How about some pics of 88-98 Part II

[OutlawDrifter]

Those early composite headlight grilles are just so clean looking.

[Slow Build]

The big mistake. Sold the 89 regular cab and bought the extra cab. This was years ago but it's when I learned that concrete freeways suck when you're driving an extended wheelbase truck. I never noticed it in the regular cab but even my current 2005 GMC crew cab rides like crap on these concrete freeways.

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by Slow Build

The big mistake. Sold the 89 regular cab and bought the extra cab. This was years ago but it's when I learned that concrete freeways suck when you're driving an extended wheelbase truck. I never noticed it in the regular cab but even my current 2005 GMC crew cab rides like crap on these concrete freeways.

That's two beauties. I'm surprised that the longer wheelbase truck doesn't ride as well as the shorter one.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

That's two beauties. I'm surprised that the longer wheelbase truck doesn't ride as well as the shorter one.

I'm surprised, too. I guess on concrete hiways it's about the spacing of the expansion joints

Since we don't have a vintage pictures thread for these trucks (Do we?), here are some cheater shots of the '95 Chevy and '92 GMC. Cheater meaning just a blip of truck shown. All threes a good 20-25 years ago. Two on the job and one on vacation

[Slow Build]

Originally Posted by special-K

I'm surprised, too. I guess on concrete hiways it's about the spacing of the expansion joints

Exactly.

[OutlawDrifter]

Sharp rigs!

[special-K]

Here is a '95 I transformed. I bought it in '98 with about 70k on it. 6.5TD/5spd/3.73:1 former brick mason's truck. I planned the utility bed when I bought it. Truck ended up off the road a year or more because my paint guy found a buyer for the bed. As it sat I decided to go ahead with creating my ultimate work truck and the work began. I wanted wider flares for wider rims (8") and that meant changing front fenders to non-flare type. I also rigged up a ram-air hood. That left only the cab and doors original paint, so I decided to try another GM color used on S-series and Corvette, Fairway Green. It had a long list of changes but this thread is about pictures, so here it is



I ran it a few years and it was a great truck, till one night I lost control rolling through a sharp curve where an accident had just been cleared... literally just cleared. The cop and Paramedic Suburban were coming back up the hill from turning around at the river and were behind the car I hit. no sooner had I shut it off I hear the cop tell me to guard my eyes as he broke my window to get me out. Antifreeze was all over the road and it got me!

[special-K]

I now have pictures on my computer of that '95 after the crash. She was a sad sight to see the next day. Very sad

[Russell Ashley]

That's sad about the truck, but it's good that you are OK. As much as we love our trucks, our own health is more important.

[pjmoreland]

I just picked up this '89 K1500 a few days ago. It's got a lot of miles on it, but the engine was replaced about 25k miles ago. The A/C compressor was replaced recently, and it was updated to R134a. It was a real handful to drive due to a worn out rag joint. I just replaced it, and now the steering is nice and tight. There are lots of little things to repair on this truck. One oddity is that the battery volt gauge bounces wildly when the turn signals are on.

[dave6672]

I like it.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by dave6672

I like it.

x2.
I see a clean ride w/lotso potential.

[Grumpy old man]

[QUOTE=pjmoreland One oddity is that the battery volt gauge bounces wildly when the turn signals are on.[/QUOTE]

My 95 GMC K2500 does the same thing , It has the 350 TBI and I've never had a problem with it , One of the reasons I keep driving it is because it just never quits , never been stuck in the snow and drives solid and straight down the road , it has over 240,000 + miles I run Castrol 20/50 year round for the last 15 years and it is bone stock . I just today ordered new rear bearings and seals / new brakes , While I was pulling the spare tire down to pull the rear cover and axles I noticed my steel spare has a couple rust spots and a 15 year old tire so now I'll be replacing those also. I may as well replace the michelin 10 ply tires while I'm at it they still have good tread but they have some years on them . The truck owes me nothing . it's probably the most reliable truck I've ever had .

[pjmoreland]

Thanks, guys. I spent all day Saturday and Sunday at wrecking yards getting lots of parts for this truck. Reminds me of going to yards 20 years ago for 67-72s. I have easy access to somewhere around 20 88-94 trucks at the four nearest Pick-n-Pull yards.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Thanks, guys. I spent all day Saturday and Sunday at wrecking yards getting lots of parts for this truck. Reminds me of going to yards 20 years ago for 67-72s. I have easy access to somewhere around 20 88-94 trucks at the four nearest Pick-n-Pull yards.

Too funny..... I commented this weekend about the ability to hit yards still for parts on these just like the 67-72's 'back in the day'.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Too funny..... I commented this weekend about the ability to hit yards still for parts on these just like the 67-72's 'back in the day'.

