Doogie's Suburban Thread

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Hello, I am digging the forum. Lots of great information here. The picture above is my awesome, ugly, 1996 Suburban 2500 base/fleet model. This bad boy has 260k miles, manual windows, two bench seats and a big block. It has been a long time since I have owned a vehicle that I wanted to turn wrenches on. I am excited to get dirty, bust some knuckles and learn a bit. I want to use this thread to share and to keep track of what I am doing.

Sooner than later fixes.

Tires were rotten. I figured i'd give Treadwright retreads a shot. I wanted to use the brand new cooper 20'' tires of my now dead expedition, but aftermarket 8x6.5 20'' wheels are ugly. A couple of the dodge factory wheels are ok looking, but I could not confirm the hub centers were the correct diameter. Steelies are cooler anyway.
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Engine does not get up to temp. First try is a new thermostat, but it seems like the fan is spinning way too hard on initial start-up. I am wondering if the fan clutch needs replaced too. I am hoping this is the cause of the strong fuel smell and not leaky injectors. fingers crossed.

Idle and tip in is just a bit lumpy, not full misfire, but does not feel right. Also feels kind of doggy out of the hole. It does have 260k miles, but I thought I could chirp a little bit with just a little bit of brake load. Again I am hoping this is because it can't warm up and not injector or intake gasket issues.

Radio works intermittently. Since this is a work truck, there are only two speakers, so I am hoping it is an easy fix. This will be a stop gap until I do a new head unit with a back up camera and couple new speakers. I may put some speakers in some boxes in the floor behind the second row, since it will never have a third row.

Broken door handles.
I am looking at options on 1A auto, but none of the eight piece kits seem correct. Need to look a bit more. I love the Kokiak handles, but it looks like those are getting hard to find or pricey. Can gmt800 handles be fitted? I should search that.

Broken side mirror glass.
full manual tow mirrors from 1A are in the cart.

Full coolant system go through once it starts warming up a bit. I am afraid there is a reason p.o may have put a cooler thermostat in. I want to do at least a thorough flush and replace any hoses that look bad. will probably do radiator while I'm in there.

Side steps. I am debating going full 90's style with the little hoops or the round bar or going with factory style. Right now I am leaning towards these. Not sure why it says they only fit 2wd suburbans.

When time permits and everything crucial is taken care of.

Rear heat does not work. It just blows cold. Front gets toasty. I want to redo the headliner, so I figure I will wait until then to look into it closer because it will be warmer and I will have a ton of the interior out anyway. I can also verify that all the ac works like the p.o. said it did. fingers crossed.

Also while the headliner is out I want to mount roof rack rails. Not sure if i want factory or aftermarket.

Paint wheel arch trim, side molding, and grill. either black or dark gray. The hood is rattle can black and the roof paint is shot. I am thinking those may get treated to some tan or off white rustoleum this summer. I'd rather avoid black for the hood and roof since I live in the high desert.

Clean and paint interior door panels. Manual window door panels are not easy to find. I was hoping I could just replace them, but cleaning them up and painting them should work.

Exhaust, I want to hear little more big block.

Wish list items:

Cruise control

I like the front bench, but I am thinking a 60/40 bench would be nicer. Are any 60/40 benches manual on both driver and passenger side? If I find a bunch of extra change I will do some of the custom seats from the rv places.

Bumper with spare tire carrier or some kind of door mounted spare tire carrier that utilizes the door hinges. I'd like to get the spare out of the interior for the . . .

Long drawer system in back for fishing gear and what not.

Dream big:
0411 computer swap in preparation for the . . .

Get a 496 built up

or, probably more realistically, a 6.0 swap.

I love that this thing has manual windows and no other creature comforts. My '07 expedition was starting to have small, annoying issues and then the cam phasers went kaput. I am not interested in putting the minimum $3200 into a band aid fix. So ford's are out of my life.

All in all I have a running, driving 4x4 that is rust free for $1500. Not bad

First (temporary) fix!

Rear barn would not lock. Still does not work with the power lock button because the plunger seems sticky, but I can at least use the key after cleaning up the linkage. I eventually want to pull
 
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Whelp, there are 4 speakers. I forgot about the two in the back. I think my short is in one of them. Radio makes some noise if I hit a speed bump quick enough. I'll pull them out this week if weather cooperates.
 
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Another trip in to the boneyard in the rain netted me chrome mirrors off a 94 pickup, a matching fuel door, and the interior trim for the barn doors. All for $40. Of course the GM rows are in a low spot. I could have used waders.

I learned that later years don't often come with manual mirrors. I am glad I found the older style. The trim below the mirror is fragile. Managed to find both sides, but cracked one a little bit when pulling it off. Swapping mirrors with the door panels in is a pain. Two nuts dropped in the door, I will get them later. The plastic interior pulling tools from hf are way better then using screwdrivers. Well worth the $9.

Base/fleet suburbans must not have come with interior panels on the barn doors. My doors do not have the right holes for the panels. I will have to drill a couple holes and trim the the plastic window surround a bit If I want to use them. I may decide not. I want to replace the side shelves in the back, but the ones at the yard were as nasty as mine. Ditto with head liners. I will recover my headliner and I may try to recover the shelves too.

Not having a 10mm wrench was a mistake. There is one in my boneyard box now. Luckily my small long nose locking pliers could get the forward bolt on the mirrors. I remembered my drill, but forgot my drill bits. I will have to go back for the door handles.
 
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4600s are installed. Holy cow what a difference. The old ones were completely shot. I tried so hard to salvage the splash guards on the front, but they fell apart. I'll probably try to make some out of some mud flaps or floor mats.

I could do the shocks, but I want to the pros to replace the master cylinder.

Rides great and brakes great now.
 

HotWheelsBurban

Gotta have 4 doors..... Rawhide, TOTY 2023!
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Yes the Scottsdale/work truck trim level doesn't have the plastic trim panels on the back doors. Just painted body color. Friend of mine used to have a 2 door Tahoe work truck 2wd, rare truck, wish I coulda bought it from him cause it was platinum color like my Burb. Looked like its kid lol. I think the trans was toast though and it had some miles on it, doing the usual old vortec crap. Like l suspect the Burb is beginning to do...
 

Donald Mitchell

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4600s are installed. Holy cow what a difference. The old ones were completely shot. I tried so hard to salvage the splash guards on the front, but they fell apart. I'll probably try to make some out of some mud flaps or floor mats.

I could do the shocks, but I want to the pros to replace the master cylinder.

Rides great and brakes great now.
I found the rubber used for splash shields here. There may be other mfgs of the same product.
https://www.rubbertherightway.com/flat-rubber-sheets-masticated-rubber-54099-prd1.htm
 
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Yes the Scottsdale/work truck trim level doesn't have the plastic trim panels on the back doors. Just painted body color. Friend of mine used to have a 2 door Tahoe work truck 2wd, rare truck, wish I coulda bought it from him cause it was platinum color like my Burb. Looked like its kid lol. I think the trans was toast though and it had some miles on it, doing the usual old vortec crap. Like l suspect the Burb is beginning to do...

I'm hoping the 454 gives me a few more miles before it gives me too much fuss. Two door tahoe work truck sounds like a rare bird.
 

HotWheelsBurban

Gotta have 4 doors..... Rawhide, TOTY 2023!
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Since you have worked on your truck's barn doors, maybe you can help me diagnose this problem. My rear door handle key lock cylinder will turn to the right to lock the doors manually, but not to the left to unlock them. Just started this yesterday, and I sprayed the lock and latch with lubrication. Any ideas? Thanks in advance
 
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