Hey guys, just introduced myself in the sticky for this forum.
Just bought a (new to me) 1988 GMC Suburban 4x4. It's got every heavy duty and tow option available for this truck. TBI 350. The man who owned this before me was not mechanically inclined at all so I don't know a whole ton about the truck. All I know is that he was the original owner and it has been very well maintained by a reputable mechanic in my area. Truck was primarily used as a tow rig for this guy's boat. Barely 600 miles ago, it received the following- full fluid change, tranny rebuild, Rancho shocks, full ft/rr brake job, brake lines, ball joints, alignment, 10 ply BFG all terrains, steering stabilizer, etc etc... He smogged it the day I bought it, and all the paperwork is in order. The truck was always garaged and consequently is in excellent shape. The truck has 162K on it. I also have all the service records since it was new. The truck's options are as follows (taken from marshu.com)
AS3 : SEAT, RR, SUBURBAN
AT5 : SEAT RR, CTR, FLDG
AU3 : LOCK CONTROL, SIDE DR, ELEC
A31 : WINDOW, POWER OPERATED, ALL DOORS
A33 : WINDOW, POWER OPERATED, T/GATE OR BACK DR
A95 : SEAT, FRT BUCKET, HIGH BACK, PASS & DRIVER RECL
B3C : UNKNOWN
B85 : ORNAMENTATION, EXTR MLDG BELT REVEAL
B93 : ORNAMENTATION, EXTR MLDG, DR EDGE GUARD
B96 : MOLDING WHL OPENING
CD4 : WIPER SYSTEM WINDSHIELD, PULSE
CMD : PLANT CODE, FLINT MI
C49 : DEFOGGER, RR WINDOW, ELECTRIC
C6P : GVW RATING, 8600 LBS/3, 900KG
C60 : HVAC SYSTEM, AIR CONDITIONER FRT MAN CONTROLS
C69 : HVAC SYSTEM, RR, AIR CONDITIONER
D1E : GEAR, SPEEDO DRIVEN
D34 : MIRROR, VISOR VANITY
D45 : MIRROR O/S, SST
E5Z : SPEEDOMETER ADAPTER (DELETE)
E55 : BODY EQUIPMENT, END GATE
E6D : UNKNOWN
E9Z : SPEEDOMETER KEY (DELETE)
GQ1 : AXLE, STD RATIO
GT4 : AXLE REAR, 3.73 RATIO (DUP WITH 5 X 1)
JB7 : BRAKE, POWER, DISC, DRUM 8400 L85
KC4 : COOLING SYSTEM, HEAVY DUTY ENGINE OIL
K19 : REACTOR SYSTEM, AIR INJECTION
K34 : CRUISE CONTROL, AUT0MATIC, ELECTRONIC
K68 : GENERATOR,105 AMP
L05 : ENGINE, GAS, B CYL, 5.7L, 1 TBI, V8
MX1 : MERCHANDISED, TRANS, AUTO PROVISIONS
M40 : TRANSMISSION, AUTO 3 SPD, TORQUE CONV VAR 1
NB2 : EMISSION SYSTEM , CALIFORNIA , TIER O
NE2 : FUEL TANK, 151L, 40 GAL
N31 : STEERING WHEEL, CUSTOM
SLL : UNKNOWN
TT4 : HEADLAMPS, HALOGEN, 4
T63 : ALARM, HEADLAMPS ON WARNING SYSTEM
UM6 : RADIO, AM/FM STEREO, SEEK/SCAN, AUTO REV CASS,
UN9 : RADIO, SUPPRESSION EQUIPMENT
UP8 : STEREO RADIO INSTALLMENT PROVISIONS
UY7 : WIRING HARNESS, TRUCK TRAILER HD
U73 : ANTENNA, FIXED, RADIO
VR4 : TRAILER HITCH, WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING PLATFORM
V02 : RADIATOR, HEAVY DUTY, WITH TRANS OIL COOLER
V22 : GRILL RADIATOR, CHROME
V73 : VEHICLE STATEMENT, USA/CANADA
XYN : LT235/85R16E, R/PE, ST TL ALS BL FRONT
YA7 : UNKNOWN
YD3 : FRONT AXLE, BASE EQUIPMENT FOR SCHEDULING, GVW PLATE
YD5 : UNKNOWN
YD6 : REAR SPRING, BASE EQUIPMENT
YE9 : CONVENIENCE PACKAGE, COMFORT & DECOR LEVEL #3
YF5 : CERTIFICATION, EMISSION, CALIFORNIA
YG3 : ORNAMENTATION, BODY, SIDE, 6 WHL OPENING BRIGHT
YYN : LT235/85R16E, R/PE ST TL ALS BL REAR
ZQ2 : SALES PACKAGE, DRIVER CONVENIENCE
ZY5 : COLOR COMBINATION, EXTERIOR DECOR
Z82 : TRAILER PROVISIONS, SPECIAL EQUIPMENT, H.0.
Z88 : CONVERSION, NAME PLT GMC
23D : UNKNOWN
23I : INTERIOR TRIM, LT BLUE (91)
24U : PRIMARY COLOR, EXTERIOR, BRIGHT BLUE MET (91)
27A : STRIPE COLOR, ACCENT, TWO TONE, LT BLUE/DK BLUE
29L : SECONDARY COLOR, EXTERIOR, DK BLUE (91)

