CK5
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nutin
- Thread starter Metrodps
- Start date
Says it has a FRONT SALISBURY AXLE W/SINGLE-STAGE TWO-LEAF SPRING SUSPENSION???
Susposed to have a SEMI-FLOATING REAR AXLE it has six lugs front and rear.
Salisbury, in this case, just means it's a solid axle.
The rear axle, if six lug, will be a 10 bolt unless it was swapped.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
I think you are right on track with everything. Dont worry about the wording... It has a 10 bolt front and rear. With a full tune up (Asuming the motor and trans are good) you should get better than 10mpg. Biggest thing i would look for is how the trans behaves. It will have a 700r4. So if it looks like its been in there since the days of dinosaurs and feels funky at all, then know that its probably going to need to be replaced.
Why would you remove EFI and install points??????????
Martin
Martin
Get hit with a lot of EMP's out there?
Martin
Martin
Doesn't your 87 also have TBI?
I've thought about the EMP thing and other than the 6.2, I think the thing to do is just keep a carb, intake and HEI on the shelf. Enjoy EFI until the world ends, but keep a few HEI modules inside a shielded box. The HEI is much more durable then the points and the very small module is the only electronics to protect, although you might as well hang on to a points dizzy as well.
But the 6.2 is a simpler approach and fuel can be more available as mentioned above. If you want to have long-term viability with a gas engine, you should just set it up for Ethanol/flex fuel right from the get-go and plan to make your own.
As for that burb, be sure to look at the transmission fluid. Even if you want to swap it out, a good one is worth something to re-sell and a burnt fluid one probably can't even be flushed. I would also climb underneath and feel the drivelines in nuetral to see how much slop is in the diffs and whether or not there is a loose pinion or something. Figure out what the gear ratio is. Look at the leaf springs for cracks. Confirm that it really does run in 4WD.
I've thought about the EMP thing and other than the 6.2, I think the thing to do is just keep a carb, intake and HEI on the shelf. Enjoy EFI until the world ends, but keep a few HEI modules inside a shielded box. The HEI is much more durable then the points and the very small module is the only electronics to protect, although you might as well hang on to a points dizzy as well.
But the 6.2 is a simpler approach and fuel can be more available as mentioned above. If you want to have long-term viability with a gas engine, you should just set it up for Ethanol/flex fuel right from the get-go and plan to make your own.
As for that burb, be sure to look at the transmission fluid. Even if you want to swap it out, a good one is worth something to re-sell and a burnt fluid one probably can't even be flushed. I would also climb underneath and feel the drivelines in nuetral to see how much slop is in the diffs and whether or not there is a loose pinion or something. Figure out what the gear ratio is. Look at the leaf springs for cracks. Confirm that it really does run in 4WD.
Jessie James
1/2 ton status
North Korea has been threatening to bomb the US for as long as I can remember. Putting in a carb and cutting your MPG by half and dealing with all those other issues because of what some foreign idiot nutjob says as reported by the media 
makes as much sense as trying to drown a fish.
Otherwise, be sure you read the buyers guide!
makes as much sense as trying to drown a fish.Otherwise, be sure you read the buyers guide!
Jessie James
1/2 ton status
You should update the buyers guide with Suburban specific stuff!
79rustyk10
3/4 ton status
Why not just find a 6.2 burb?
I just bought a 6.2 Diesel Suburban for $450.
Martin
Martin
Oh, it's a POS. I think it's an '83, but I am not sure.
Martin
Martin
Chances of all that AC line not leaking is slim to none, very expensive to redo one of those systems.
On to TBI, my first was a 1987 short bed 2wd in 1988, 212,000 miles when I traded it in and never had to fix one thing on EFI system.
My 1990 Suburban I've had for about 10 years and never had to touch one thing on EFI TBI system.
The biggest issue with a TBI system is you have to remember to check the oil!!! Because your not under the hood adjusting carb and choke every week!
A four speed, nab it!!!
Martin
Martin
itsacrazyasian
Registered Member
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cant see pics guess i need to pony up and buy a membership.
my front and rear ac work perfectly. yes there are some long as lines but after replacing most major components. i have yet to touch the hoses. did the compressor, condenser, front evap, rear exp valve and drier.
i bought the diesel 6.2 for the same reasons you are afraid of. infact all my vehicles are diesel powered. 2 are non computer controlled. have a backup diesel genset, no avr. will run come hell or high water.
the dantes peak burban made me want one.
my front and rear ac work perfectly. yes there are some long as lines but after replacing most major components. i have yet to touch the hoses. did the compressor, condenser, front evap, rear exp valve and drier.
i bought the diesel 6.2 for the same reasons you are afraid of. infact all my vehicles are diesel powered. 2 are non computer controlled. have a backup diesel genset, no avr. will run come hell or high water.
the dantes peak burban made me want one.
