Opinions about what could be wrong with this 89 Suburban

[ClovisMan]

This is from an ad and I would like to know what the possible problem could be begore I spring the dough for the truck. It also might give some negotiating room on price.

Does not run - cranks fast like the tranny is not connected or timing jumped. Can use for parts or fix. Clean Title in My Name. 4 x 4 works fine. Interior is in good condition. Body is good just has rust on rear doors toward the bottom.
Has 105,000 miles. Only thing missing is the Radio.

Email if you need to see more pics.

 

[Thunder]

Just off the top of my head from the description "Cranks Fast". Sounds like the timing chain/sprokets. It could be fixed by installing a new timing set. But there may also be bent valves which means you would need to rebuild the heads also.
My guess is the valves are bent, & stuck open Not allwing compression to build making the engine "crank fast".
105K miles on an 89? Possible, but more likely 205K

 

[toomany]

I vote for not getting spark. Maybe the igniton module or the coil went. If it is only 105k miles, then the timming chain should still be good. It may be getting a little sloppy, but not to the point where the motor won't run.

 

[dyeager535]

With no spark, the engine will still turn over at the same speed (especially on an injected rig, which doesn't inject fuel right off the bat), unless there is a lack of compression in some of the cylinders. Pull your spark plugs and you'll see a massive difference in cranking effort/speed.

I'd bet broken cam or bent valves, MAYBE ad timing, but I doubt it.

 

[ClovisMan]

Just off the top of my head from the description "Cranks Fast". Sounds like the timing chain/sprokets. It could be fixed by installing a new timing set. But there may also be bent valves which means you would need to rebuild the heads also.
My guess is the valves are bent, & stuck open Not allwing compression to build making the engine "crank fast".
105K miles on an 89? Possible, but more likely 205K

Sounds like a lot of work!!! Probably ewasier and faster to swap out a longblock and kill all those possibilities with one stone.

What do you think he meant by the feeling that the transmission isn't connected?

 

[dyeager535]

Doesn't mean anything, because the load on the engine from the transmission is little at startup/in park. I suspect it's one and the same...he's talking about how easy it is to crank, as in there is no load on the engine. But there is no appreciable load in the first place, so he's trying to describe something out of the ordinary.

 

[GNERGY]

Go there and see if it is spraying fuel. Or take the distributor cap off and make sure the rotor is spinning, that would eliminate broken timing chain or a broken cam. Pull a plug and see if you are getting spark.
Those things are not that hard to check.
Take some starting fluid with you and spray it in there to see if it starts.
Tarey

 

[eagle mark]

Cranks fast is an opinion. It may be cranking normal...