NEED HELP on possible purchase

[jamacee]

I need some help from you guys (and gals?) I have been a toyota guy for too long but I always wanted a suburban since I was a teenager. My family is growing and I'm trying to avoid a minivan so my wife and I thought a suburban would be a good safe option for a family/expedition/DD option....now God Willing....I'm looking at this truck:

1989 chevy 4x4 3/4ton suburban 8 lug axles 411 gears dana44 front dana 70 rear
all new ball joints and wheel bearings and seals in front, TBI 350 fairly new engine 2500 miles on it small cam throttle bodie runs real ritch sometimes
700r4 auto tranny new with 2500 miles on it np208 transfercase
new headers with new exhaust 2 1/2" with flowmasters 6" lift 36" super swamper tsl's, tilt wheels COLD AC and rear AC COLD, heat works great nice interior electric windows and locks CD player drives perfect on the street drive anywhere primer grey ready for paint.


I don't know much about the np208 case but the axels seems stout it doesn't have the barn doors the TSL's are 36's but they are a skinny tire from the looks, and NO RUST on it tho....I think I can get into the whole truck for 3,000 dude said he's prob average somewhere between 14-17 mpg I'm going to take a look at it if I get all my money squared away probs tomorrow

Any help would be appreciated

thanks,

Jason in Ga.

 

[oatsk5]

sounds like a nice ride the 208 will do you good as long as you dont pound on it but its easy as pullin it ot and boltin in a better unit id bet there is a 14blt and not a dana 70 both good either way

 

[plumber mike]

That sub would have come stock in 3/4 trim with a 10 bolt front and a sf 14 rear so he either swapped axles or dosen't know whats under it.My 90 with sm465 gets 12mpg.My 85 k10 with 700 and 3.73 gears also gets 12mpg ,but some guys here claim better(14-15) Those 36" tires and lift will probably bring those numbers down. Also around here the big truck values are down. Something like that would probably bring 1500-2000
Good Luck!

 

[jamacee]

yea he says they are swapped axels and swears its what he says they are but I at least know what a dana70 and a 14blt look like and a 44 for that matter. But I hear ya on the lift and tires tho. What would happen to the gear ratio if I drop down to 33's on 4.11's on a yota I would know but not sure on the Chevy's?

 

[plumber mike]

I think 33" with 4.11 and od would be the sweet spot between power and economy. Some of the other guys on this site could probably calculate for you and get you exact rpm at certain speeds.The axle swap would probably up that value on the truck.But I would still try and lowball him if you've got the cash.I'm just cheap tho

 

[dfl701]

sounds like a sweet ride man. i would keep the 36s but thats just me. or see if he wants to keep them and get the price lower!

 

[BGKYK5]

Do it.

 

[chulisohombre]

sounds like a good deal to me.with new engine and trans that is something you wont have to worry about for awhile.ask for receipts if possible otherwise you cant believe the claims of new or rebuilt.keep the 36's.you would more than likely regret going to a smaller tire.33's would be more road friendly though and easier for the family to get inside.with a 6 inch lift it wont look right with 33's.ther'd be a lot of room in the wheelwells.

 

[jamacee]

Yea grumble grumble my I t/t the guy and these are my issues

primer...need to get it painted so it doesn't rust out

the lift evidently has 4" block in the rear ( So I can't have that would need to possibly respring the front and remove the back )

and the 36's prob need to drop down to 33's for fam ( I'm sure my wife would like the 36's (which look to be super swamper tsl 36 x 9.50?) till she went grocery gettin for the 1st time lol )

If anyone does have the calculations for gear to tire ratio it would be helpful to say the very least. I'm going to at least look at it on saturday see whats what. I just don't wanna get suckered into some backyard hillbilly engineering. So I need to check this axel swap see if it's done right. Like I said this is my family expo rig if its not too good to be true.

 

[badmix]

If you get it, drop the lift to 4" and put 35s. I have 33s and 2" ruff country spring lift. It looks okay, but our vehicles are big. 33s on a Blazer or 'Burb look factory, while 33s on a jeep look just right. I think our trucks look "normal" with 35s. Otherwise, sounds like a nice truck.

 

[badmix]

I think 33" with 4.11 and od would be the sweet spot between power and economy. Some of the other guys on this site could probably calculate for you and get you exact rpm at certain speeds.The axle swap would probably up that value on the truck.But I would still try and lowball him if you've got the cash.I'm just cheap tho

I have 700r, 33s and 4:11 gears. I run 65mph at 1900-2100rpms. This is a very good combo. You back it with a healthy motor and you have both bottom and top end power.

 

[BGKYK5]

You can calculate all the gear/tire/rpm combos you could ever want here.

 

[badmix]

wrong thread, sorry

 

[AUK5]

my old neighbor is selling is 89 burb. it is really good condition and unmolested.

*no selling in the Garage*

 

[Thunder]

Unless the xfer case has been changed. It should be a 241 not a 208. Gm went to the 241 in 1988-89. 241 is better ,stronger, and has more reduction in low range than the 208. You can ID the case by crawling under and looking at the back of the Xfer case. There will be a round tag telling what kind of case it is. If it is a 208 I dont think it is the orginal case. 208 and 241 look the same so you need to read the ID tag.

If it does have SS TSL tires you will prolly want a different tire for DD use. They wear fast on the road and are very noisy. Your wife may not like the noise.

If the engine has a different cam. You should find out what kind and grind it is. Unless the cam is fairly mild computer grind. You will most likely need a chip burned for it to make the engine run its best.

Blocks on the back=not good. Better to have a spring lift or shackle flip.