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

[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!"

[spareparts]

Hey Pipe, just so you know.....
http://www.pirate4x4.com/welcome1.php largest 4x4 site around
http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/ good site for the carolinas
and
http://gdi4x4.com/ where the coolest low country wheelers hang out
http://hardlinecrawlers.com/forums/index.php and some of them hardliner Georgia boys hang

[Pipe_Dream]

Originally Posted by spareparts

Hey Pipe, just so you know.....
http://www.pirate4x4.com/welcome1.php largest 4x4 site around
http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/ good site for the carolinas
and
http://gdi4x4.com/ where the coolest low country wheelers hang out
http://hardlinecrawlers.com/forums/index.php and some of them hardliner Georgia boys hang

Thanks!

[nipper]

98 Suburban (Chevrolet) 1500 4x4 with 183k miles. Runs like a top. Just drove it from Indianapolis to Massachusetts and it ran flawlessly. Got 18 mpg. It has a whopping 40 gallon tank so I only had to stop once to fill it up. Tows the V20 easily. Only problems we have had over the years has been the air conditioning system. It has gone out 3 times since we purchased it used in 2002, and the repairs were EXPENSIVE. So expensive that I have not fixed it this third time it has gone out. I have kept fluids filled and clean and only other part had to replace was a starter motor at
175k miles.

[spareparts]

I'm thinking about upgrading the suspension on my 99 1500 to 1500HD specs, hey Ferm, Skools, ya'll know what the difference between them is. what it would take to convert it?

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by nipper

98 Suburban (Chevrolet) 1500 4x4 with 183k miles. Runs like a top. Just drove it from Indianapolis to Massachusetts and it ran flawlessly. Got 18 mpg. It has a whopping 40 gallon tank so I only had to stop once to fill it up. Tows the V20 easily. Only problems we have had over the years has been the air conditioning system. It has gone out 3 times since we purchased it used in 2002, and the repairs were EXPENSIVE. So expensive that I have not fixed it this third time it has gone out. I have kept fluids filled and clean and only other part had to replace was a starter motor at
175k miles.

A/C problems on this model BURB were normally the compressor which can be solved by installing the SANDEN compressor, low side pressure switches, and the high side scrader valve port leaks. All of these are fairly simple fixes. I have yet to hear of an evaprorator fail in one of these model trucks, so I don't know what could be costing you taht much to fix.

Originally Posted by spareparts

I'm thinking about upgrading the suspension on my 99 1500 to 1500HD specs, hey Ferm, Skools, ya'll know what the difference between them is. what it would take to convert it?

They never made a 1500HD in the GMT 400 platform. They did make the 1500 diesel which uses all 2500 7800GVWR front suspension and a stiffer rear spring pack, and then there was the 6 lug 2500 which used 7200GVWR front suspension and a stiff rear spring pack. You could swap out your control arms with those from a 6 lug 2500, and then swap out your rear axle to a 9.5" 6 lug version.

[bradford]

Originally Posted by THEFERMANATOR

They never made a 1500HD in the GMT 400 platform. They did make the 1500 diesel which uses all 2500 7800GVWR front suspension and a stiffer rear spring pack, and then there was the 6 lug 2500 which used 7200GVWR front suspension and a stiff rear spring pack. You could swap out your control arms with those from a 6 lug 2500, and then swap out your rear axle to a 9.5" 6 lug version.

Spare, I currently own a '95 K1500 diesel and a '94 C1500 gasser. Like Ferm said, the front end is way more heavy duty on the diesel than my C1500. My Mom drives a '94 K2500 gasser with the 6 lug wheels. It definantly has stiffer rear springs than both of mine.

That guy Ferm sure knows some stuff.