Slowly but surely, the 1988 V20 Sub

[78K30]

Sorry this build is gonna be pretty slow due to collecting parts and that winter weather is finally here. Many thanks go out to @kgblazerfive for making this possible and holding onto it until I was able to make the trek from central Iowa out to Utah after it.

Here's a couple pictures hi-jacked from the sale post.





People hought I was crazy going 1200 miles one way for an old suburban with a bad engine but in the end I'm glad It worked out. Other than my 2013 this is the cleanest body on any vehicle I've ever owned.

Plans for now-
3-4" lift and 33 or 35" tires
1990 cummins 5.9
1994 NV4500
3.73 14bff out back
D60 front (undecided between 78/79 Ford or a GM/dodge unit

More pictures to come for the thread when I have time here after lunch.

 

[78K30]

The morning of Saturday November 17th two friends and myself piled in my friends 2004 2500HD and headed west. (Had I not been an idiot and sold my duramax I could've taken it on this trip)

Didnt take as many pictures on the way as I wish I had. It was a fun trip with some good friends.

This was in central Nebraska after the first fuel stop and driver swap. I volunteered to sit in the back which was pretty comfy despite my size. This was right when it started to snow, wade was glad he took this portion.


The next few hours there were no pictures taken due to me taking over driving in Big springs Nebraska. The weather continued to get worse during the drive and most of my drive time was spent below 45 mph clear until the next fuel stop in Rawlins, Wyoming. At this point I turned the truck back over to Eric so he could pilot us to our destination for the night of Rock springs, Wyoming.

I did get this picture of the one refinery we went by, the picture turned out kinda neat I thought.



The only good picture I caught from inside the best western in rock springs. It was a really neat hotel that we enjoyed our brief time in.

 

[78K30]

The morning of the 18th was much more enjoyable due to being able to see further than 300'. I caught some scenery that some would find ordinary but us three flatlanders enjoyed the snow covered landscape.





Again not too many pictures were taken due to enjoying the company and the scenery too much to run the camera.

A few hours later however we were greeted with much warmer weather and our destination. We enjoyed our time spent with Keith, checked out twinkie then got the burb loaded up for its trip back to rustler climates. Keith couldn't help but laugh at us, we were amazed by how rust free stuff is in Utah versus back home.





I didnt bother grabbing any pics worthy of sharing on the return trip. We left keith's place around 2:00 and put the hammer down east. Eric drove back to Rawlins and we only lost traction a couple times in the mountains due to blowing snow having visibility very poor and the roads very slick. At Rawlins I took over and drove clear to Kearny, NE. Most of that drive time was spent in the quiet alone while the other two slept. The bed mounted auxiliary tank was very handy and allowed me to push on for just shy of 8 hours. Couple hours of letting wade drive got us back to the Iowa side of the border around 5am and I drove the last few hours for home. Then took the dogs for a ride and really agitated the knocking noises made by the dying 350.

 

[kgblazerfive]

I am glad you are happy with it

 

[78K30]

I am glad you are happy with it

That's an understatement! Looking forward to turning wrenches on it

 

[swettysblazer]

Cool looking truck. Road trips like that are the best.

 

[78K30]

I'm hoping sometime in the not so distant future I can be making trips like it in a diesel suburban! I need a money tree

 

[beags86]

I had a carbon copy to this thing once.
It was rusty so I junked it.

Just going to wait til you buy some other stuff, then I'll buy it. You did the hard part on getting it back to the midwest.

 

[KirsL]

Nice find.

I have absolutely no use for a suburban. But I'd still love to add a diesel one to my stable of vehicles.

I'm definitely getting a rust free rig next time. I don't care if it runs but rust sucks to deal with. Engine swaps are easy to do.

 

[imiceman44]

Nice find.

I have absolutely no use for a suburban. But I'd still love to add a diesel one to my stable of vehicles.

I'm definitely getting a rust free rig next time. I don't care if it runs but rust sucks to deal with. Engine swaps are easy to do.

I might end up selling my 84 turbo diesel.
California rust free and it will be running if/when I sell it.
I am almost done with the engine swap.

 

[78K30]

I had a carbon copy to this thing once.
It was rusty so I junked it.

Just going to wait til you buy some other stuff, then I'll buy it. You did the hard part on getting it back to the midwest.

This one is here to stay. I've never had one so clean before!

Nice find.

I have absolutely no use for a suburban. But I'd still love to add a diesel one to my stable of vehicles.

I'm definitely getting a rust free rig next time. I don't care if it runs but rust sucks to deal with. Engine swaps are easy to do.

My main reason for wanting a suburban was that I've never had one (not including the parts one I bought). And that there are parts of the country I'd like to see where 4x4 is a requirement. So what better way to get myself where I'd like to go with all my gear in a weather tight package? Plus with the 5.9 itll tow better than my 2500HD gas does so it may be busy with the trailer more often.

