Suburban Project- Need Help!

[scenic760]

Hey All,

I want to apologize to B1075 for hijacking his thread inadvertantly!

My story...picked up a 1981 K1500 Suburban from a widow in Bakersfield who's husband died and this was their ranch vehicle. It was said to run when parked about 5 years ago.. I tried getting it to turn manually without plugs, oil in the cylinders, dep creep, mmo, atf/acetone- no go. Some much wiser members suggested taking off the heads and there was a decent amount of rust on some of the rockers and all the lifters are stuck however I pulled the head on the passenger side and the cylinders don't look too bad to me (but I haven't stripped an engine down in 25 years so memory is suspect).

The intent is to get this thing set up as a nice beach/sports hauler with 4 kids to get places, very little freeway driving. I plan on redoing interior, paint, suspension so I do plan on keeping it around and I don't need to roast the tires off at every stoplight (not anymore anyways, haha).

Someone suggested just buying a used 350 and throwing it in there as you can get them so cheap.. I have looked on facebook, craigslist and google search and I can't find anything cheaper than $500 (within driving distance) and the ad said "it needs work" so seems like I would be back in the same boat more or less except $500 lighter?

Also some of the wiser members suggested an LS swap which in my situation just isn't possible, not to mention sounds like a nightmare in California. An e-rod at $10k, which to be honest is probably the best long term situation but I can't drop $10k at the moment. So I'm back to getting it on the road with more or less what it has in it (or replacing with something similar).

A couple questions I have..at this point with the head off (soon to be both) and the engine still not spinning I know it doesn't look good. Also, that much tear down I would kind of be foolish not to just yank the thing out and either rebuild or replace. I'm looking online and locally and it looks like a long block is going to set me back about $1700 minimum and a $400ish core (that I need to ship at my expense) that may or may not get refunded, so really a $2100 outlay. I'm thinking if I were to rebuild the existing short block, provided it was rebuildable, I would spend somewhere in the $1000 range? I would then most likely buy some CARB legal aluminum heads in the $1100 range (vs having existing recon'd) and pretty much be where I would be with a long block cost wise with superior performance? I have already planned to use an MSD Atomic EFI setup so basically another $1k in either scenario. Does this sounds like a sane persons rationalization?!

Thanks all!

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[AKguy]

I would remove the engine, tear it down, see what’s what. Based upon what you, or someone with more knowledge sees, you can keep looking for a bargain replacement or have it rebuilt. I assume you don’t need it right away, so you can save your nickels in the mean time. Obviously, buying a used engine is dicey and the short/long block from someone that provides some sort or warranty is a good plan.

 

[82sbshortbed]

BBC look real nice in a suburban!

 

[scenic760]

BBC look real nice in a suburban!

Monster suburban! Haha...problem with that is in California I would have to go and get all the smog equipment that came originally on the BBC...come to think of it, I thought I heard somewhere that the BBC options didn't have all the smog stuff on it..here is the excerpt from the Bureau of Automotive repair on an "engine replacement"

1. What is the difference between an engine change and an engine replacement?

An “engine change” is the installation of an engine that is different from the one which was originally installed in the vehicle and does not qualify as a “replacement engine”.

Engine replacements include:
A new, rebuilt, remanufactured, or used engine of the same make, number of cylinders, and engine family (test group) as the original engine with the original emission controls reinstalled;
An engine which matches a configuration offered by the manufacturer for that year, make and model of vehicle, and the appropriate emission controls for the installed engine, and chassis components are present and connected.

 

[78C10BigTen]

Thats a nice burb!! I like the wheels. If youve got the heads and all off and it still wont turn id suggest pulling the oil pan and lookin for broken parts keepin it from turnin over. This far in id just yank it out and dig into it deeper. From your pics the internals look good to me fwiw

 

[scenic760]

Thats a nice burb!! I like the wheels. If youve got the heads and all off and it still wont turn id suggest pulling the oil pan and lookin for broken parts keepin it from turnin over. This far in id just yank it out and dig into it deeper. From your pics the internals look good to me fwiw

Thanks for the reassurance! Yeah I'm going to hit Harbor Freight and get a cherry picker this afternoon...

 

[DoubleDingo]

Nice rig. Keep it as stock as you can. Trust me, it would be a nightmare to smog if you do anything but leave it stock, and even then, with it being a K10, the "10's" are more difficult to smog, as they have more strict requirements/regulations. Pull the second head, and pull the engine, tear it down, and plastigage the main bearings and connecting rod bearings. Check all the bores, too. If the rotating assembly is good, and the bores are okay, you can re-use your crank, connecting rods, pistons, etc. Then it's just a re-bearing, re-ring, hone, and put it back together, after it's been hot tanked of course. Make sure you mark the end caps of the connecting rods so they can go back in their respective spots. If it needs to be bored, you'll need new pistons, but the machine shop can swap those out for you.

Another option, is go to a junk yard, and get a used engine there. My uncle did that, and the engine he bought from the junk yard ended up running better than the engine he replaced. In your case, it will run better no matter what, because it will be running, period...lol...

 

[scenic760]

Nice rig. Keep it as stock as you can. Trust me, it would be a nightmare to smog if you do anything but leave it stock, and even then, with it being a K10, the "10's" are more difficult to smog, as they have more strict requirements/regulations. Pull the second head, and pull the engine, tear it down, and plastigage the main bearings and connecting rod bearings. Check all the bores, too. If the rotating assembly is good, and the bores are okay, you can re-use your crank, connecting rods, pistons, etc. Then it's just a re-bearing, re-ring, hone, and put it back together, after it's been hot tanked of course. Make sure you mark the end caps of the connecting rods so they can go back in their respective spots. If it needs to be bored, you'll need new pistons, but the machine shop can swap those out for you.