Unfortunately I couldn't find a couple of the codes. If anyone knows what the following codes mean, that would be great, B3C E6D SLL YA7 YD5 23D.

Also, I know I have a 14 bolt rear axle but am unsure of the front. Also, do I have a TH400 or a 700R4 in here? NP205 or NP208?

The truck needs the following, although not much of it will happen due to me not needing this truck to be perfect. Headliner sags, rear AC fan makes a horrible noise on high, dash is cracked, windshield is cracked (that will be fixed), and carpet is stained.

My plans sofar are as follows- lift the truck a couple inches in the rear to level it out, probably just going to do a shackle lift as springs would be very expensive...and I'm on a tight budget. Also going to tear out the carpet and headliner and rhino-line the whole inside. Tear out the rear AC unit, cause I'll never use it anyway. Already took out the 3rd row seat, and it's making an awesome sofa in my bedroom :D I'll probably take out the rear seat, and use the lowest portion (below the cargo floor surface) for auxiliary batteries and storage, and make the upper portion into a bed and more storage. I'll make front and rear bumpers, the front with a brush guard and a winch. The rear will have a swing away tire and fuel can rack. I may do a roof rack, not sure. Also debating if I will do overhead storage in the cargo area, I doubt I'll need it as I can be fine for a week with a couple shirts, jacket and a pair of jeans :D. I would have liked to integrate a camping stove into the tailgate but having the window in there makes that impossible... I hate that design. Want a small fridge somewhere, hooked to my auxiliary system. I'm debating between a slide-out fridge in the back or replacing the center console with a smaller one. I already have a center console fridge I could install, so I'll probably go that route to save some cash. I'm proficient at fabrication and welding, but don't really have an adequate shop, although my friend will let me use his, as long as I don't leave my truck there for more than a weekend at a time. I'd really love to do a 6BT swap, but realistically it's not going to happen. Also for my aux system I'd like to have some solar panels mounted on the roof. Would like to have a hot-water shower but that'll come later. This project will take a very long time as time and money are limited, but hopefully I'll get a good chunk of it done this summer.
Why I pounced on this deal rather than something else was the price tag. I only paid $1300 for the truck. The PO spent more than that in recent maintenance, so I made it happen.
Without further adieu, here are some pics of my newly acquired beast:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01181.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01182.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01183.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01184.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01185.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01186.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01187.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01188.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01189.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01190.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01191.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01192.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01194.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01195.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01196.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t161/mutanTmaXX/suburban/DSC01197.jpg

th400 208

14b SEMI FLOAT

10b front

Thanks very much!

th400 208

14b SEMI FLOAT

10b front

Could be a 241 instead of a 208 its an 88 model

That's a great buy! I've got a 1990 6.2L Burb and my dad has a 91 TBI 350 Burb.

