Not SHO-related, but could use help...

[JEM]

There's a dealership in Norfolk, NE that's got an older diesel Suburban that I'm somewhat interested in. I thought I had someone lined up to eyeball it for me, but that isn't going to work out.

So...if you're somewhere within 75mi or so of Norfolk (they'll drive it to Lincoln, Omaha, Grand Island, etc.) and you're willing and able to look the thing over and give me your opinion of its general condition, I'd greatly appreciate it - drop me a PM ASAP.

Bonus points if you know a good mechanic who can spend an hour going over the thing - yes, I'll pay.

Looks like I can get one-way airfare to Omaha for under $100 if I'm willing to play American's schedule games...

 

[St Louis SHO]

What year Suburban? If it is a 6.5l Turbo, stay away... I wish I could help look, but I can tell you all the ins and outs of a 6.5l Diesel, especially if it is 94 or later.

- James

 

[JEM]

What year Suburban? If it is a 6.5l Turbo, stay away... I wish I could help look, but I can tell you all the ins and outs of a 6.5l Diesel, especially if it is 94 or later.

It is (as they all were in that era) a 6.5 turbo - GM never put a 6.6L Duramax in a Suburban though there's at least a couple aftermarket converters that do ($$$). I understand that the 6.5 isn't built like a Cat or Cummins motor or even a Duramax - but I'm not going to be hauling a 35-foot fifth-wheel over the Sierras with it. I think within its limitations, with the '97 thermostat plumbing and a PMD relocation and maybe a different wastegate actuator, it ought to do what I need, and do it better than my wheezy peanut-port TBI 454, and I've got just about enough room in the storage building for a biodiesel distillation plant. I don't feel like spending the money on a 7.3 PSD Excursion, and the 4WD Excursions are pigs to drive compared to the GM trucks.

I've got a set of mildly-worked Vortec heads and a bored-out 900cfm throttle body and a cam and a bunch of other stuff on the shelf for the '91 454, but there's just so many things falling apart and wearing out on that truck that I'm just not willing to spend six months fixing them all.

 

[jthod]

I coud take a look at it, I'm not a certified mechanic, but GM lets me work in the garage (I'm going to school in October for GM ASEP training)

I'm in Denton, about 15 miles west of Lincoln.

I don't know my way around that particular motor at all, but I can sure take a look if you you tell me what to look for.

 

[JEM]

I coud take a look at it, I'm not a certified mechanic, but GM lets me work in the garage (I'm going to school in October for GM ASEP training)

I'm not really looking for an in-depth mechanical checkover, just a review of general condition and a test-drive.

There's a few things that are easy enough to look for that point to potential issues (fuel-feed pump, injector-driver module, make sure it runs long enough to get the transmission hot and see if it shifts cleanly) but mostly I'm just looking for an eyeballing of physical condition (look around the moldings for obvious paintwork, significant sun-fading of trim, cracked/torn upholstery, ugly carpets), rattles, a quick peek underneath for anything that looks like rust. If you've got an OBD-II code scanner it'd be nice to see if any codes come up but that's a bit much to ask.

If you're up for it, I'll give the guy a call tomorrow, PM you the contact details and some specifics and a link to the easy what-to-look-for items on the 6.5TD, you can work out a schedule directly with him. Thanks...

I'm astounded my wife's actually letting me do this...of course, in a lot of ways, our old Sub has only racked up 25K or so in the eight years I've owned it but in a lot of ways it's been THE indispensable vehicle in the household.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

Huh, I grew up about 9 miles from Norfolk.

I'm about 20 minutes from Omaha and will be in Omaha tomorrow in fact helping paint my sisters apartment.

I'll Pm you my #.

 

[jthod]

I don't have a scan tool, but Norfolk surly has a O'riely, Autozone...etc that could check quick.

I am king of test drives

I can defeat the traction control on a G6

 

[bottonic]

It is (as they all were in that era) a 6.5 turbo - GM never put a 6.6L Duramax in a Suburban though there's at least a couple aftermarket converters that do ($$$). I understand that the 6.5 isn't built like a Cat or Cummins motor or even a Duramax - but I'm not going to be hauling a 35-foot fifth-wheel over the Sierras with it. I think within its limitations, with the '97 thermostat plumbing and a PMD relocation and maybe a different wastegate actuator, it ought to do what I need, and do it better than my wheezy peanut-port TBI 454, and I've got just about enough room in the storage building for a biodiesel distillation plant. I don't feel like spending the money on a 7.3 PSD Excursion, and the 4WD Excursions are pigs to drive compared to the GM trucks.

I've got a set of mildly-worked Vortec heads and a bored-out 900cfm throttle body and a cam and a bunch of other stuff on the shelf for the '91 454, but there's just so many things falling apart and wearing out on that truck that I'm just not willing to spend six months fixing them all.

FWIW - I would not recommend running Bio-D in the 6.5. My brother had an 05 F250, ran his Bio in it, no problem. Decided to run it in his 94 Chevy 3/4 ton, and $2000 later with a new Injection pump (2 actually - 1 was faulty), he was told by the diesel shop that he should not run bio in the 6.5 - I can find out more details for you, but I would need to talk to my bro.

 

[St Louis SHO]

Sorry for my first post, but I have done alot with the 6.5l diesel. The cylinder heads are junk, the engine blocks are junk, the injector pumps are junk.

Just don't wanna see you throw good money after bad, thats all On the other hand, you are a smart guy, and probably have researched it plenty

- James

 

[kikkinasphalt]

What year Suburban? If it is a 6.5l Turbo, stay away... I wish I could help look, but I can tell you all the ins and outs of a 6.5l Diesel, especially if it is 94 or later.

- James

i would agree with James here..

ive never seen one that was reliable.




gl though..