Swazo
Junior Member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2017
- Posts
- 7
- Reaction score
- 5
- Location
- Oregon Coast
- First Name
- Daymon
- Truck Year
- 1988
- Truck Model
- Suburban V1500
- Engine Size
- 5.3L
I’ve been lurking, reading and searching down rabbit holes here and thought I should post an intro to start.
I flew into Salt Lake City intending to buy a vehicle while in town on business, and drive 13-14 hours back to the Oregon coast. 10 vehicles Id been vetting over the phone didn’t pan out for one reason or another, and this popped up one of the last days there.
1988 GMC V1500 9-person w/ rear AC Suburban 350tbi/700r4 with a top shelf Off-road Design 6” lift kit, D44/14-bolt 3/4 ton axle swap (axles stripped, prepped and painted prior to being professionally built with 4.56 gears, Detroit locker in rear and beefy diff covers) professionally installed with a new driveshaft. Drives great, brakes nice, steers amazingly and is pretty clean over all.
Bought it, loaded my gear and left for the coast. Not quite at the half way mark, I threw a rod outside of Boise, Idaho. Uhaul said their car hauler wouldn’t tow a Suburban online, but being desperate, I gave it a shot. Even with all my gear in the moving truck, this was squirrelly as hell and 45 mph was as good as it got. Turned a 13 hour drive into a 26.5 hour drive.
Not wanting to rebuild the 350, getting spooked from remans from part stores and unwilling to pay $2k+ for a decent reman.....
I chose to buy a low mile ‘01 5.3L LM7 to swap in. I’m sticking with the 700r4 and am trying to make sure I get the TV cable setup right. 5.3 is getting powder coated black CCP high flow e.manifolds for OEM like sealing, a CAI and a reflashed ECU for this setup. I’m pinning out my harness and making a clean standalone setup.
I haven’t started yet, but am waiting on freight, UPS/FedEx and snail mail. Keep an eye for my build thread
I flew into Salt Lake City intending to buy a vehicle while in town on business, and drive 13-14 hours back to the Oregon coast. 10 vehicles Id been vetting over the phone didn’t pan out for one reason or another, and this popped up one of the last days there.
1988 GMC V1500 9-person w/ rear AC Suburban 350tbi/700r4 with a top shelf Off-road Design 6” lift kit, D44/14-bolt 3/4 ton axle swap (axles stripped, prepped and painted prior to being professionally built with 4.56 gears, Detroit locker in rear and beefy diff covers) professionally installed with a new driveshaft. Drives great, brakes nice, steers amazingly and is pretty clean over all.
Bought it, loaded my gear and left for the coast. Not quite at the half way mark, I threw a rod outside of Boise, Idaho. Uhaul said their car hauler wouldn’t tow a Suburban online, but being desperate, I gave it a shot. Even with all my gear in the moving truck, this was squirrelly as hell and 45 mph was as good as it got. Turned a 13 hour drive into a 26.5 hour drive.
Not wanting to rebuild the 350, getting spooked from remans from part stores and unwilling to pay $2k+ for a decent reman.....
I chose to buy a low mile ‘01 5.3L LM7 to swap in. I’m sticking with the 700r4 and am trying to make sure I get the TV cable setup right. 5.3 is getting powder coated black CCP high flow e.manifolds for OEM like sealing, a CAI and a reflashed ECU for this setup. I’m pinning out my harness and making a clean standalone setup.
I haven’t started yet, but am waiting on freight, UPS/FedEx and snail mail. Keep an eye for my build thread
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