99 Suburban 2500 minor project

[gearheads78]

After finding out about some significant unexpected medical expenses my wife and I decided the quickest way without going deeper in debt is I will sell my 88 R30 crew.

In the mean time I needed something cheap that could still haul my family and a loaded trailer. I have several possibilities in mind and after a few months kicking tires I settled for a 454 4l80e 4.10 99 burb. Will be a semi-daily driver / weekend hauler.

Its got 150K miles and a little rough around the edges but over all a good solid truck.

So far I am pleasantly surprised. Got it up in a rack and checked out everything and someone replaced ball joints and brakes are still good. No major leaks.

Started buy changing all the fluids to get a baseline for future maintenance. The 2nd day I drove to work the fuel pump took a crap so that was the first major purchase. The the tow, pump, truck, all fluids, and registration I am right at $3000.00 total so far.

Going fix it up a little at a time. First thing it needs is lights. I can't see in the dark at all. Those are ordered and hopefully in tomorrow.

Next will be mirrors because ever without a trailer they suck.

[gearheads78]

First little improvement but what a huge difference. The first time I drove it at night I could not see anything where there was no light around.

I ordered new GM lights from Gmpartsdirect and HIR1 and 2 bulbs. The bulbs have to be slightly modified for the GM housings but nothing a few seconds on the band saw could not fix.

Here is before and after in bright mode and the bulb before and after trimmed bulbs. Its truly a night and day difference in person.

[hawgfanman]

That's a good looking rig. I just bought a 98 ECSB and have new lights ordered too. What did you have to do to the HIR bulbs to make them fit?

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by hawgfanman

That's a good looking rig. I just bought a 98 ECSB and have new lights ordered too. What did you have to do to the HIR bulbs to make them fit?

Thanks here is a diagram and the before and after of a bulb

[hawgfanman]

Thanks

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by hawgfanman

Thanks

no problem

[LT7A]

Any more progress on this one? I was hoping you were going to paint it to match your Jeep in post number 2, haha.

[gearheads78]

Not really been my daily driver / weekend tow rig for almost a year now. Took the family to Colorado over the summer. Its been a great truck so far. Only real problem was a shorted injector harness that was there when I bought it. (and probably the reason it was sold in the first place since two separate techs tell me it was an internal engine issue) I tracked it down on my own after a tune up fixed it for 2 weeks but came right back. Turned out when you touched the engine harness the short to ground causing a misfire would fix itself for a while.

The only thing I am still not used to s not having a pickup bed. Tonight I need to load up 2 transmissions and a few weeks ago a motor. It fit but the cherry picker amost hit the roof. I think I need a little trailer. Its a pain to hook up a 20ft car hauler to haul items I used just toss in the back of a bed.

[MalibuSSwagon]

Since my C10 has been under the knife for awhile I got a utility trailer to haul smaller things around with the burb. Comes in handy

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by MalibuSSwagon

Since my C10 has been under the knife for awhile I got a utility trailer to haul smaller things around with the burb. Comes in handy

I need to do the same

[manimal]

Thats a sweet Suburban. I had one exactly like yours, but it was a 96...I LOVED that thing. now I have a 94 Suburban 2500, love it too