One Piece at a Time: My 1985 Diesel Suburban

[AgDieseler]

Evening, gents.

My dad and I banged through the last items on the prep checklist. The truck goes to 4 Wheel Whorehouse tomorrow to get tires mounted.

Everything on the sliders and bumper is tight. There’s quite a bit more vibration that I’d like, so while I was checking transfercase hardware, we loosened up the stiffness of the power train bushings. I’ll also loosen up slider mounts - they’re smooth at 750RPM and up, but any lower will rattle the fillings from your teeth.


Also, here’s a shot of my cockamamie magnum box mount.


Nine: the number of 40ish” tires one can cram into a suburban.




Four across bench seating.


She’ll be ready for her closeup tomorrow.

David

 

[NorCal69]

That’s a lot of 40’s. Excited to see the centerfold spread tomorrow.

 

[AgDieseler]

It’s cold and wet, and I have a 40 half filled with water on my roof.



@skunked, consider this the obligatory and absurd plot line leading up to the money shot you requested.

David

 

[mrk5]

Looks good!

 

[skunked]

@skunked, consider this the obligatory and absurd plot line leading up to the money shot you requested.

David

BUMP!!

 

[AgDieseler]

Aside from a few small tweaks and adjustments, we're about ready to hit the road.

Slightly out of order, but continuing with the need for non-essential plot that leads to a climax. The next time I carry eight tires in/on the truck will be too soon.


Highly sensitive speedometer calibration process. It’s pretty simple. Dakota Digital has an easily accessed menu for a “measured mile;” it counts pulses until you hit the button, and then you’re set. My hiking GPS is handy.


Money shot, in the rain. My favorite building in Oak Cliff is Atlas Metal Works. They make coiled culvert pipes, and other galvanized commercial steel stuff. It’s one of the few remaining medium industrial buildings in our area.


“Sassy hip.”


I’ve started staging my gear, but mentally both Kurt and I are already headed west.

David

 

[ZooMad75]

Bad ass! Looks awesome! Looks ready to ride for sure. Can't wait to see what this does with a bunch of jeeps. I predict jaw dropping and dumb stares in wonder how you are taking that monster down the same trail the jeeps are.

 

[AgDieseler]

Thank you, and I’m confident it will be a great adventure. These are good folks that actually wheel their jeeps - some harder than others. We’ve all been chatting a bit ahead of time, and I think some are very curious how this 8,000 lb hunk of junk is going to crawl.

We’ll have another square with us on 21 Road to demonstrate the high end of what our trucks can do. Kurt and I will post photos.

4 days to 21 Road.

David

 

[Bent77]

Thank you, and I’m confident it will be a great adventure. These are good folks that actually wheel their jeeps - some harder than others. We’ve all been chatting a bit ahead of time, and I think some are very curious how this 8,000 lb hunk of junk is going to crawl.

We’ll have another square with us on 21 Road to demonstrate the high end of what our trucks can do. Kurt and I will post photos.

4 days to 21 Road.

David

And looking to get some good weather

 

[mrk5]

The sliders go well with the rear bumper.

 

[blazinzuk]

time, and I think some are very curious how this 8,000 lb hunk of junk is going to crawl.

David

Slowly


Have fun man. Have you tested for rubbing yet.

It looks GOOD on those tires

 

[AgDieseler]

And looking to get some good weather

That’s good news. I could go for some sunshine and drier air.

The sliders go well with the rear bumper.

Thanks! I’m pleased with how they’ve turned out, and the additional steps were handy when I was lashing down tires.

Slowly


Have fun man. Have you tested for rubbing yet.

It looks GOOD on those tires

Slowly?! Me?

Probably, very likely, almost certainly. Yes.

No testing yet. It’s been raining non-stop since Sunday, and the loading docks I would otherwise visit are occupied during the week. I’m going to make one last trim to the front fender, and see if I can test at a buddy’s shop using his forklift.

These Razrs track well, and I like the narrower width, too. Also, without modifying the trans program at all, the shift points and lockup are already really good, and should only need minor tweaks.

David

 

[blazinzuk]

Just make sure you test. Tires rubbing hard on the body bind and break stuff.

Looking forward to the pics on this trip!

 

[skunked]

I brought a BFH and cordless angle grinder with a cut off wheel on my first couple trips. No matter how many ramps you play on you'll never replicate the trail conditions.

 

[mrk5]

I brought a BFH and cordless angle grinder with a cut off wheel on my first couple trips. No matter how many ramps you play on you'll never replicate the trail conditions.

Not a bad idea.

 

[obijuank5]

Yeah. Be careful. Even when shit is tight and in fair condition, things move. Then they end up all messed up like this.

I doubt you'll be on your side much.

 

[AgDieseler]

I brought a BFH and cordless angle grinder with a cut off wheel on my first couple trips. No matter how many ramps you play on you'll never replicate the trail conditions.

Done. Good advice.

David

 

[Big Ray]

Dayum! Just Dayum! That is a fine looking rig Sir! The perfect Suburban. Go break some hearts!

 

[AgDieseler]

The first highway drive was great.

The transmission only needs minor tweaks to the lockup program. The turbo really does shine and showcase its responsiveness at these slightly lower cruising RPMs. Also, so much quieter. This 6.2 really does prefer 1800-2000 for long term cruising.

Loading up.


There are just a handful of miscellaneous items to gather in the morning, I’ll pickup Kurt in Fort Worth, and we’ll head west to Amarillo - not in any rush this time around.

David

 

[Big Ray]

Enjoy yourselves! Have a great time.