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Need advice to rebuild or buy new

Rocky ThatsIt

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Rocky ThatsIt New Member

Rocky ThatsIt

Posted
Posted

I have a 94 k2500 suburban 7.4l w 454. Damn I love her and damn I hate her. She’s got 180k I bought her with 140k couple years ago. I seem to drive her daily now because it always has everything I need inside of her. Gas mileage is non existent and I keep getting light issues , coolant leaks, needs a rear main seal.   She’s fairly reliable but I have been left on the road a few times.

 

 She needs new tie rods and sway bar links , probably couple other things in there. Tires next year, find the damn coolant leak , has new radiator and heater core.  That rear main seal. My front brakes wear out so damn fast and uneven, even after a bunch of other front end work alignment tires pads n rotors. Haven’t done the rears , probably why , but they’re big nasty drums that I dread. Electric issues keep shorting my light switches. It’s just a lot of little things. Frames solid from Cali in 2017 first tracks in Vt.      

 

My dream would be to just rebuild her ,smaller motor for better gas,  basically just put this chassis box onto all new driving components, motor transmission drivetrain , rear end w disc brakes , like alllll of it. I’m tired of pinching 500$ here and 1200$ there unexpectedly. I’d feel much better just taking her off the road for a year and put 10-15k in one shot and have a new old truck.  

 

Is this even a realistic consideration? I don’t have a big bank account but for the functionality of the suburban to have it all new for that price range vs 50-80k to get a newer gen and wait for it to die seems more logical.  

 

 

91 Shortbed Chevy Enthusiast

91 Shortbed Chevy

Posted
Posted

New trucks and suv's are expensive, there's no doubt. I get the love of an old truck, I am the same way with my 93 GMC ext cab. It has 260k on the odometer and is a great truck. If something goes wrong with it I fix it. On the other hand though I have my 2019 2500HD. I love them both and they both have their purposes in my life. If you are in a position to do both then keep it and buy a new one. Fix the old 'Burb at your leisure. Swapping your 454 for a 350 though, I'm not sure I would do that. Your mileage isn't going to be much better in a Suburban mainly because of the weight. I had a 1995 Yukon with the 350 (3.73 diff) and I got 10mpg all the time. It didn't matter what I was doing or how I drove it. 10mpg. I'm not sure if i'm any help to your question but this is my two cents worth.HPIM1031.thumb.JPG.1311aa396f49e4767b680da9ab605fc6.JPG

Mikebtte Enthusiast

Mikebtte

Posted
Posted

All common issues for that truck. 

Do the entire front end. Ball joints, tire rods, drag link pivot arms and drag links. Get Moog problem solver and make this the last time it needs done.

Engine is good. You have a few options to replace. You can swap for a TBI 350 and change the ECM for a 94 TBI ECM and 350 injectors.

Even better you can do an LS swap and have a lot of power and a long lasting engine. 

All realistic and it will run many years to come. Service the rear axle while you are at it and you are set.

It's Tim Senior Enthusiast

It's Tim

Posted
Posted
23 hours ago, Rocky ThatsIt said:

 

 

 I don’t have a big bank account

 

 

You'll have even less if you keep pumping money into a 25 year old truck that sounds like it came with a lot of extra baggage, sell it and move on.

Jglew82 Enthusiast

Jglew82

Posted
Posted

Here's what I would do if it were mine: Sort the rear brakes out so they quit killing the fronts, rebuild front end, 6bt swap. 

Donstar Senior Enthusiast

Donstar

Posted
Posted

Welcome to this forum!  You will find all kinds of opinions for your consideration.  Your dreams of keeping your old Suburban alive are understandable.  I've never met a Suburban I didn't like!  However,  don't keep it roadworthy as a money saving strategy.  You'll lose.  If you have the skills, time and money, rebuild it as a hobby.  Many years ago I faced a similar dilemma when my Suburban was too costly to maintain.  Its functionality was  replaced by a much more affordable mini-van!  My image took a little beating but my finances were able to get a break!

Mikebtte Enthusiast

Mikebtte

Posted
Posted
6 hours ago, Donstar said:

Welcome to this forum!  You will find all kinds of opinions for your consideration.  Your dreams of keeping your old Suburban alive are understandable.  I've never met a Suburban I didn't like!  However,  don't keep it roadworthy as a money saving strategy.  You'll lose.  If you have the skills, time and money, rebuild it as a hobby.  Many years ago I faced a similar dilemma when my Suburban was too costly to maintain.  Its functionality was  replaced by a much more affordable mini-van!  My image took a little beating but my finances were able to get a break!

I can agree. Keep yourself out of the Debt circle and get a cheap little car/truck and work on the Suburban over time. If it is not financially affordable, loose the truck and another will come along later.

KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
Posted

I drove trucks and SUVs for 40 years for work because I needed to. I have one now and drive it when I want to. I’d keep the ride and buy a car for the daily. Cars are more economical and cheaper to buy. You’d probably pay for it for the fuel savings. The old gem will probably last a long time as a result.


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