Searching for My Dad's 1979 Chevy Suburban

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TheHoundsman

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Location
West Deptford NJ
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
Chevy Suburban
Engine Size
350 V8
The people here who are knowledgeable are saying to service what you have but some YouTube videos showing you how to install a new painless harness say to buy new. Hmmm
I hear you I am just saying I am not sure I have the knowledge yet to “service what I have”. Certainly not trying to be disrespectful to this group just well aware of my limitations.
 

ChuckN

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Chad
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
The people here who are knowledgeable are saying to service what you have but some YouTube videos showing you how to install a new painless harness say to buy new. Hmmm
The benefit of new harnesses (not having an opinion one way or another on what the OP should do) is that typically each wire is marked every foot or so so it is easy to stay organized and know exactly what is going on. The added benefit is that by the time you have done the truck from front to rear, you know it like the back of your hand.
 

bucket

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'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
The benefit of new harnesses (not having an opinion one way or another on what the OP should do) is that typically each wire is marked every foot or so so it is easy to stay organized and know exactly what is going on. The added benefit is that by the time you have done the truck from front to rear, you know it like the back of your hand.

But often times, a harness installed by a beginner (or even someone that has experience, but lacks attention to detail) can be less reliable than a 40+ year old harness with some minor issues here and there.
 

ChuckN

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350
But often times, a harness installed by a beginner (or even someone that has experience, but lacks attention to detail) can be less reliable than a 40+ year old harness with some minor issues here and there.
I wouldn’t dispute that, but I’ll be so bold as to say that in all of our trucks, the wiring harnesses are 40-50 years old. At some point it becomes a reasonable thing to start over with a new harness. It does appear that these harnesses do stand up to the test of time, but sooner or later will need replacement anyway.

That said it’s on the person doing it to learn the right way to do it since a new harness done wrong could certainly be more risky than an old harnesses that could be used for the rest of its life span.
 

bucket

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Engine Size
350-454
Does West Deptford NJ allow the records to be pulled?

Depends on what records. The dates of title transfers and whatnot? Yes, according to the first post. The name of the last registered owner? No, according to post #14.
 

Edelbrock

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Option number 2:

Have a minor, or a street bum put up a $250,000 cash reward for the location of the vehicle. They can not be successfully sued, so what do ya got to lose?
 

TheHoundsman

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West Deptford NJ
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Brian
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
Chevy Suburban
Engine Size
350 V8
Does West Deptford NJ allow the records to be pulled?
Sadly they do not. They were as helpful as they could be. I was able to confirm that my Dad was the first owner and that he did indeed sell it in 1990 and that since then it was titles 6 times the last time it was titled in NJ was 2004. They also confirmed that it was never salvage titles in NJ. They also checked the nationwide VIN# database and confirmed that it was not listed on there either.
 

TheHoundsman

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Brian
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1979
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Chevy Suburban
Engine Size
350 V8
Starting to try to get this engine compartment looking better. Cleaning and slowing blacking things out.
 

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TheHoundsman

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West Deptford NJ
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Brian
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1979
Truck Model
Chevy Suburban
Engine Size
350 V8
Blacking out the engine compartment
 

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TheHoundsman

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West Deptford NJ
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Brian
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1979
Truck Model
Chevy Suburban
Engine Size
350 V8
As I had mentioned I am also going to try to install a cross over steering system myself. I have gotten the knuckles ready for install. I figured while I am at it I would replace the axle shafts as well. To be honest I had a really hard time installing the U Bolts. Finally got them done. Wish me luck this will be the first non cosmetic thing I will be attempting.
 

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CountKrunk

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v8 350
The more you do the more you'll feel good about tackling.
 

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