New 6.5 1500 Suburban

[hillbilly deluxe]

Got me a '96 6.5TD 1500 8-lug Suburban with 168k for $4400. Gonna be my new driver. Got 17mpg from Denver to Rifle. Sold off my 2000 Mercedes to get the money.

There is alot of talk on the web about these, about half of it is guys saying they don't exist, so I'm putting a close up pic.



My babys!


Far right '93 K3500 is the eventual donor of a 6.5TD and NV4500 to the '73 burb.


Only thing better than a Suburban is TWO!

 

[KansasTwister]

that thing exists, my buddy has a black 95 with third row, everything works. motor has a little blow by but runs great. I also thought a 1500 with 8 lug didnt exist and I thought it was either 6 lug or a 2500. Is yours a 4x4?

 

[63chevyll]

Very cool. Lots of good reading to do about those. Congrats

 

[hillbilly deluxe]

Now for the questions

It appears the difference between a 1500 and a 2500 diesel is:
1500 2500
4L60 4L80
14BSF 14BFF
Not sure what else may be different.

Don't know much about the front end or 243C t-case. Just by looking under the front it looks smaller than the 3500 I have. I was thinking if that push button t-case ever gives me any crap maybe I could install the t-case from the '93 with the floor shifter.

Since it's a DD i don't want to upgrade to any heavier stuff. It's already pretty HD it has engine oil and transmission oil coolers from the factory.

PO's have monkeyed with it a bit.

Does this look dumb to anybody besides me? Seems like the engine will get hot ass air. The heat shields are gone. Would it be a good idea to install a turbo wrap heat shield? (saw one in jegs)



Looks like EGT probe installed but wire is coiled up and no evidince of a gauge in the cab. (there is a boost gauge on the pillar in a single gauge housing) Also there is a Heath Diesel wastgate controller. Boost gauge indicated 11 psi which is higher than my '93 ever went.



PMD relocated on top of intake.

 

[hillbilly deluxe]

Oh yeah It's a 4x4 SLT, leather, loaded with third row. I detailed the crap out of the interior today in anticipation of lots of cruising around! I could do without push button 4wd but I'll run it till it quits.

 

[KansasTwister]

Sure yours is a 4l60e? I thought all diesels got 4l80es. I haven't checked my buddies but I thought he told me his was the big trans.

 

[hillbilly deluxe]

I'm not sure. My last 3 GMs have been manual so I'm not educated on the auto's yet. I'm gonna take a pic of the service parts sticker and try to decode it.

Funny
"Black smoke is generally a sign of running too rich, or you have a deisel."

K5's: Making trails wider since 1969.

 

[63chevyll]

Take a look at the trans pan

4L60, square pan
4L80, square up front and narrow in back

 

[Big Ray]

niiice...me likey

 

[kennyw]

Other explanations for a 1500 Suburban with 8 lug wheels... there may have been body damage and they changed the doors or someone from CK5 swapped axles and front suspension (less likely). I have done the later on a few 1/2 tons over the years.

Decoding the vin will tell you if it was born as a 1500 or 2500. In the end, all that matters is the equipment installed in the rig meets your needs and it is reliable.

 

[hillbilly deluxe]

Haven't tried to decode this yet

But here's the parts id sticker in the glove box. When inquiring about brake and front end stuff the dealer said the 1500 is a 3/4 ton frame and front end.

 

[kennyw]

All 1/2 and 3/4 tons have shared the same frame after the late 60's. In your case, they both have the same front axle housing and most of the same suspension parts. The outer bearing hubs and brakes are the main difference for the front.

Your VIN Decoded:
1 - US Built
G - General Motors
K - GMC MPV
G - GVWR/Brake system 8001-9000 lb
K - Conventional Cab GMT 400 4x4 (including blazer, suburban, etc)
1 - Series 1/2 ton
6 - Body type - All Purpose Vehicle
F - L65 6.5T diesel (smog version used in 1/2 tons)
X - Check digit
T - 1996 Model year
J - Plant
734884 - Serial number

 

[kennyw]

Your rig was born a 1/2 ton and someone likely swapped parts over. Those late 90's 1/2 tons were notorious for poor brakes and this could have been someone fixing that problem.

 

[Big Ray]

according to your RPO sheet, you have the following:

GU6 -3:42 gears
G80 -Limited slip (Gov-bomb?)
JD7 -Brake, hyd power, disc/drum 8400lbs


more here...rpo codes

 

[KirsL]

The suburbans built on the GM400 chassis were available with the electronic version of the 6.5 from 94-99 and could be either a 1500 or 2500 but in truth all were a 2500 of sorts. My parents had a 96 1500 for over 10 years. It came from the factory equipped the same as the truck talked about here. It came with the F vin code 6.5 (no egr), 4l80E trans with 3:42 gears a in semi-float 14 bolt. That truck would routinely return upwards of 21-22 mpg on the highway at 75. Which put the engine right around 1800 rpms, the peak torque for a 6.5.

