I finally have a my own Suburban!

[DarkandShiny]

How'd the plug look for number 3?

I don't remember exactly - all the plugs looked a bit worn and more gap than I like. I'll be replacing plugs, wires, and d-cap shortly as well. Even if I sell the motor those things will need to be done anyway.

As soon as I get it off the lift I will remove the running boards and post the pics.

 

[cuervo]

No barn doors!

Barn doors > tailgate any day of the week and twice on Sunday!!!

 

[DarkandShiny]

Barn doors > tailgate any day of the week and twice on Sunday!!!

Funny how we all have our personal preference on this matter. My selection criteria for my project suburban was pretty specific. I wanted a suburban with the '73-91 body style; preferably newer like 88-91. I also required a stock truck as I didn't want to be messing around with another guy's modifications. I wanted a 3/4 ton for the slightly beefier frame and running gear (like a 14 bolt). I absolutely required a truck with no rust as I simply don't have the skills, tools and patience to deal with it.

For a short time growing up we had a suburban with a tailgate and I recall being able to roll down the windows a bit and having a nice, gentle breeze flowing through the cabin on hot August days. The tailgate is also a nice table/work surface while camping. I know the barn doors are less maintenance and don't break like the tailgate is prone to do, but I probably wouldn't have made the purchase if it had them.

I got everything in my truck that I wanted. 3/4 ton, 1989 low miles, rust free, tail gate, 4x4, rear air-conditioning, no previous modifications.

No truck is perfect however so here is a list of things I'm not thrilled about.

• Interior is in fairly poor shape - headliner, seats, carpet etc all need to be replaced.
• The rear axle is a semi-float, not a full floater. I'm going to have to swap.
• Transmission appears to be a 3 speed. I guess that was fine when gas was .80 a gallon. I would like at least 5 gears. Swap is being planned.

 

[cuervo]

Yeah my 87 had a tailgate with electric window. The window was the biggest pain in the arse for me. I replaced the motor, cable, felt and cleaned and grease the tracks but it would never roll up all the way own its own very fast. In colder weather I had to help it up.

Your burb looks like a great start for sure. My 91 was completely stock when I got it and rust free with barn doors. Like you I wasn't going to buy the burb if it didn't the doors I wanted.

Good luck brother!

 

[DarkandShiny]

The window was the biggest pain in the arse for me. I replaced the motor, cable, felt and cleaned and grease the tracks but it would never roll up all the way own its own very fast. In colder weather I had to help it up.

Yeah I think your experience is pretty typical of these old tailgates. The design isn't the greatest and the parts aren't fantastic so they don't age well. I've fixed two in the past and had good success so I'll keep my fingers crossed that I can repeat that performance. If not, the shop I go to is owned by an old guy (previous member here) who said he has done several conversions from tailgate to barn doors.

 

[imiceman44]

Yeah I think your experience is pretty typical of these old tailgates. The design isn't the greatest and the parts aren't fantastic so they don't age well. I've fixed two in the past and had good success so I'll keep my fingers crossed that I can repeat that performance. If not, the shop I go to is owned by an old guy (previous member here) who said he has done several conversions from tailgate to barn doors.

I have both one with barn doors and one with tailgate.
Each has pluses.
Nice specimen you got there.
I bought mine stock too.

 

[dhcomp]

• Transmission appears to be a 3 speed. I guess that was fine when gas was .80 a gallon. I would like at least 5 gears. Swap is being planned.

That is the only downside of that rig. Had to go 91 to get the 4 speed in the 3/4 ton.

 

[4xcrazy]

Tailgate Blazers & Burb wouldn't be so bad if they would have done the same thing as they did with the older station wagon tailgates, made them either fold down, or swing out tailgates.

I have this 2wd Burb here with a tailgate, don't really care for it. It is nice for the roll down window, but that's about all I like about it. My 4wd burb has barn doors, I like them a lot more, except that there are no roll down windows. Would have been nice for them to make pop out type windows on those even.

It's definitely easier to load things in the back of the Burb with the barn doors, but nicer to have a tailgate to sit on when "parked" or whatever.

pros and cons for both it seems.

 

[DarkandShiny]

Okay making some progress. Here is what I got finished yesterday -

• serpentine belt got replaced
• Lower ball joints replaced
• upper ball joints replaced
• front wheel bearings repacked
• sway bar bushings replaced
• oil change/filter replaced
• transmission fluid added
• Engine oil dipstick was broken so it got replaced
• inner tie rod replaced

So I'm happy with all those things but the truck still wanders down the road with lots of play in the steering wheel. I was hoping not to have to replace the steering box as I would like to do cross-over steering in the near future. But it won't pass safety and emissions as it is so I'm going to try to get it replaced today.

Looks like everybody who said barn doors are better get to laugh at me. I cannot get the tailgate to open. The window rolls up and down but no matter what I do I can't get the damn thing to budge. Please advise.

 

[Emersonsdad]

Looks like everybody who said barn doors are better get to laugh at me. I cannot get the tailgate to open. The window rolls up and down but no matter what I do I can't get the damn thing to budge. Please advise.

I had the same problem when i bought mine. I had to get inside and take off the tailgate panels and then pull the rods by hand. After that I put a bend into the rods and haven't had a problem since.

 

[hillbilly deluxe]

Love the manual window tailgate on my '73. It has worked fine for 12 years except for once when somebody decided to crank it the wrong way REALLY hard without bothering to consider if he was doing it right. Ordered a new crank handle and it's up and running again. Took the opportunity to clean out decades of mud and pine needles and lubricate everything while I had it apart. The window goes up and down real smooth now, which is funny because the outside if the tailgate is dented to hell.

On mine, with a 6" lift and 37's it's a real pain to load pretty much anything into the back, but I wouldn't dream of sacraficing my tailgate because it is the cook area and bar while camping. Also, you can load 9' sheets of drywall in the back with the gate down! I mostly load everything in from the side doors with the seats down when loading up for camping.

Good looking truck, definitely can the semi floater. Try and find a dana 60 for the front too if you want to wheel much. I got one and it has been all happiness since I don't have to repair the front axle anymore.

I got a rebuilt steering box when I got the Redneck Ram, and it's incredible having a new box and ram, there is literally no play in the steering. I had to re-learn how to drive it. It may be the ram that makes it so tight, but I bet a rebuilt box would make you happy.