New "Old" Daily - 8.1L

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Craig 85

Craig 85

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Posts
3,918
Reaction score
4,125
Location
Nashville, TN
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30 SRW
Engine Size
454/TH-400/NP205
Here's the final look. I need to re-install my aux back up lights. Snuck in a shot of the K30.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach
 
bucket

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,595
Reaction score
28,799
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
It's interesting that you just installed a nice heavy hitch. I'm looking to do the same on ours, mostly because the hitch is completely rotted out. I planned to just get this one from Jeg's:

https://www.jegs.com/i/Curt/229/15324/10002/-1

But it says it only fits back to '03. I'm not sure what the heck would be different with the '00-'02, but I was fixin to find out.
 
Craig 85

Craig 85

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Posts
3,918
Reaction score
4,125
Location
Nashville, TN
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30 SRW
Engine Size
454/TH-400/NP205
bucket said:
It's interesting that you just installed a nice heavy hitch. I'm looking to do the same on ours, mostly because the hitch is completely rotted out. I planned to just get this one from Jeg's:

https://www.jegs.com/i/Curt/229/15324/10002/-1

But it says it only fits back to '03. I'm not sure what the heck would be different with the '00-'02, but I was fixin to find out.
Click to expand...

The only problem with that hitch is it still bolts to the OEM locations. The third photo in post #15 shows the last bolt hole for the OEM hitch. You can see how much longer mine is. I was worried about my truck looking like the white one I posted. I had to drill two 1/2" holes to fit the hitch, but that was it. I got my hitch delivered with tax for $176 on eBay.

There are some guys on the Suburban 2500 FB page that are towing 35' trailers with these rigs.

You must be registered for see images
 
bucket

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,595
Reaction score
28,799
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
The frame bending issue is a new one for me, hadn't seen it yet. Our camper is 30ft but only weighs around 5k. My car trailer can give a tow rig a workout though, it's around 5k empty. I'll look into getting the same hitch you did.
 
Craig 85

Craig 85

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Posts
3,918
Reaction score
4,125
Location
Nashville, TN
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30 SRW
Engine Size
454/TH-400/NP205
A few updates. Had to replace the P/S as it was leaking. I also replaced the sway bar end links and got my aux back up lights mounted. These bushings are hollow with some cross shaped webbing on the inside. Weird...

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 
mcarlo86

mcarlo86

Full Access Member
Joined
May 17, 2019
Posts
571
Reaction score
1,060
Location
ND
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
Suburban
Engine Size
350
What an awesome Suburban. We had 2 trucks with 8.1's in them and loved them. One was an '03 Chevy 1 ton 4x4 cab and chassis with the 6 speed manual and the other was an '04 GMC 1 ton 4x4 cab and chassis with the Allison. Both were set up with gin poles and winches for the oilfield. The GMC with the Allison was the cat's meow. Those two trucks were so much nicer to work around compared to the Dodge and Ford diesel tonners that we had at the time also. Much quieter, smoother, and pulled just as well. They really didn't do too much worse on fuel economy either. Probably 8-10 mpg on average compared to 10-12 for the diesels.
 
77 K20

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,107
Reaction score
3,144
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
I use that fuelly program to track all tanks of fuel thru my vehicles.

Some statistics on my old 2003 8.1L 2500HD with the ZF6:

104 fillups
12.0 average MPG (this was empty and towing)
16.5 best MPG *this was on the stock tiny 245 tires and before I leveled the truck.
2,138.33 gallons used
$3.15 average price per gallon (had it programmed by Blackbear tuning to run on 91)
$0.255 average price per mile
$3,582.54 spent on fuel
25,660 miles traveled
 
Craig 85

Craig 85

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Posts
3,918
Reaction score
4,125
Location
Nashville, TN
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30 SRW
Engine Size
454/TH-400/NP205
Finally got my front seats recovered. What a huge improvement. I got these from The Seat Shop.

