Suburban 82 Diesel

[clecio]

First of all, thanks everyone for helping deciding the truck for a long trip to south america. The plan is drive the car from here all the way down there, expect through the Darien gap.
Anyways, I kind of stuck with the Blazer/Suburban options, it is easy to get, parts cheap and easy to work and fix.
However, I found recently a good deal in a Suburban 4x4 diesel which I wasn't looking for. It is in a very good shape and it is Diesel. So what you guys think about it, any drawbacks? Something special I should check on this truck before make a deal?

By the way, it is a 6.2l, TH400, NP 208, 4.10

Thanks for the help

 

[cdoggwsu]

I might be bias but it's definitely a fairly bulletproof setup.

The only issue I'd see considering a 6.2 is governed at 3600 rpm, with no overdrive and relatively low gearing assuming anything close to stock tires that rig won't comfortably cruise much above 55mph.

The fuel mileage sweet spot on a 6.2 is around 2000 rpms (+/- 200 rpms) and that'd put you at a whopping 43 mph running on a 31 inch tire.

 

[clecio]

I agree, and that will be a long highway. What will be the best option, bigger tires, change gears, change to TH700, or manual transmission?
Besides the low speed, any drawback being a 6.2L than a gasoline?
Thanks

 

[Meen Green]

If the engine is all original, it has different cylinder heads on it. The threads for injectors are "coarse thread" vs 83 and up are "fine threaded". Not a huge deal, however the injectors themselves could be more expensive, and harder to find being used 1yr only.

My opp is you will like the diesel, i have 3 and they are all very reliable, and i love to drive them.

 

[clecio]

Any easy way to get a higher cruise speed on those diesels?

 

[cdoggwsu]

Well, for example the same engine with a 700R4, 3.73 gears and a 31 in tire would get you up to 71mph at the same 2000rpm sweet spot. That's what my Burb is currently running and it's great on the highway.

Nothing wrong with a 6.2...better mileage and IMO less crap to break. It's not a powerhouse but you'll get where you need to go. The factory glow plug controllers like to give out but there's a lot of writeups on the web about manual bypasses. Aside from that the only issue I've had is cheap glow plugs swelling and getting stuck in the head.

 

[clecio]

That would be great! 70mph and 2000rpm!
Do you think the best way to get that is with a 700R4? How complicated is changing gears? a manual transmission is not easier to swap

 

[clecio]

Everyone,
I finally got the truck for this trip.
It is a 1983 Suburban Diesel 1/2 ton, 700R4, one owner, 92.000 miles original and no rust. The truck is in a really great shape. Now is time to prepare it.
It has a 700R4, 3.42 gears. I am thinking about swapping the original small tires for a 32". is it too big, should I change gears?

 

[bailey9r]

That is my setup 6.2 342 700r4 and 32 BFGs and it works well. I can go 80+ all day long or slow down to 70 and get good MPGs. I am not lacking for power with the torque these things make. The 32 BFGs did hurt the MPG a little (2) as it is a very heavy tire compared to the 31 uniroyals that were on it but everything else was improved. (traction, ride, LOOK, etc.)

 

[clecio]

Thanks.
What is the kind of wheels you have? 15,16? Is your rear axle narrow? Mine is really weird, is way narrower than the front one. Have you had to lift to put a 32?

 

[Big Ray]

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picking details for my 6.2 'burb...