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PICS! Long time, no see - Burb purchase = Clean '87 V20

DavidB

DavidB

1/2 ton status
Joined
Oct 8, 2001
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Location
El Centro, CA
Hey all. Loooong time, no see. Haven't had a Chevy running in years, since my '88 one ton blazer...












...and never even have gotten around to using my one ton chevy parts to build my old CJ-7 into a Cheveep.



Been driving a 4runner,




Cummins Dodge,







Also put a 1970 Dodge D100 Sweptline together from parts trucks I'd collected with my Cummins tow rig over the years, always liked 'em since I grew up in the back of one.





Wife and I have been wanting a burb for camping, a little towing (cheveep if I ever get a round tuit), hauling our kids, youth kids, some DD, trails, desert, etc. Newish burbs are crazy money, can't afford payment plus play money to use it. I stumbled on a nice '87 today, wanted to see what y'all think. It's pretty clean, cruise, AC, PDL, PW, everything works. Lifted 4" I'd guess with some Kevlar tires from 2010, didn't catch the size, 33"ish, prolly 265s or 285s. Think it's 4.10s with a TH400 and a 208, which is about the only weakness I can find, and shouldn't be an issue with my intended use. I went through plenty of 208s back in the day...

Guy is asking $6k for it. 3 Local owners, pretty much garage kept.




95 Cummins blew up (it was hot-rodded and rode hard and put away wet too much), bought a '97 a couple years later, but don't want the Cummins noise and expense any more, want 4 doors and a plkace to sleep. Plan is to sell it and the 4runner to buy the burban. Plenty of room for me and the fam, quiet enough to hunt from, cheap to repair, simple enough to repair myself. 4runner is a roller skate, too small, V6 that doesn't get great MPG.

Whatcha think?
 
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Im diggin that old sweptline, def dont see to many of them anymore.

Looks like a clean sub to me :waytogo:
 
scottsdale86 said:
Agreed on the price being a little steep but that does look like a nice rig.
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appears to be a pretty nice suburban,at first glance price does seem steep,i am begining to think the blazers and burbs are at the bottom now and are going to start going up in value soon
 
Being in CA, you can do way better for $6k.

I'd think that is more of a $3-4k rig, MAX.

That being said, for your intended purpose, i'd hold out for a 91 2500. In 91 you got the 4l80e, which gets you overdrive, and way better highway driveability.

There are quite a few around. Glad i held out for mine.

This one isnt' as clean, and is a little pricy.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/4381461135.html
 
Yeah, I'd hold out for a '91 if you're going to buy a 3/4 ton.

Martin
 
Well, I bought it. Probably didn't get the best deal, but I didn't have to search all over creation either. Like it so far, and so does the fam.
 
I think you made the right decision. You are always better off starting off with a better truck then a fixer upper. That was a nice suburban.
 
Well, it does need some stuff, the PS hose leaks, AC is kinda weak, needs some ujoints, no big deal.

I discovered it smokes a little on startup...I have a spare low miles GM '88 TBI 5.7 from my Blazer if it gets bad, or maybe just valve stem seals.

I think I'll eventually put a 4L80 in it, maybe a 6.0...or an 8.1...:haha:

I am out in the middle of nowhere, 2 hours from SD, 4 from LA, so buying what's available locally makes sense.
 
Well, I've been driving it daily and out to the desert a little, liking it, but seems like every time I drive it, I notice something wrong I didn't on the test drive, or something else goes wrong.

Front and rear AC blowers and the compressor have become noisy, rear fan like it has debris in it, front like something is slipping or the fan is rubbing the housing, squeals pretty bad...it does it every once in a while when I hit a bump just right. If I thump the housing, it quits. I need to get the AC in tiptop shape, repairs and any improvement tips welcome too. It is very hot here in summer, already hitting triple digits. I may look into remote start too, my blazer had it when I bought it. Heck, maybe it still works, could yank it off the blazer....if I could find the fob.

Threw some ujoints in the driveshaft, still vibrates, gotta yank it back out and balance it. :rolleyes:

Feels like the 14B SF has a govbomb in it, and needs rebuilt, noticed some pinion slop and some highway noise. Wish I still had some of those old 4.10 14FFs around...

Doors seem to require excessive slam to latch, tried some spray silicone lube in the latch mechanisms, no luck. Some of the seals need replaced, rearmost door power lock doesn't work. Clicks but doesn't actuate.

Front pass power window is weak.

Eventually need to do something about all the little surface rust freckles on the body.

Tonight I got an odd one: when I hit the high beams, the passenger turn signal indicator comes on solid with the high beam indicators. The passenger lower headlight doesn't come on with the high beams. :doah::confused: Any tips where to start trying to track that one down?

Thanks!




 
DavidB said:
Well, I've been driving it daily and out to the desert a little, liking it, but seems like every time I drive it, I notice something wrong I didn't on the test drive, or something else goes wrong.

Front and rear AC blowers and the compressor have become noisy, rear fan like it has debris in it, front like something is slipping or the fan is rubbing the housing, squeals pretty bad...it does it every once in a while when I hit a bump just right. If I thump the housing, it quits. I need to get the AC in tiptop shape, repairs and any improvement tips welcome too. It is very hot here in summer, already hitting triple digits. I may look into remote start too, my blazer had it when I bought it. Heck, maybe it still works, could yank it off the blazer....if I could find the fob.

Threw some ujoints in the driveshaft, still vibrates, gotta yank it back out and balance it. :rolleyes:

Feels like the 14B SF has a govbomb in it, and needs rebuilt, noticed some pinion slop and some highway noise. Wish I still had some of those old 4.10 14FFs around...

Doors seem to require excessive slam to latch, tried some spray silicone lube in the latch mechanisms, no luck. Some of the seals need replaced, rearmost door power lock doesn't work. Clicks but doesn't actuate.

Front pass power window is weak.

Eventually need to do something about all the little surface rust freckles on the body.

Tonight I got an odd one: when I hit the high beams, the passenger turn signal indicator comes on solid with the high beam indicators. The passenger lower headlight doesn't come on with the high beams. :doah::confused: Any tips where to start trying to track that one down?

Thanks!




Click to expand...


All of the issues you listed are typical of a almost 30 year old vehicle. The A/C may just need a new belt, You would be surprised to see what a difference a tight new belt can make. I would start there and then move forward as needed. The driveshaft probably needs to be rebalanced as well as possibly dropping the transfer case a half inch or so. That usually gets rid of some vibrations as well. The door strikers are probably your problem with the doors being hard to close. Adjust or replace those first before messing with the hinges. Also be careful when you do the threaded striker plate doesn't fall out of its cage if you replace the strikers. it is a bitch to fish out of the pillars. The turn signal being on with the lights is telling you to buy a new flasher. $6 bucks at vatozone. Replace them both. Also the headlight may be going out so replace them all at once just to be sure and double check the harness that plugs into the headlight. The tabs on the lights are known to snap off over time.
 
Discovered the burb AC is still R12...what do you guys think about converting or not?

Thanks
 
If your A/c works on R12, keep it. If you can get a local shop to add R12 cheap, do it.

Its cheap and available some places, not allowable for sale others (even within CA).

R12 blows colder, if it works properly.
 
In regards to the doors shutting hard, I would be willing to bet the striker is missing the plastic spacer. If you buy new strikers at O'reillys I bet they shut perfect.
 
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