 

[obijuank5]

A 5.9 burb has it all.

 

[Kay86K5]

Built 3/4 ton burb's are some of the most useful rigs around...when built right. And from the sounds of it, yours will be built right.

My dad bought a real nice 84 3/4 ton burb that already had 4" lift and 35's on it. My brother just rebuilt the 350 with aftermarket heads, cam, and an FItech fuel system, and it will get a different axle set (8 lug d44 with a 14bff with 4.56's) to help out with the gearing. Cause 35's and only 3.73's aint enough for what they want to use it for. First pic below is his burb...paint almost looks identical to yours.

Even though I didn't really need one either, I picked up a 93 3/4 ton burb and am gathering parts for a SAS with a ford d60. Plan to run 35's and be just a great all around adventure rig. Can take it camping, on mild trail wheeling, hunting, fishing, backup tow rig, or if my wife wants to drive it in the snow she wants to. Burbs are very useful to haul people and gear. Last pic is of my burb

Looking forward to this build

 

[GWeakland620]

Maybe some day I can see this thing at Tuttle Creek on some mild trails.

 

[78K30]

Built 3/4 ton burb's are some of the most useful rigs around...when built right. And from the sounds of it, yours will be built right.

My dad bought a real nice 84 3/4 ton burb that already had 4" lift and 35's on it. My brother just rebuilt the 350 with aftermarket heads, cam, and an FItech fuel system, and it will get a different axle set (8 lug d44 with a 14bff with 4.56's) to help out with the gearing. Cause 35's and only 3.73's aint enough for what they want to use it for. First pic below is his burb...paint almost looks identical to yours.

Even though I didn't really need one either, I picked up a 93 3/4 ton burb and am gathering parts for a SAS with a ford d60. Plan to run 35's and be just a great all around adventure rig. Can take it camping, on mild trail wheeling, hunting, fishing, backup tow rig, or if my wife wants to drive it in the snow she wants to. Burbs are very useful to haul people and gear. Last pic is of my burb

Looking forward to this build

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View attachment 290069

I'm loving your dads burb! I'm also following your Burbs thread with great interest as I love 90's trucks. Your last paragraph describes what I want to do with mine to a T. Like @obijuank5 stated a 5.9 burb has it all, hopefully this does when I'm done!

Maybe some day I can see this thing at Tuttle Creek on some mild trails.

Either wheeling or towing something there to wheel with would be fantastic. I've still got the XJ around to thrash!

 

[beags86]

A 5.9 burb has it all.

Fork that.


Please do something different... So tired of watching the same old crap. A durmax is a very small departure... I'll am hoping you go DT466....

 

[78K30]

A few pic whore shots of the future driveline. I lent my friend with the duramax some money and labor to put towards the injectors we installed in his truck before leaving for Utah and in trade I asked for this fella, weve just gotta get it pulled out.





Here's the NV4500 thatll be used. I'll get a rebuild kit an convert it to 4x4. Not sure which transfer case or front axle to go with yet. Trading my 92 K2500 for the tranny this weekend. The 92's 350 is dying rapidly so it's basically trading a GM4500 for the dodge one.


Scored another dodge 4500 also. This one is a V8 gas one so itll need overhauled and converted to diesel spec at some point. But for $275 I couldn't say no.



While I'm thinking about it. What would you guys rather do as far as drive lines are concerned?

Option 1- convert NV4500 over to GM 32 spline output then run the existing GM NP241 and 10 bolt then buy a GM or dodge 60 as funding allows.

Option 2- convert the NV4500 to the standard 29spline 4x4 output and run one of the two Ford NP205's I have and put my 78/79 Dana 60 up front.

I like option two since the only parts I would need is the 4x4 main shaft and tail housing for the NV4500, an ORD adapter to run the Ford 205, and a GM tail housing for the 205 to run my speedometer.

 

[78K30]

Fork that.


Please do something different... So tired of watching the same old crap. A durmax is a very small departure... I'll am hoping you go DT466....

A DT engine either 360 or 466 would be fun as hell but I'm going for a "cheap" yet proven setup on this one. Hardest part of my swap will likely be getting an intercooler fit into the core support. part of why I decided NV4500 versus 4L80, no tranny cooler to plumb in.

 

[beags86]

A DT engine either 360 or 466 would be fun as hell but I'm going for a "cheap" yet proven setup on this one. Hardest part of my swap will likely be getting an intercooler fit into the core support. part of why I decided NV4500 versus 4L80, no tranny cooler to plumb in.

Dt466s are dirt cheap. You can buy old school busses all day. For a thousand bucks. You probably have a lot more hook ups with your job and whatnot. Guess I'll unsubscribe for another boring 12v swap.

Plus your a diesel tech. It would be easy for you. Quit being cheap.

 

[obijuank5]

Yeah throw all your money away so you can do 8 hour water pump jobs. And injectors every 100k lol

But what's the deal with this? I want that.