Another option, is go to a junk yard, and get a used engine there. My uncle did that, and the engine he bought from the junk yard ended up running better than the engine he replaced. In your case, it will run better no matter what, because it will be running, period...lol...

Haha..so true Dingo! I'm optimistic at this point..coming from a pessimist

 

[82sbshortbed]

Good

Monster suburban! Haha...problem with that is in California I would have to go and get all the smog equipment that came originally on the BBC...come to think of it, I thought I heard somewhere that the BBC options didn't have all the smog stuff on it..here is the excerpt from the Bureau of Automotive repair on an "engine replacement"

1. What is the difference between an engine change and an engine replacement?

An “engine change” is the installation of an engine that is different from the one which was originally installed in the vehicle and does not qualify as a “replacement engine”.

Engine replacements include:
A new, rebuilt, remanufactured, or used engine of the same make, number of cylinders, and engine family (test group) as the original engine with the original emission controls reinstalled;
An engine which matches a configuration offered by the manufacturer for that year, make and model of vehicle, and the appropriate emission controls for the installed engine, and chassis components are present and connected.

Good old califuckya, gotta love them liberals. Lol

 

[scenic760]

Good



Good old califuckya, gotta love them liberals. Lol

It's a pretty sad state of affairs really...our kids are not in school, no sports...all based on "compiled data" the governor readily says he is not going to release..********... ironically the word "liberal" in the dictionary is the complete opposite of their mentality:

relating to or denoting a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise.

I'm all for clean air but if the engine you put in your truck doesn't pollute anymore than the old one did, why on earth should it fail a smog test?! It's all a tax grab.

FWIW my neighbor moved to New Braunfels, TX about 3 years back because he was selling a business and the tax savings bought him half of a house in TX. He almost had me convinced to move out there too and then he started sending me pictures of the bugs! The big red hornets are some diabolical looking beasts!

 

[82sbshortbed]

It's a pretty sad state of affairs really...our kids are not in school, no sports...all based on "compiled data" the governor readily says he is not going to release..********... ironically the word "liberal" in the dictionary is the complete opposite of their mentality:

relating to or denoting a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise.

I'm all for clean air but if the engine you put in your truck doesn't pollute anymore than the old one did, why on earth should it fail a smog test?! It's all a tax grab.

FWIW my neighbor moved to New Braunfels, TX about 3 years back because he was selling a business and the tax savings bought him half of a house in TX. He almost had me convinced to move out there too and then he started sending me pictures of the bugs! The big red hornets are some diabolical looking beasts!

Ha I'm in Texas and love it. You should come on down here. You love it here with our BBC, no smog test and no state taxes. I'd listen to your buddy. Sounds like a smart man. Lol

I hate big bugs too but, I hate big taxes a regulations more. Lol

 

[Crispy]

If this isnt going to be a daily driver then register it in Montana via a corporation or through Vermont. No smog in either jurisdiction and i'm willing to bet there are plenty of people in SoCal with Montana tags who dont want to pay crazy taxes on their Lambo.

Engine-wise, I would stick with the devil you know and work on it. Maybe you can tear this down and give it a backyard rebuild on the cheap. Only way I would buy an engine is if its still in the car and can hear it run, otherwise you may be buying someone elses problem.

 

[80BrownK10]

Monster suburban! Haha...problem with that is in California I would have to go and get all the smog equipment that came originally on the BBC...come to think of it, I thought I heard somewhere that the BBC options didn't have all the smog stuff on it..here is the excerpt from the Bureau of Automotive repair on an "engine replacement"

1. What is the difference between an engine change and an engine replacement?

An “engine change” is the installation of an engine that is different from the one which was originally installed in the vehicle and does not qualify as a “replacement engine”.

Engine replacements include:
A new, rebuilt, remanufactured, or used engine of the same make, number of cylinders, and engine family (test group) as the original engine with the original emission controls reinstalled;
An engine which matches a configuration offered by the manufacturer for that year, make and model of vehicle, and the appropriate emission controls for the installed engine, and chassis components are present and connected.

Sounds like a BBC would qualify as an engine replacement. It was offered as a factory option. And if it is true that BBC in that year model didn't have emissions, according to the excerpt it would not need them if it didn't from the factory. BUT it being California I doubt that is the case.

 

[80BrownK10]

Thats a nice burb!! I like the wheels. If youve got the heads and all off and it still wont turn id suggest pulling the oil pan and lookin for broken parts keepin it from turnin over. This far in id just yank it out and dig into it deeper. From your pics the internals look good to me fwiw

I think that thing looks good. I am hopefully the under side is good. The cylinders look in good shape. Hopefully the rings are just stuck. I assume you are rocking it with a breaker bar?

 

[80BrownK10]

I

It's a pretty sad state of affairs really...our kids are not in school, no sports...all based on "compiled data" the governor readily says he is not going to release..********... ironically the word "liberal" in the dictionary is the complete opposite of their mentality:

relating to or denoting a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise.

I'm all for clean air but if the engine you put in your truck doesn't pollute anymore than the old one did, why on earth should it fail a smog test?! It's all a tax grab.

FWIW my neighbor moved to New Braunfels, TX about 3 years back because he was selling a business and the tax savings bought him half of a house in TX. He almost had me convinced to move out there too and then he started sending me pictures of the bugs! The big red hornets are some diabolical looking beasts!

I Don't live in Texas but I live in a southern state. I'm sure we have all the same bugs. You could possibly go your whole like and not be stung by a wasp or hornet. It's probably one of the least things to worry about. I get stung by a wasp every year or two. If it was get stuff by a wasp every year or live in California I'd probably take a wasp sting every week!!