Suburban, tahoe and yukon guys......

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by jasoncooperpcola

If it was me i would try to find a 6.5 Turbo Diesel Tahoe or Yukon, not just the big SUVs got the 6.5 TD.

Too bad GM dumped the 4.5 DMAX for their 1/2 ton trucks, bunch of idiots.

I don't think CTT would be very happy with a 6.5. They are a decent engine, but theyare a wrench's engine to have. They will pretty much always need soem sort of maintence, and in stock form are pretty gutless and less than desireable for reliability. If you want a 6.5 BURB CTT, let me know. I'm on quite a few forums with 6.5 enthusiasts on them. The 5.7L is a good engine as well, but honestly I think it falls short of the 5.3L in a big way.

[RidgeRunner]

2001 Tahoe 2wd 5.3L - Tranny went at 40,000 miles while towing a 22' cuddy. Shell gear. Again at 60,000. Bit the bullet on a fresh tranny from GM (36,000 mile/3yr warranty no more issues) Check engine light with a generic computer failure message. ABS light on/off sporatically. Drives great, nothing a little electric tape wouldn't cure. Ride quality is better than the 96 Tahoe 4wd which had the 5.7L. The short wheelbase, same as a reg. cab shortbox, lent itself to a bucking bronco type ride on the interstate around here. The redesigned 2001 with similar wheelbase is more carlike in ride. Ferm is right on the 5.3 is more refined, simply a better mousetrap. Not that I had any problems but the Gen III chevy motors are easy to work on.
The 5.3 is built loose IMO. There is a little piston slap and the top end is a little noisy on cold starts but she is peppy.

[Skools Out]

i have a 99 Tahoe and turning wise nothing turns tighter but the 5.7 does has intake gasket issues unless it has been replaced. mine has 151K now but i also have a 94 Tahoe Diesel 6.5T and it out pulls my gasser. The 99 gets 19 hwy and 16 town but towing 12 all the time my 94 gets 18 town 21 hwy but 17 towing all the time. also have a 96 GMC Z71 but you don't want a truck but it falls in the middle tows better than my 99 tahoe but not as good as my 94 diesel. the 96 Z71 gets 20 hwy 14 city and 12 all the time towing.

[phatdaddy]

The 5.3 is built loose IMO. There is a little piston slap and the top end is a little noisy on cold starts but she is peppy.

100% correct on the cold knocking, RR. i try to let it warm up a little, but when the wife drives, she is at the stop sign down the block before the starter is disengaged.

[Pipe_Dream]

I haven't been online for a while, so I'm catching up.

2000 Suburban here, 1500 4WD. I have owned something like 15 vehicles, and this has been the most reliable of them all. 193,000 miles on it. Daily driver. Tows the V-20, a big box trailer, and last week a UHaul car hauler with an old Toyota Land Cruiser on it (another story). I don't tow long distance, or I might want a 2500.

An acquaintance just traded in his Yukon XL, same year and basically the same vehicle. 200,000+ miles and they gave him $4K. Had I known, I might have bought it from him for that and kept it as a backup. I love my Sub.

[spareparts]

hey pipe, whats up with the Cruiser? what ya building?

[Pipe_Dream]

I've acquired a '69 FJ-40. It doesn't run at the moment -- last ran a year ago when it was parked -- so that's the first order of business when the temps cool off enough to make wrenching an attractive weekend activity. The Cruiser has a lot of competition for my attention, of course, not the least of which is the ol' Pipe Dream. I'd like to have it starting and stopping by October. The body has rust, but I think it's solid enough for now. Might do a restoration in the future. What can I say? I've always been a car nut, and always loved the old LCs, and this one practically fell into my lap.

"Honey, I know I don't have much free time as it is, but I've got to do this!"