Bret
Newbie
After searching for a while for a good deal, I found this 1999 Suburban 2500 on Craiglist for $600 with 225,000 miles, claiming it needed a Harmonic Balancer and had an exhaust leak. Checking out the truck, it had almost everything I wanted: 454 Vortec, 4x4, 4.10 Gearset, leather, and barn doors, and no rust.
The truck ended up being 3 hours away, and the PO got it through a barter deal for work he did for the PPO when it was running. When I bought it, he was only a few months from scrapping it after trying to sell it for months. While he was selling it, the outer ring on the harmonic balancer separated from the rest of it, rendering the truck undrivable, and difficult to sell. At some point, the window also got broken in.
After I paid for the truck and got the keys, I went back home and rented a Home Depot pickup and a 20 foot car trailer with winch to haul it back home. All in all, $200 for a 3 hour tow.
Eventually I got it back home, and the first order of business was going down to the junk yard and getting a new driver window, and I ordered a brand new window regulator due to the old one being mangled from what I believe was a break-in. Due to there not being a window, it left the interior in rough condition. After a good cleaning, the interior now looks presentable minus the torn up driver side seat.
After ordering all the parts, I replaced the harmonic balancer and fired the truck up only to hear an awful sound that made me understand the PO was completely wrong about the exhaust leak.
Assuming a collapsed lifter, I used a mechanics stethoscope to figure out which side was making the sound, and I took off the valve cover to discover the pushrod and rocker was pretty loose due to the lifter.
Ordered all the parts, and after dismantling the engine discovered it actually had 3 collapsed lifters. I replaced all the lifters, and did a break-in with fresh oil and an additive for good measure. I replaced the oil again and also replaced both shift solenoids and changed the filter on the 4l80e. This proved to be slightly inconvenient, as I did not expect to have to jack up the back of the transmission to make the bolts closest to the back of the tranny pan accessible.
After all was said and done, the truck drives fine, the only problem being a slightly rough idle. I am thinking it could be a couple things including bad gas, the fuel pump that's going out(Fuel pressure was fine, but the pump makes a loud whine, a new one is on the way).
I pulled the older GMC grill from the junkyard a while back(that one's my favorite), and today walking around the junkyard I found a diesel bumper for $30 that I couldn't resist picking up. The bumper only has couple scratches from someone pulling the factory 6.5 out.
I put the grill on a few weeks ago and today I put the bumper on and couldn't be happier with the results
For anyone curious, going from a new to old grill isn't exactly plug and play, but is still easy. First off, in the radiator support there is push in screw tabs that will be in the wrong places. It's as simple as taking a pick or small screwdriver and prying them out and relocating them, as the support still has the provisions for the older locations. The second problem that arises is the turn signals. The turn signals on the newer grills are deeper than on the older ones, which means you will need new turn signals. If you put just enough screw threads to hold them in, they will work, but you can tell that something is wrong when you look close up.
I want to modify this grill to get rid of the GMC logo or just order a billet one if I can get it for a good deal.
My short-term goals include tackling this rough idle issue by replacing the fuel pump and tossing a few sensors at it. I also have the buckets for the quad sealed beam headlights, with the headlights on the way and will be installing them as soon as they arrive.
Long-term, I plan to puting on a 4 inch lift on running 35x12.5 tires. I'm going for a overland inspired build.
The truck ended up being 3 hours away, and the PO got it through a barter deal for work he did for the PPO when it was running. When I bought it, he was only a few months from scrapping it after trying to sell it for months. While he was selling it, the outer ring on the harmonic balancer separated from the rest of it, rendering the truck undrivable, and difficult to sell. At some point, the window also got broken in.
After I paid for the truck and got the keys, I went back home and rented a Home Depot pickup and a 20 foot car trailer with winch to haul it back home. All in all, $200 for a 3 hour tow.
You must be registered for see images attach
Eventually I got it back home, and the first order of business was going down to the junk yard and getting a new driver window, and I ordered a brand new window regulator due to the old one being mangled from what I believe was a break-in. Due to there not being a window, it left the interior in rough condition. After a good cleaning, the interior now looks presentable minus the torn up driver side seat.
You must be registered for see images attach
After ordering all the parts, I replaced the harmonic balancer and fired the truck up only to hear an awful sound that made me understand the PO was completely wrong about the exhaust leak.
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
Assuming a collapsed lifter, I used a mechanics stethoscope to figure out which side was making the sound, and I took off the valve cover to discover the pushrod and rocker was pretty loose due to the lifter.
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
Ordered all the parts, and after dismantling the engine discovered it actually had 3 collapsed lifters. I replaced all the lifters, and did a break-in with fresh oil and an additive for good measure. I replaced the oil again and also replaced both shift solenoids and changed the filter on the 4l80e. This proved to be slightly inconvenient, as I did not expect to have to jack up the back of the transmission to make the bolts closest to the back of the tranny pan accessible.
After all was said and done, the truck drives fine, the only problem being a slightly rough idle. I am thinking it could be a couple things including bad gas, the fuel pump that's going out(Fuel pressure was fine, but the pump makes a loud whine, a new one is on the way).
You must be registered for see images attach
I pulled the older GMC grill from the junkyard a while back(that one's my favorite), and today walking around the junkyard I found a diesel bumper for $30 that I couldn't resist picking up. The bumper only has couple scratches from someone pulling the factory 6.5 out.
You must be registered for see images attach
I put the grill on a few weeks ago and today I put the bumper on and couldn't be happier with the results
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
For anyone curious, going from a new to old grill isn't exactly plug and play, but is still easy. First off, in the radiator support there is push in screw tabs that will be in the wrong places. It's as simple as taking a pick or small screwdriver and prying them out and relocating them, as the support still has the provisions for the older locations. The second problem that arises is the turn signals. The turn signals on the newer grills are deeper than on the older ones, which means you will need new turn signals. If you put just enough screw threads to hold them in, they will work, but you can tell that something is wrong when you look close up.
I want to modify this grill to get rid of the GMC logo or just order a billet one if I can get it for a good deal.
My short-term goals include tackling this rough idle issue by replacing the fuel pump and tossing a few sensors at it. I also have the buckets for the quad sealed beam headlights, with the headlights on the way and will be installing them as soon as they arrive.
Long-term, I plan to puting on a 4 inch lift on running 35x12.5 tires. I'm going for a overland inspired build.