The truck is a 2500 at heart but GM calls it a 1500 because it has lower weight rated springs, a semi float rear axle, either 3:08 or 3:42 gears. 3:08 gears were only available on 2wd 1500s. Otherwise its exactly the same as a 2500 of the same year. If you have a hard time getting the correct brake/suspension parts, just order the 2500 stuff and it'll fit.

 

[hillbilly deluxe]

Thanks for the links guys! I decoded it all, most is pretty bland as you probably know. This is a good one too: http://www.gm-trucks.com/rpo-code-lookup

What 62 already said:
GU6 -3:42 gears
G80 -Limited slip (Gov-bomb?)
JD7 -Brake, hyd power, disc/drum 8400lbs

Other highlights:
MT1 - 4L80E
C36 - HEATER AUX
KNP - COOLING STSTEM, TRANS, H.D.
NP1 - T-CASE, ELECTRIC, FULL RANGE
NZZ - SKID PLATE, OFF ROAD
NY1 - SHIELD, FUEL TANK
YD3 - FRONT AXLE, BASE EQUIPMENT FOR SCHEDULING GVW PLATE (does base mean 1/2 ton?)
YD6 - REAR SPRING, BASE EQUIPMENT
ZW9 - BASE BODY AND CHASSIS
Z82 - TRAILER PROVISIONS, SPECIAL EQUIP, HO
JAN - JANESVILLE, WI


Why do you call it a gov-bomb? Some good grenade stories? My '93 3500 has one. I was trying to figger out if the 4x4 was working after I got it. I got the LR wheel in the air, spinning away. I romped on the throttle for the hell of it and the truck jumped forward and climed the little bank I was on. This would be crap for wheeling but I think it's pretty damn handy on a DD.

Here's some interior pics. Not in bad shape, this is after I cleaned it and armor-alled it.

 

[375 H&H]

All 1/2 and 3/4 tons have shared the same frame after the late 60's.

the frames are not all the same...this from another thread.

No photo proof, but read this

And here is the pic from the thread:

and a little snip from the link:


A couple years back my roommate was at another friends property up north. This friend has lots of Chevy trucks in various states of parted-outedness, and they decided one day to start measuring the thickness of the different frames. Here's what they came up with:

1988 1/2 ton 2wd suburban -- .162

1981 4wd Blazer ------------- .164

1987 3/4 ton 4wd suburban --- .190

1988 3/4 ton 4wd suburban --- .203

1970's unknown longbed frame- .196

1977 2wd 3/4 ton suburban --- .208

1986 3/4 4wd DIESEL longbed- .231

1979 1 ton reg cab & chasis -- .236

1984 2wd 1ton crewcab dually- .224

1982 3/4 ton reg cab longbed-- .230

 

[KansasTwister]

the frames are not all the same...this from another thread.



and a little snip from the link:


A couple years back my roommate was at another friends property up north. This friend has lots of Chevy trucks in various states of parted-outedness, and they decided one day to start measuring the thickness of the different frames. Here's what they came up with:

1988 1/2 ton 2wd suburban -- .162

1981 4wd Blazer ------------- .164

1987 3/4 ton 4wd suburban --- .190

1988 3/4 ton 4wd suburban --- .203

1970's unknown longbed frame- .196

1977 2wd 3/4 ton suburban --- .208

1986 3/4 4wd DIESEL longbed- .231

1979 1 ton reg cab & chasis -- .236

1984 2wd 1ton crewcab dually- .224

1982 3/4 ton reg cab longbed-- .230

We are talking about 88-98s here.



And my buddys 95 has never been modified as im sure this one hasnt. Door badge says 1500, as does vin, but its a factory 8 lug.

 

[375 H&H]

i understand that, but i was responding to the statement that "All 1/2 and 3/4 tons have shared the same frame after the late 60's."

the '88-'98s may share frames, i dunno, but the frames were different until '91

the towing package option may have something to do with the 8 lugs?

 

[KansasTwister]

i understand that, but i was responding to the statement that "All 1/2 and 3/4 tons have shared the same frame after the late 60's."

the '88-'98s may share frames, i dunno, but the frames were different until '91

the towing package option may have something to do with the 8 lugs?

I honestly think that the towing option, 6.5td and 4x4 makes it the 8 lugs.


Oh ya, my buddy also has the 3.42s and gets stupid gas mileage on 238/85/r16s.