 383 over BBC just cuz it's easier to bolt it in. I don't know alot about fuel injection but I know there's more adjustability in EFI and more potential for power. You said you're going dana 60 in the rear?? I wouldn't do that since you also stated that you're going with 40 inch tires, 14FF is what you you should be installing. If you're not afraid to cut the fenders i'd keep it around 6 inches lift and trim it up.

Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

yeah my mistake i just edited it i meant dana 60 front. eventually im going to put a FF in the rear. im not too big on trimming personally... i know i know you all might think im crazy but i like the way my fenders look. thanks for the input dude, im just getting all the input and advice i can handle before i start my build. im going to throw the 383 in really soon.
 
I agree with going with the 383. I love the power of a big block, but the weight and size of one is significant over a sbc. If you could find a 400 sbc that would be even better.
 
projectfreedom said:
I agree with going with the 383. I love the power of a big block, but the weight and size of one is significant over a sbc. If you could find a 400 sbc that would be even better.
Click to expand...

yeah i had a 82 suburban with 38s and 3.73 gears with a 400 and it could actually squel the tires for a second on pavement. by far the best engine i ever owned.
 
IMO unless your engine is giving you trouble, I would leave that untill last. Beef up the rest of the drivetrain (dont waste your time with a dana 60 rear, get a 14bff) then you can start a motor swap. My buddy hopped up the 4.0 in his jeep cherokee, now he doesnt have the money for axles.
 
I vote to get rid of the rear blocks, and then get yourself a 383.
 
I would ditch the blocks, and go with driveline upgrades.

No use having a sweet motor that keeps breaking parts on the trail....
 
Do you already have a locker? If not Im sure you know that is the single best upgrade to make for wheeling (next to a lift & tires). If your putting in the 14 bolt I would get a Detroit for it. Their cheaper for the 14 bolt because you don't have to replace the whole carrier(their around $400 or so). Anyway thats my 2 cents. Good Luck.:D
 
Last edited:
[UPDATE]

well we hit the trail yesterday and ended up going down a really really steep sandy hillclimb that we couldnt get back up. long story short we ended up taking out two gates to get back to the trail. my steering box was already messed up because of the "incident" last week so it finally broke and fluid went everywhere. what i think i'm gonna do now is:

1. x over steering
2. 8 inch lift (ive got a really good price on springs here but they're not 52's. come to think of it i probably wouldnt even have time to do the 52'' swap. i think im just gonna buy the regular springs now and do a swap when i get more time)
3. dana 60 front


what do you guys think is this a good place to start?
here's a couple pics of where we went wheelin yesterday

cimg1687rx8.jpg


cimg1688vx7.jpg
 
Why do you want an 8" lift? It'll have less flex and a higher COG. How about just a 1-2" body and zero rates. That could add three to your four and make seven. Then just switch out your blocks for a DIY4X flip (which gave me more than 4". Nothing wrong with 8" of lift, just giving you some other options to think about. ;)

As for dual batteries, here's some threads with the info on the one I'm doing right now.

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=206430

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203093&page=3

There tons of info and different set ups out there if you search up "dual batteries". Everyone thinks theirs is the best. Of course, I'm the only one who's right. :rolleyes: :D

I'm kidding of course. There are different systems for different needs and budgets. Feel free to ask questions about different ones. Some are more complicated than they seem or claim to be. Some are vulunerable to failure. Some seem complicated but are really simple when broken down. Does that clear it up?

Check out the burb forum, too. It seems kind of dead in there sometimes, but if you have any burb specific questions, there are serveral burb experts that keep an eye on it and usually answer pretty quick.
 
i'm going to do an 8'' lift with 40's.

just to get this straight, what do i need to get to do crossover. i've got a pretty good idea I just want to get a list from the experts before i head out to the junkyard.
 
I doubt you'll need corssover with 8" springs.

They barely flex.
 
If you're doing a D60 soon, you're going to want to do your D60 first and then crossover, or you'll be buying arms twice and that's the most expensive part. The only parts you can get at the pull yard would be the 2wd steering box and pitman arm. Or you can just get the sector shaft and pitman arm, but then you have to disassemble your box to put in the new sector shaft.
 
well i'm pretty sure i can get my hands on a D60 with 4:10 gears. and i know a guy who's selling crossover for a dana 44 and a steering column (mine is shot) for a good price.

i'm gonna put 38's or 40's on. how will the 4:10 gears handle that. keep in mind i'll have a 383. just wondering
 
great looking burb, if you need any help, pm me im always in scz area.
 
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