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Just Got A New Truck!! (well, to me..)

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us74k5

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Location
oregon
After a lot of searching, i found the family rig I have been looking for, and went and traded in our 01 4runner for it last night. Its a GMC suburban, 2500. 454, 4L80E, and 4wd of course:-) So never having owned a 4x4 IFS rig, at 168,000 miles what kind of things should I be looking for? This is the fully loaded SLE model, and it has been meticulously well kept. Not a drop of oil anywhere, everything is damn near perfect on it. Any suggestions?

burban.jpg
 
I suggested 35" mud terrains to the wife.... She complained that she would not be able get the kids into the truck.
 
OK things to check

pitman arm: replace both parts with moog problem solver

Steering arm: use napa premium brand to replace

tie rod ends

ball joints

CV shafts

front unit bearings

ALSO check out the rear u-bolts and the bottom plates they trap dirt and moisture and can rust your u-bolts right in 2

2500 so you shouldnt have the 10B problems, but its a good idea to check the brakes inside the drums

Nice looking ride i sugest a TINY bit of TB crank to level it a little and if you want mild lift go with a body lift. Some 285x70x17's and H2 wheels would look nice on there
 
I have a truck just like that. Mine likes to eat front brakes and has a rear main leak. I also had to put in two fuel pumps over the past 100k miles. Every EFI GM I own likes to go through fuel pumps so I don't think it is a suburban specific problem. I have towed a 13k lb trailer with mine and it did just fine. I put some 285/75R16s on it as that is as large as you can go without lift/trimming (it does rub a little).
 
Yeah, it was definitely the wife that got a new rig... I just payed for it:-D Everything feels solid in the truck, brakes are good, steering is tight, as of yet I cannot feel or see anything that needs to be changed. What I want to do, is get some more power out of the 454. This engine feels like it is begging to be opened up. I am thinking about getting the FIPK from K&N and a Power Programmer. Maybe a throttle body spacer? I dont know if those even work or not. Any suggestions?
 
The pre-1996 454 TBI engines were a little low on power. The TBI spacer & power chip will help, as would headers & dual exhaust. I had a 92 K3500 with 454 and it had a mild RV cam, power chip, headers, TBI spacer, and dual exhaust. It ran much better that stock but it was still less power than my 97 vortec suburban.

I think the simplest way to get more power is a MPFI conversion. This is a little pricey but it is one option: http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/mc/efi/pf_chevy.shtml
 
well it is a 99.... Vortec motor, i believe it is MPFI. Was just wondering how well a fipk and programmer would work, as well as a spacer or something along those lines.
 
I was thinking it was TBI. The vortec should run pretty good in stock form. I would suggest doing a quick tuneup to see if that helps any. At 168k miles, the distributor, fuel injectors, fuel pump, and O2 sensors might be getting tired. Since it is MPFI, there is no spacer. You can get a power chip and a cold air intake kit (K&N makes them I think, look on ebay) for some cheap horsepower. Look in the IFS section of this site for the best advice.
 
Actually the MPFI still uses a throttle body.... And there is a spacer available for it... And yes I know the engine should run pretty good, and it does. I was asking if anyone had experience with a power programmer and a fipk.... I wanted to know if there was a certain brand to purchase, etc. The engine just no where compares to my 396 that I built, and I believe that with a few mods this 454 should. And most likely can. Just trying to find the cheapest and easiest way to do it.
 
GNEEnterprises said:
I have a truck just like that. Mine likes to eat front brakes and has a rear main leak. I also had to put in two fuel pumps over the past 100k miles. Every EFI GM I own likes to go through fuel pumps so I don't think it is a suburban specific problem. I have towed a 13k lb trailer with mine and it did just fine. I put some 285/75R16s on it as that is as large as you can go without lift/trimming (it does rub a little).
Click to expand...
We replace quite a few Fuel pumps at the garage I help out at. The best bet is to go with an original GM pump when you replace it. The after market pumps aren't worth a $hit. You'll get about 140-160,000 out of the original GM replacement pumps.
 
Just remembered a few more things more engine related.

Intake manifold gaskets have a tendancy to leak on 96-99 vortech engines.

also the distribitor to cam gear has a tendancy to wear out giving fluctuating milage and performance.

these I know are common on the 350's the 454 may or may not have the same problems but im pretty sure the distributor is the same for SBC and BBC so I dont see why it wouldnt be common in both.
 
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