What GMT400 parts are unobtainable in 2019?

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BNielsen

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These trucks suffered one thing that the older ones did that reduced their numbers significantly. I hate to say the words: Cash for Clunkers. So many good trucks met their end early it still makes me sick 10 years later.

I vaguely remember driving by one of the local Chevy dealerships when they were running that godforsaken ponzi scheme and seeing a beautiful grey CCLB K3500 on Alcoas, matching campershell and west coast mirrors.

It still haunts me to this day. I hope it was just at the dealership and not on it's way to the scrapyard.
 

Cokeman95

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Varies by state I think, but here it's 25 years from the date of production. So my '97s will be eligible for classic vehicle plates and insurance in 2022. Which brings a hefty reduction in insurance premiums, exemption from future state safety inspections, and some other cool benefits. Only real downside here is that there's a 3500 mile per year limit to maintain that type of insurance policy. Not an issue for me as I typically put a little less than 3000 per year on each truck. Once again the rules and regulations vary by state and insurance provider I believe, some are more strict than others with specific guidelines on how you're allowed to use the vehicle.
I'd do it other than the mileage restrictions. I drive more than that in a month sometimes.

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df2x4

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I'd do it other than the mileage restrictions. I drive more than that in a month sometimes.

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Here in Missouri they're pretty nonchalant about the mileage limits. No one has asked for records of my Monte Carlo's mileage in the last ten years or so. Also I worded my earlier post sort of badly, that 3500 mile limit is set by my specific insurance policy for that car. You can shop around and find different policies with higher total limits. The state law here specifies 1000 miles per year of unrestricted personal usage; and unlimited miles to and from exhibitions, educational events, and repair facilities. My insurance agent told me that as long as I'm under my policy's yearly mileage limit, I'm good.
 

matad311

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For me on the interior side is the note pad holder on the center flip up seat. As my latch broke and I used that Lid for notes all the time. Or the rear bench seat handle to flip the seat up or down broke, the plastic is fine but the aluminum casted metal shaft broke and I don't want to buy a junk yard seat to swap latches.
 

Stephen

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Thanks to everyone who has replied! It’s giving me a good idea of what to expect should I find my perfect Suburban.
It’s too bad GM doesn’t support older vehicles. Nissan, Land Rover and Mercedes Benz all have new parts available for many of their iconic vehicles. I guess to GM these trucks are just appliances and it’s not worth keeping them going, they’d rather sell new trucks.
I live just east of Atlanta and there are 3 pick & pull lots near me. I have pulled several interior parts for my 1996 C3500 SRW LB 7.4L 2WD truck. I have not found any intact door panels because some idiot just ripped it off breaking it just to get to the glass or other door part. When I pull a part & have to remove another to get to it I am careful not to break the part I don't want because someone may need that part. I have found one dash bezel and several of the dash vents and a few CC modules. S&W in Lithonia ,Ga has a good selection but their P&P lot is huge and I would recommend renting a golf cart if anyone visits. Pull A Part has 4-5 lots in the atlanta area but I have not had much luck at them.
 

mars2878

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got one for ya, doing the brake lines on my 99 k1500 Suburban, the nut that holds the rear rubber line to the bracket is wasted on mine, tried all of the local parts stores, big box hardware stores, lmc, rockauto. nothing. it's one of those paper thin nuts w/ the edges folded up for the wrench w/ a 5/8"id fine thread. I even tried getting a regular nut, around here I can only find a 5/8 w/ coarse thread. even the ones @ the j/y yesterday were not healthy looking. Gonna try to get to the dealer before they close & hope for the best. The old one was so bad that it took me about 20min to get the old one off, there was nothing to grab onto.
 

bugdewde

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I know the P400 casted 6.5s are gone, but some googling shows Leroy still offers the Optimizer 6.5L.

Even though I've got a 454, I'd love to own a 6.5 just for the sake of saying I owned one,

I sold a '99 K1500 Suburban 6.5, 14 bolt SF, 4L80e, all the coolers, fully loaded, tailgate..... just a few months ago. Owned it for 2-3 years.
It had 3.42 gears and would tow my 2100 lb Miata with ease except in the mountains.... where I had to watch my EGTs closely.

I really liked it except for the injector pump going out. It would heat soak after being off 10-20 minutes (enough to go inside somewhere to eat) and wouldn't restart until i poured a bottled water over the pump. Fire right off after that. Lol.
When it did start up, it would get a lot of looks from folks. Not many realized you could get a diesel Suburban.
A couple grand would have put it in tip top condition, but i sold it at a significant loss to buy a gas burner 7.4L K2500.

Here's the old oil burner....
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Darrin De May

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Thanks to everyone who has replied! It’s giving me a good idea of what to expect should I find my perfect Suburban.
It’s too bad GM doesn’t support older vehicles. Nissan, Land Rover and Mercedes Benz all have new parts available for many of their iconic vehicles. I guess to GM these trucks are just appliances and it’s not worth keeping them going, they’d rather sell new trucks.
Very true about Mercedes-Benz! I had a 1972 450SL that my Mom passed along to me after she'd driven it for 20+ years. Along with the Owners Manual, it came with a book with a black cover with exploded diagrams showing every single part of the car, all conveniently labeled. That made it super easy to show the dealer's Parts Department exactly what I was after. I remember I once needed a little spring that was part of the passenger side vacuum power lock linkage. Sure enough, they had them, and I paid 8¢ for it. Another customer in line then said: "I had no idea that there even WAS an 8¢ part on a Mercedes-Benz!".
 
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