I wonder how long it will last. The square bodies are becoming rare at this point. I think I saw maybe two of them in my four local Pick-n-Pull yards. The 88-94s are not far behind.

[special-K]

Great find! I want one like that. I knew when these trucks came out they would have the appeal the 67-72s had at that time once they got that age. In '92 I had a '72 K/20 Cheyenne Super Custom Camper. I ordered a new truck as close to how I would have ordered a '72 as I could. Some 4wd might disagree due to the new IFS front end, but in my eyes these are the last classic trucks. The 21st century trucks crossed over a line of no return, in my eyes. I felt that way when the '88s came out, until I saw them prove differently. I got stuck on '72s because I liked older trucks than that but those were as modern as I wanted. So way back when, I felt '73s were too new. Time changes perspective. The 88-98s seem simple now. The last trucks with just a steel bumper and a grille.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by special-K

Great find! I want one like that. I knew when these trucks came out they would have the appeal the 67-72s had at that time once they got that age. In '92 I had a '72 K/20 Cheyenne Super Custom Camper. I ordered a new truck as close to how I would have ordered a '72 as I could. Some 4wd might disagree due to the new IFS front end, but in my eyes these are the last classic trucks. The 21st century trucks crossed over a line of no return, in my eyes. I felt that way when the '88s came out, until I saw them prove differently. I got stuck on '72s because I liked older trucks than that but those were as modern as I wanted. So way back when, I felt '73s were too new. Time changes perspective. The 88-98s seem simple now. The last trucks with just a steel bumper and a grille.

The 88-98s do seem simple now compared to 99+ trucks. Mine even has manual windows. I'm a little nervous about the TBI system on a truck that has to be emissions tested every other year where I live, and nothing having to do with emissions can be swapped out. I can't just throw a Holley Sniper on there. I kind of wish it had a carb. Oh, well. I don't plan on staying in CA long term. On the upside, check out the simplicity of this cruise control system I got at the wrecking yard for $38. It connects to the truck in two places:

1) The orange connector plugs into the fuse panel where it gets power and VSS from the gauge cluster (the wire is already there for the VSS)

2) The black connector plugs into the brake switch. The brake switch already has the receptacle on it, too.

[special-K]

I've never had any issues from a TBI. The one I drive now, and since '14, has 230k on it. But it doesn't get tested. I had a '90 Blazer with 350 TBI I put 175k on from new. Never touched the TBI.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by special-K

I've never had any issues from a TBI. The one I drive now, and since '14, has 230k on it. But it doesn't get tested. I had a '90 Blazer with 350 TBI I put 175k on from new. Never touched the TBI.

That makes me feel better about it. My only TBI experience was with a friend's boat where I swapped out a bad engine for him. It was a Chevy 350 with a TBI. It didn't like to idle. Every few seconds it would stumble, and we would have to give it a little throttle to keep it going. We threw a bunch of parts at it, and it improved, but the problem is still there just a little bit. There is a learning curve, and I'm at the beginning of it.

[special-K]

I am, too. I've never had to touch either one I've had. Good luck with it

[pjmoreland]

That's a clean truck you've got there.

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

That's a clean truck you've got there.

Thanks but I've been ignoring it lately , The rear axle bearing has been making noise for awhile and it's time to change them out before I'm buying axles , I've been busy with my 67 and now is the time to get it done before winter really shows up . The only problem is once you start looking for things that need attention you find them , it's still cheaper to keep her

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

That's sad about the truck, but it's good that you are OK. As much as we love our trucks, our own health is more important.

This is very true. I just felt sore mostly from tensing up. I knew I was in for a ride I was unable to control. Just hoped for the best and hung on.

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Thanks but I've been ignoring it lately , The rear axle bearing has been making noise for awhile and it's time to change them out before I'm buying axles , I've been busy with my 67 and now is the time to get it done before winter really shows up . The only problem is once you start looking for things that need attention you find them , it's still cheaper to keep her

All the same here. The 'Burb just keeps on keepin' on. Same kind of mileage. It has a to-do list, but it's been pretty good about waiting till I get to it.

I have had two K3500 SRWs, both 6.5TD/5spd and this '95 Suburban K2500. They are very dependable, but my second one (95) was jinxed I think. I'm serious. As far as the work it needed, that didn't bother me because I wanted to fix it up into my ultimate forever work truck. The first (92) one I ordered and kept it as built. That truck was great! On the '95 the engine blew at 135k, I put a crate performance marine 6.5TD in it. The NV4500 went south, I put a GM crate in. The NP241 started popping into neutral, I put a GM crate in. I was happy to have all new stuff and spares for both trucks. I went through that truck, long long list, a ton of money in it. I was very happy with it. Then I wrecked it

[special-K]

I don't know if I ever showed this picture of the ole '92 on the job. I just found it under work pictures I managed to save from an old 'puter. I hope not a repeat anyway