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 
Y

yevgenievich

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Posts
4,820
Reaction score
3,401
Location
Place
First Name
Name
Truck Year
Year
Truck Model
Model
Engine Size
Size
Been looking at the seat shop for covers, but bit expensive. Looks good
 
Y

yevgenievich

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Posts
4,820
Reaction score
3,401
Location
Place
First Name
Name
Truck Year
Year
Truck Model
Model
Engine Size
Size
Craig 85 said:
After I posted mine on a 2500 Suburban forum, someone mentioned L Seat. They are half the price.

https://www.lseat.com/
Click to expand...
Was excited to order from lseat, but they do not show gmt400 seat covers. Might email them and see if they can still make them. Thanks for the link
 
Craig 85

Craig 85

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Posts
3,918
Reaction score
4,125
Location
Nashville, TN
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30 SRW
Engine Size
454/TH-400/NP205
Some more updates. I tuned it up (plugs and wires). I think it had the OEM wires, only 169k miles on them. The name Packard was on it. The plugs were shot too. Gap on an 8.1L should be .060, well mine were about .075! No photos, everyone has seen spark plugs.

I got my back up camera and replacement DVD player installed. The truck came with a 5" DVD all in one unit in the center console, but it didn't work and it was hooked into the OEM radio. I got the new one installed and hooked into my JVC head unit.

I dislike how most people just throw on their aftermarket back up cameras. I put a notch in the rear bumper trim so the camera was recessed under the hatch door and out of the way from being kicked.

Old DVD player - closed
You must be registered for see images attach


Old DVD player - open
You must be registered for see images attach


New DVD player hooked up to new head unit
You must be registered for see images attach


Video feed from B/U camera
You must be registered for see images attach


B/U Camera location
You must be registered for see images attach
 
DoubleDingo

DoubleDingo

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Posts
11,324
Reaction score
17,365
Location
Right where I am
First Name
Bagoomba
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350
Craig 85 said:
Some more updates. I tuned it up (plugs and wires). I think it had the OEM wires, only 169k miles on them. The name Packard was on it. The plugs were shot too. Gap on an 8.1L should be .060, well mine were about .075! No photos, everyone has seen spark plugs.

I got my back up camera and replacement DVD player installed. The truck came with a 5" DVD all in one unit in the center console, but it didn't work and it was hooked into the OEM radio. I got the new one installed and hooked into my JVC head unit.

I dislike how most people just throw on their aftermarket back up cameras. I put a notch in the rear bumper trim so the camera was recessed under the hatch door and out of the way from being kicked.

Old DVD player - closed
You must be registered for see images attach


Old DVD player - open
You must be registered for see images attach


New DVD player hooked up to new head unit
You must be registered for see images attach


Video feed from B/U camera
You must be registered for see images attach


B/U Camera location
You must be registered for see images attach
Click to expand...

Oh man, I was hoping to see your title in that last pic, not a whited-out license plate number. Sheesh!
 
gotyourgoat

gotyourgoat

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2014
Posts
2,117
Reaction score
3,418
Location
NRV Virginia
First Name
gotyourgoat
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
c10
Engine Size
smokin' 305
DoubleDingo said:
Oh man, I was hoping to see your title in that last pic, not a whited-out license plate number. Sheesh!
Click to expand...
Yeah really. We are also going to need the names of all your neighbors, first born, and mother's maiden.:burnout:
 
Craig 85

Craig 85

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Posts
3,918
Reaction score
4,125
Location
Nashville, TN
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30 SRW
Engine Size
454/TH-400/NP205
gotyourgoat said:
Yeah really. We are also going to need the names of all your neighbors, first born, and mother's maiden.:burnout:
Click to expand...

Trust me it would be easy enough to find me. California is nice enough to post the salaries of any public employees. I'm glad I'm retired now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

TotalyHucked
Huck's daily - 2005 Z71 crewcab
3 4 5
Replies
71
Views
3K
TotalyHucked
TotalyHucked
crazy4offroad
New truck/SXS
Replies
4
Views
500
crazy4offroad
crazy4offroad
F
New member from SW Utah
Replies
8
Views
405
Fr8dog
F
Tonimus
New guy with a '78 'burb
2
Replies
19
Views
977
496bb
496bb
496bb
New member from AL
2
Replies
18
Views
1K
Strick
Strick

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,398
Posts
956,596
Members
36,702
Latest member
Monstah911
Top