Newbie Looking For Advice On Buying 96-99 Suburban

[ard]

Title explains most of it.

 

I am looking for a family hauler into snow country. That would be my first "real" truck - so I am kind of excited.

 

I have my heart set on a 3/4 ton with a 454 and a 4L80E.

 

I am hoping I can tap the collective wisdom of the forum regarding a couple of questions:

 

--> Apart from the above what are desirable options to have? I mostly care about the drivetrain and engine. By options I primarily mean factory options, but I'd be interested in after-market mods that fix any design shortcomings. From past experience buying used vehicles, I have found that buying close-to-stock often saves headaches.

 

--> When looking at a vehicle, how do I know whether it has a lockable center differential?

 

--> Were 2nd-row captain's chairs available at all during those years? Not a must, but definitely a bonus.

 

--> I found the "baseline" specs for the 96 - 99 model years on edmunds.com, but didn't find any info on options available for those years. Does anyone have a pointer to a place where I can get that info?

 

--> What are know (premature?) wear items on these vehicles? I'd like to know what I should look for to have been replaced already, or if not, budget to replace in the near future. I am pretty realistic about trucks with 100K - 150K miles having items like alternators, water pumps, steering pumps replaced or needing replacement, but I'd expect the motor and tranny to still be pretty fresh.

 

--> I hope I don't come across as a snob, but do folks who buy / sell Suburbans generally agree to pre-purchase mechanical inspections? I have bought / sold a couple of Euro luxury sedans and having a mechanic (of the buyer's choice, at buyer's expense) inspect the vehicle has typically been a condition of sale.

 

Many thanks in advance.

 

/alex

 

p.s. I am a member of a couple of car / truck forums (as I am sure many members here are), and this definitely seems like one of the better organized ones; I am glad I stumbled on to it.

[RyanZ71]

As long as you don't care about the gas consumption, you'll love the 454!!!

[unit731]

"p.s. I am a member of a couple of car / truck forums (as I am sure many members here are), and this definitely seems like one of the better organized ones; I am glad I stumbled on to it."

 

 

This observation is quite true. Civility and Respect are much appreciated. And Knowledge, of course.

[dietz4ibanez]

Would you ever consider the 6.5 turbo diesil?

[RyanZ71]

Would you ever consider the 6.5 turbo diesil?

 

 

I sure hope he wouldn't, anything GM Diesel that is pre-duramax is a no no. Your just asking for lots of costly repairs. the 454 is the way to go if you want power.

[dietz4ibanez]

I guess it all depends on experience, cause we had an older burban that was bullet proof everything! It had 260k when we traded it for somethind newer.. One of the guys that went to our church had one like it and he never had a problem with it and he had just over 200k the last time I checked.

 

My brother was lookin at a truck like mine with the 6.5 it had about 150k on it and he was going to buy it. My uncle (who is a head mechanic at a big chevy dealer in Ohio) said that the only thing he would be concerned about is if the diesil pump had been replaced or not cause that can get pretty pricy....

[Tucson_02Silverado]

The Diesel Page did a 6.5 buildup and tested against a Duramax with favorable results 6.5 Turbo Powerup article

 

Least forget that the 6.5 is being held together with duct tape/bailing wire in the HMMWV's in Iraq/Afghanistan.

[ard]

The Diesel Page did a 6.5 buildup and tested against a Duramax with favorable results 6.5 Turbo Powerup article

 

Least forget that the 6.5 is being held together with duct tape/bailing wire in the HMMWV's in Iraq/Afghanistan.

 

 

Frankly I had not considered a 6.5L Diesel. I'd like to stick with trying to find a 454 and if I strike out on that, I'll revisit my criteria.

 

Thanks for all the responses so far.

 

/alex

[Bostonsfavson]

If you're just using it as a family hauler, and not towing anything heavy with it, I'd think long and hard before getting the 454. Those engines suck gas like nobody's business. I know a few people who have bought trucks with these engines knowing that they were terrible on gas, only to sell the trucks a few months or years later because they underestimated just how bad the mileage was and how quickly the fuel bills added up. Of course if this isn't a big deal to you, then go for it!