On a 6.2L you need to inspect the condition of the harmonic balancer. If it is dry rotted, missing chunks or otherwise not perfect there is a high risk of a catastrophic crank failure. Make sure you check to make sure all the glow plugs work (test light from the battery + pole to each plug individually, bright light = working plug, dull light or no light = no good). Look for fuel leaks from the injector return lines / caps or along the supply side. Check the oil cooler lines for bad leaks (they all sweat).
When the engine is running, look for blue or gray smoke, this could be a sign of bad injectors, a weak injection pump or air in the fuel system. Smoke on startup is normal, but in warm temperatures it should clear within a minute or so. Smoke on acceleration is not normal.
These engines are not powerful, but they sound great, are very good on fuel and are extremely reliable if you keep up on basic maintenance. You MUST run a lubricity additive to ultra low sulphur diesel or your injection pump will live a short life.
When the engine is running, look for blue or gray smoke, this could be a sign of bad injectors, a weak injection pump or air in the fuel system. Smoke on startup is normal, but in warm temperatures it should clear within a minute or so. Smoke on acceleration is not normal.
These engines are not powerful, but they sound great, are very good on fuel and are extremely reliable if you keep up on basic maintenance. You MUST run a lubricity additive to ultra low sulphur diesel or your injection pump will live a short life.
It is possible to convert a tailgate to doors, but a horrendous amount of work. So much that if you want doors buy one with doors.
6.2 will go for a long time not million mile stuff but 1/2 million if taken care of.
6.2 will go for a long time not million mile stuff but 1/2 million if taken care of.
There is a gazillion of them out here if you dont mind the road trip
check out the ksl classifieds
check out the ksl classifieds
When I bought my '85 Burb,I was elated to find an identical one that had the same color scheme and barn doors at a local pick & pull....
I wanted one with the barn doors but mine had a tailgate (badly rusted one too!)...so I bought the 2 doors and the hardware for 50 each,with the agreement I could get a refund if they would not work..
Well,I ended up taking them back after reading a few posts here about converting from a tailgate to barn doors--the guy at the boneyard aid he was pretty sure that after 1978 you couldn't just swap from one type to the other any more,it used to be a bolt on swap back then,and posts I read here confirmed that...without changing the bottom sill and adding reinforcement and plates to bolts the hinges too,its no do-able...not by a backyard hack like me anyway...I'm not very good at body work..
I was bummed,because I dont much care for tailgates with electric windows...I did score a fairly decent tailgate for 40 bucks though,but its been stored away,no sense in letting it rot on the truck while its sitting in my driveway for 3 years now..
...mine is a 6.2 also...not sure if I'm going to keep it now...the thoughts of paying 165 bucks just to fill its 40 gallon tank isn't exactly encouraging,never mind the other things it needs fixed to be roadworthy now...
If I had any cash I'd put it on the road before its junk from sitting too long,ditch the ailing 700R4 and swap a 4 speed or th400 into it,and use it...it sucks,I bought the truck real cheap and did quite a bit too it,added a fisher plow setup to it,but ran out of money and ambition to do anything with it...had minimal rust and a mint undercarriage when I got it too...
I wanted one with the barn doors but mine had a tailgate (badly rusted one too!)...so I bought the 2 doors and the hardware for 50 each,with the agreement I could get a refund if they would not work..
Well,I ended up taking them back after reading a few posts here about converting from a tailgate to barn doors--the guy at the boneyard aid he was pretty sure that after 1978 you couldn't just swap from one type to the other any more,it used to be a bolt on swap back then,and posts I read here confirmed that...without changing the bottom sill and adding reinforcement and plates to bolts the hinges too,its no do-able...not by a backyard hack like me anyway...I'm not very good at body work..
I was bummed,because I dont much care for tailgates with electric windows...I did score a fairly decent tailgate for 40 bucks though,but its been stored away,no sense in letting it rot on the truck while its sitting in my driveway for 3 years now..
...mine is a 6.2 also...not sure if I'm going to keep it now...the thoughts of paying 165 bucks just to fill its 40 gallon tank isn't exactly encouraging,never mind the other things it needs fixed to be roadworthy now...If I had any cash I'd put it on the road before its junk from sitting too long,ditch the ailing 700R4 and swap a 4 speed or th400 into it,and use it...it sucks,I bought the truck real cheap and did quite a bit too it,added a fisher plow setup to it,but ran out of money and ambition to do anything with it...had minimal rust and a mint undercarriage when I got it too...
hillbilly deluxe
Professional Pile-It
Too bad about the Diesel, that would have been cool. There was one on a lot in Fruita last year, never saw it in person though. It was like an '86 or '87 for $3500.
hillbilly deluxe
Professional Pile-It
I agree. These old trucks need maintenance as it is, you don't need to untangle somebody else's rat nest. I guess they cut the block heater off figuring on never using it except in the summer....
Hope the stick is nicer, I own the only stick Suburban I have personally ever seen!
Hope the stick is nicer, I own the only stick Suburban I have personally ever seen!
