1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
Why would anyone daily drive a Vortec 454 rig you ask...because AMERICA. :metal:
I don't have a name just yet for this one, need a little more seat time. 1999 model year with 88k miles on the clock. To my surprise most of the need-to's have been done, including new 4-hole injectors. I'll do a few tune-up items, drop all the fluids (including the Dexcool), better exhaust, a tune, and drive the hell out of it. It came with PY0 16" wheels that will be re-shod with LT265/75R16 Yokohama Geolandars G015 A/T's. Ordered some 2" steel spacers to get the rear tires out where they need to be. Installed Savana van HVAV knobs and a full audio setup with a double din headunit and back up camera. So far I'm super excited to be back in a GMT400. This is replacing my fully loaded 2017 F150 Lariat crew cab...super nice pickup, just too "new" for me...I will miss the cooled seats and heated steering wheel, however! Pics to get us started. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...51197648_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3b23ea68_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...93d516e2_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...dbfc3877_c.jpg |
Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
Hit the Burb with some Mothers CMX ceramic spray, jury is still out on how long it will last, but the shine is for sure nice!
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Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
Soooooo much better! New tires are on, I need the spacers for the rear wheels to be here now...soon.
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Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
Good looking burb. She just screams, lets go help Mad Max get the bad guys! ;)
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How is the highway mpg on the Burb?
I am looking at a van with the same engine with the concept of shedding payments. |
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Very nice find, but then you know I'm a lifelong fan of all things big block.😎
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My harness form CE Auto Electric Supply showed up early, again. These guys are awesome! Tony also put a handwritten "thank you" on the invoice...this is also not the first time this has happened. Great company can't say enough about them!
New Spyder headlights and TYC marker/park lamps are in, and the HD harness with my own 4hi mod is installed. Basically just need a diode between the Hi and Lo beams, you want 12v to trigger from the Hi side to the low side to make all 4 come on when you hit the Hi beams. Also pulled the grill guard off and has been put for sale with the Hella Comet 450 fog lights. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fcee7762_z.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8d87ea41_z.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...89bf31ed_z.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ff019abf_z.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...44628d74_z.jpg |
Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
Very enlightening. ;) Looks good man!
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Spent a little time on the GMT800 console last night. Everything is painted/dyed to the correct interior color. Also finished the blank and installed the power ports and pigtails for the wiring.
I don't care for the 95+ torpedo...it only has usable space for one drink and the shape is a little too much for my liking. I had considered doing an 04-08 Ford F150 console, but they are just a touch too wide, tons more storage though... https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c3d20c54_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a2b2cb2e_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7d1845f9_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8f72e3af_c.jpg |
Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
OK, so GMT800 console is painted and installed/wired. I used 1/8" thick 1.25" wide strap to make the brackets.
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Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
Popped the 2" spacers on Friday night, probably could have gone another 1/2" on each side, but is far better than it was!
Had some time to build brackets for my fogs on the diesel bumper, and put everything on. I'm still waiting on some electrical parts to do the wiring, but all the hard parts are installed. Probably should have done the bumper with the impact strip, but the smoothie is growing on me. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...813c17b3_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1d189616_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...150f4e49_c.jpg |
Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
Some gratuitous "it's almost clean pics"
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Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
Very clean truck and I like you updates you made. That rig should serve you well and in comfort too. I would also be curious about your highway mileage when you get the chance to calculate it. Thanks.
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Last tank back and forth to work was 11.2mpg. This is with the Blackbear tuned ECU. Definitely drives much better |
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At $2.50/gallon for fuel, it still costs me $1k less/year to drive an average of 15k miles over my 2017 F150. Tags/taxes and insurance are just sooo much cheaper. |
Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
Haven't been very good at updating this thread on this forum.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...52024c1f_c.jpg Still by far my favorite vehicle I have ever owned. Recently I upgraded to AD244 alternator and heavier gauge cables, new starter, AN engine oil cooler lines, and I'm in the process of polishing some 17" OEM GM wheels to replace the PY0's. I've got everything to do the front brakes, just need to get it done. Considering an 0411 ECM swap, but not ready to pull the trigger yet. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b18bc0fb_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ef70a2ac_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d5bb5cdc_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...473af40d_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1917438c_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3d298bc8_c.jpg |
Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
Wheels, new tires, new center caps, new exhaust tip, and new LED reverse/load lights installed on the Suburban this weekend. Picked up a set of GMT400 specific center caps to use, really enjoying the look.
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Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
The wheels look real nice. It warmed up to the 40s here yesterday so I fired up my 99 k2500 diesel after its winter nap. Any chance you want to part with the front bumper grille guard?
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OE front bumper and the grill guard are long gone, they sold within days of coming off back in 2020. This thread has some age on it now, I just haven't been doing a great job keeping it updated. There is a much more in-depth thread on gmt400.com. |
Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
Thanks. I'm on my second 99 suburban and really like the model. I may have a grille guard built locally this summer. I'll check the GMT400 site - I've not logged in there for a while. That was a real helpful resource when adding my roof marker lamps.
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I really like this truck and the functional updates. Where did you get your rear wheel spacers? I have looked into them and either found questionable sources or very expensive sources. Did you have trouble with the PY0s or did you just want to update the look of the wheels? You mentioned an ECM upgrade and I was curious what you would gain from that. I'll bet that it is a very nice truck to drive with the comfort, power, and ride feel. |
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https://www.gmt400.com/threads/1999-...2500-dd.48861/ I appreciate the comments. Rear wheel spacers are Stahl brand, made out of steel. Stahl is the heavy duty division of Bora brand spacers. Bora's are considered the best in the industry. No issues with the PY0s, I wanted the rear track to be as wide as the front. Blackbear did the tune on this one. It improves fuel and timing maps, shift points, removes torque management(if wanted), etc. Mine drives extremely well and has made 13.6mpg running down the interstate at 73mph, fully loaded down with family and gear. For comparison, my 2011 1500 Suburban with a 5.3l would only get around 14.4mpg in the same instances, and it had far less towing capacity and comfort. (it was tuned and had worked exhaust as well) |
Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
Thanks for the link and the info. I think you mentioned a 411 ECU. Would that provide tuning advantages? 13.6 MPG sounds pretty dang good, especially all loaded up. Did you have to wait til black bear came to your area to do the tuning?
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Blackbear tune was ordered online, I used their "canned tune". You have 2 options, send your ECU in, or order another. I opted to order another so I would have my stock if needed. Yes 13.6mpg is pretty good for a big block 3/4t 4WD 'burb with the aerodynamics of a brick! |
Re: 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 DD
But a smooth brick. With rounded corners, haha. I popped over to GMT400 and picked up some details from your thread. Forgot I was a member. Seems like a good group of folks. Maybe the activity is picking up over there? Was pretty quiet when I joined.
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Lots of good info over there. Like any other forum, it has its good and bad. Moderators do a pretty good job of keeping it civil and clean.
Also like all forums, members go through the typical life stages, newbies want everyone to be interested in their thread, ask questions that have been answered 1000 times, then get mad and act out, after all that, they either straighten out or move on, haha. |
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Any chance you can tell me a little more about these LED reverse/load lights? Or maybe point me to where to find them on the web? Those look just right for an application I was thinking about. |
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Harbor Freight specials. This is the 6" flood version of the light.
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