[RyanZ71]

Again, he is stating that he will be doing alot of mountain driving, snow vehicle basicly. Sorry but I've heard AND SEEN way too many horror stories with the old 6.5L I will never trust it up here in Colorado. Now, down in Arizona where its always warm? Sure! But in the mountains in freezing weather? NO WAY you are just asking for trouble. Alex, from one Chevy man to another, take my advice get the best option for your family and avoid the old 6.5Ls. I'm usually not very anal about stuff when it comes to GM but the old 6.5L gets two thumbs down with 100 pound weights attached to each thumb. Do a search online regarding the old 6.5L Diesel and you'll know why I say this.

[dietz4ibanez]

you must of had a bad apple cause I have had nothing but good luck with the 6.5 and it was really easy to maintain! I aint findind a lot bad about them on the internet... This is the first time that I have heard anyone say anything bad about them. Ever since the trucks that my family has had I am always on the lookout for another one of those 6.5's....

But than again I have never really owned a Chevy that was a bad apple my 5.7 has almost 200k on it. I was always taught that if you maintain your vehicle you wont really have any major problems with it.

[ard]

Just to clarify: I would use the truck mostly to head up to snow country on the weekends, not as a daily driver.

 

I have a bear of a driveway in front of a cabin in snow country. I have a Caddy SRX AWD and its 4-wheel drive has been a real disappointment. That car is light, and has a powerful V8; it puts power out to just the left rear when the others have no traction and I end up just sliding around. When there a couple of inches of snow I have to chain up to make it up the driveway. I want a drivetrain that will let me get in and out with minimum hassle. I understand this to be a simple 4wd with a lockable center diff, but I am happy to stand corrected.

 

I have heard from others that the head gasket can be a weakness on the 454. Is that true or a myth?

 

What options and equipment makes a truck that would serve my needs well?

 

Thanks

 

/alex

[AndyJ]

Alex,

 

I have a 96 K2500 7.4l 4x4 that I just retired in October for a newer (2004) 8.1 2500. The 96 has 315k miles on it and regularly pulled a 28ft enclosed car trailer. TX to CA several times, TX to Northern NV, TX to Miami-- you get the picture; the truck worked hard. Look for a REGENCY conversion -- they do a good job of upgrading the interiors-- CD Changer, Consoles, Quad Captains, nicer leather, 12"TV for the second row of seats and other things. My better half called it the "War Wagon"

 

 

I hate to tell you about the problems I had with mine . Changed oil and greased it regularly, changed plugs and wires every 100k and that was it-- nothing else except for a few batteries, rotors, brake pads etc--normal wear items. Still the original AC compressor, PS pump, alternator etc.

 

The front diff is leaking now as are the front CV joints and the transfer case whines a bit. What can I say? At 315k miles you would expect some stuff to be slap wore out.

 

Oh, fuel mileage was 12-14mpg and 8-9mpg pulling that trailer. The 8.1 gets about the same.

 

[Tucson_02Silverado]

Again, he is stating that he will be doing alot of mountain driving, snow vehicle basicly. Sorry but I've heard AND SEEN way too many horror stories with the old 6.5L I will never trust it up here in Colorado. Now, down in Arizona where its always warm? Sure! But in the mountains in freezing weather? NO WAY you are just asking for trouble. Alex, from one Chevy man to another, take my advice get the best option for your family and avoid the old 6.5Ls. I'm usually not very anal about stuff when it comes to GM but the old 6.5L gets two thumbs down with 100 pound weights attached to each thumb. Do a search online regarding the old 6.5L Diesel and you'll know why I say this.

 

Take a breath....or since you're in Colorado, open the door and chill a bit.

As it sometimes happens, there was a tangent and responses to that tangent.

Diesel's are NOT for everyone, NOR does everyone want a diesel.

 

Alex, possibly the moderators will help you out and move this over to the Fullsize HD Truck section.

2500 series (3/4 ton) are basically considered an HD truck.

Maybe two seperate questions, 1. 96-99 2500 Suburban 4x4 and 2. 96-99 7.4L (454) gotcha/reliability

 

The 454 is a fairly reliable engine that can put the grunt to the pavement. the 8.1L (496) is an updated version of the 7.4L.

[RyanZ71]

There was no need for a stupid "chill out" response like that son, I stated my opinion and left it at that.