Project Polar Bear: '89 V2500 Suburban

[y5mgisi]

Well thanks for Guinea pigging the cam for the rest of us! It does sound nice!

 

[Larry]

Well thanks for Guinea pigging the cam for the rest of us! It does sound nice!

Don’t get me wrong, the 202 is a great cam. I’m just more accustom to running these engines at very low RPM’s when mated to a manual trans. You’ve seen how the K10 just idles around the back country at 900 RPM all day. The Suburban wouldn’t lug around that well but it comes alive and pulls hard around 1800 on up and would flat run away from the K10 with ease even if their weights were more equal. The stock 8.1L running on GM’s factory tune wouldn’t stand a chance against the Suburban. I'm thinking this cam might be better matched for a rig an automatic trans. It really comes down to personal preference to how someone uses their rig. In the end, I’m happy with it!

 

[skunked]

rig turned out really nice Larry, love those 8.1's

 

[big-blue]

Larry, off topic from the camshaft discussion but what size radiator are you using?

 

[Larry]

Larry, off topic from the camshaft discussion but what size radiator are you using?

It’s just an 81-91 sloped nose square body 4 core. Spectra Premium part number CU774. That is the radiator that came in BBC and 6.2L diesel trucks. It is really wide and offset where it is wider on the driver’s side.

You can kind of see here the radiator is offset towards the driver’s side. The 2 piece fan shroud came off of a 6.2L diesel C10.

For a comparison, this one is the cute little TBI 5.7L radiator. I had to use this for the initial startup as the new 4 core was on back order. Actually, it took 3 tries to get a new one from Spectra because every time they showed up they were smashed to bits. Spectra does a sucktastic job packing their new radiators for shipping. Even the one I have now is phuckered up at the petcock but I got tired of dealing with them and just settled on the least beat up one.

 

[big-blue]

Thanks Larry. I am always on the hunt to keep my temps down. My aluminum 4-core (made for the smaller 5.7L) doesn't seem to be doing the job that I expect it. Wondering if the copper core is just better? Not trying to high jack your thread brother.

 

[Larry]

Thanks Larry. I am always on the hunt to keep my temps down. My aluminum 4-core (made for the smaller 5.7L) doesn't seem to be doing the job that I expect it. Wondering if the copper core is just better? Not trying to high jack your thread brother.

I’ve always preferred copper, which is the exact reason why I patiently waited for a Spectra Premium radiator opposed to settling on a plastic/aluminum replacement found through other parts sources. This big radiator also holds almost 2 gallons more coolant than the little 5.7L radiator.

 

[big-blue]

I am sold then, thank you. I just need to determine the top hose positioning - seems that lower house will line up fine.

As you were ;-)

 

[Larry]

Got a little annoyance thing address on the Burb last night. Since the NV4500 swap the clutch “feeling” has been a moving target. I find myself adjusting the clutch every few weeks and was getting pretty tired of it. Normally there aren’t any adjustments with a hydraulic clutch but with the Advance Adapters NV4500 bell/slave bracket there is. Anyway, I treated it to a new slave & M/C as well has gone to much larger hydraulic reservoir. What a difference this all made! I’ll be able to put more miles on it later this week but it already feels 100% better.

Tiny OEM reservoir. I just never felt these tiny OEM reservoirs were big enough for the job.

Tilton reservoir mounted to a bracket I made that bolts to the bracket master cylinder and hydroboost hose bracket. I actually used a TBI 7.4L MAP bracket for this. Hey, it fit almost perfect! Now I want to do the same to the K10.

 

[y5mgisi]

Looks like a worth while upgrade!

 

[Milesz11]

Looks great!!

 

[AgDieseler]

This is a very clean and well executed design; what great attention to detail.

David

 

[y5mgisi]

Larry, would you mind telling about how much money you have into the burb at this point? In other words how much it would cost someone else to get a truck to this point including the nv4500 and do on.

 

[Larry]

Larry, would you mind telling about how much money you have into the burb at this point? In other words how much it would cost someone else to get a truck to this point including the nv4500 and do on.

Geez-Us, getting personal now aren’t you?

You know, I don’t really have a solid accurate number on it as so many bits and pieces were hand me downs from the K10 and other trucks I had laying around. The best number I can come to in my head with the latest upgrades and the NV4500 swap probably come down to at least $0.75 for every pound the thing weighs. There isn’t nearly as much money into this rig in parts that you would think. Now if my labor time billed at $100 an hour this truck would be worth a fortune!

 

[y5mgisi]

My bad! Not trying to get overly personal. Really what I'm imagining in my head is that you now have a truck that is down for whatever, it's all new or rebuilt, Jack of all trades truck that will last just about forever, and it's coolness factor is way off the charts, all for a relatively small fee. Even if that truck cost as much as a new truck, it still something you can be more proud of and is more unique than any new ride.

 

[Larry]

My bad! Not trying to get overly personal. Really what I'm imagining in my head is that you now have a truck that is down for whatever, it's all new or rebuilt, Jack of all trades truck that will last just about forever, and it's coolness factor is way off the charts, all for a relatively small fee. Even if that truck cost as much as a new truck, it still something you can be more proud of and is more unique than any new ride.

Hehe, I was just razing you. The good news is I am in to this Burb for a small amount considering all that I’ve done. I barely have half of what it cost new wrapped up into it. I have more man hour sweat equity into it more than anything. Still got a ways to go before I can leave well enough alone though. Hoping to get the A/C lines built in the next day or two. Getting hot here! 92 today

 

[454Sub]

The greatest part about these is to a untrained eye, this looks as if it rolled off the factory assembled just like this. Down to using all GM plugs was a beautiful touch. They both truly look as if they were a late year 91 addition that was perfectly maintained. Thats hard to imagine, let alone accomplish in a square. You win the internets for today.

 

[Larry]

The greatest part about these is to a untrained eye, this looks as if it rolled off the factory assembled just like this. Down to using all GM plugs was a beautiful touch. They both truly look as if they were a late year 91 addition that was perfectly maintained. Thats hard to imagine, let alone accomplish in a square. You win the internets for today.

Thank you I’m a nerd like that or OCD. Not sure

Oh….And I finally got the A/C lines made today. Probably won’t have time to charge up the A/C until next week. Pictures coming once I get some time.

 

[454Sub]

Haha, its great planning really. When the eventual parts failures start to occur, finding and fixing them should be about as difficult as any new 03+ 8.1s. Not to mention being able to pull up to Autozone, and ask for an OBD2 scanner for an obviously pre 96 truck would raise some eyebrows.

 

[eclipse85k10]

Man I love seeing all the upgrades you do. I really like the 6.2 radiator up grade and never really thought about the size difference before but after looking at your pics I do remember their size. I think im gonna go dig around at my dad's shop in the parts pile from the 84 6.2 C20 I parted out. My 89 suburban use to always run hot in the summer and it really bother me.