No need for a 6BT swap unless you're towing with it. The 350 TBI and 3.73s will be great with your tire size, especially without overdrive.

You can't do a shackle lift in the rear unless you do a shackle flip. If you just need some extra height and weight capacity, here's what I did on my 90 Burb. I got another set of stock springs and beefed up the leaf packs by adding an extra main leaf (chopped the ends off the extra one, added another cut leaf to fit mid-pack somewhere, and an extra overload leaf. On my 1/2-ton I needed extra spring rate for trailer towing. If you just need more height (you've already got a better spring rate with the 3/4-ton springs), the extra overload spring adds an inch in height and only affects your spring rate when you load up enough to compress the pack onto it. It's a cheap mod if you can get the spare springs - you just need to buy longer spring center pins, and longer U-bolts.

If you replace your center console with a fridge, put your old one up for sale. They are expensive to replace new.

Could be a 241 instead of a 208 its an 88 model

I'll look into that and see if I can figure it out...thanks!

That's a great buy! I've got a 1990 6.2L Burb and my dad has a 91 TBI 350 Burb.

No need for a 6BT swap unless you're towing with it. The 350 TBI and 3.73s will be great with your tire size, especially without overdrive.

You can't do a shackle lift in the rear unless you do a shackle flip. If you just need some extra height and weight capacity, here's what I did on my 90 Burb. I got another set of stock springs and beefed up the leaf packs by adding an extra main leaf (chopped the ends off the extra one, added another cut leaf to fit mid-pack somewhere, and an extra overload leaf. On my 1/2-ton I needed extra spring rate for trailer towing. If you just need more height (you've already got a better spring rate with the 3/4-ton springs), the extra overload spring adds an inch in height and only affects your spring rate when you load up enough to compress the pack onto it. It's a cheap mod if you can get the spare springs - you just need to buy longer spring center pins, and longer U-bolts.

If you replace your center console with a fridge, put your old one up for sale. They are expensive to replace new.

I like the overload lift idea...should I go to the junkyard and get some spare packs or find them elsewhere? Also thanks for the tip about reselling my center console...I'll be sure to do that!

I had an 87

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x120/litlmeck/laborday08012.jpg

Always wanted more power (350 tbi) Hated the tail gate (wish it had barn doors)

Had shackle flip rear, 2 ish lift springs w/ taller shackles, 4.10 w/ gov-lok rear and traclok front, 35's


With my dads FJC (lame driveway pic)

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x120/litlmeck/aug08003.jpg

Awesome Suburban, i've got an 84 4x4 1/2 ton one and they are kick ass rigs.

What's your first project on it gonna be?

Hell yea. Suburbans are awesome. I couldn't think of anything better for camping and long trips. I have an 87 xj as my dd and mild wheeler but I like burbs just as much. Great buy for $1300. The old school luxury vibe is cool too. Do all the power windows and locks work? The ones on my cherokee laredo suck. Also the 40 gallon tank is a bonus no matter how you look at it.

So any updates, :confused:

Post up a pic of the t-case. The differences between the 208 and 241 are pretty obvious.

Removing the AC is a dumb idea. Comfort is important on a long haul, and some of your next door neighbor states get hotter than hell in the summertime.

Removing the AC is a dumb idea. Comfort is important on a long haul, and some of your next door neighbor states get hotter than hell in the summertime.

Im waiting on parts to replace the very last parts in my AC system trying to get it to work. Going on 2 summers without AC since I got the jeep. Hoping after all this work that it works.

I didn't see what you said about removing the AC.
If it works I would deffinatley keep it
If it doesnt work I dont blame you but still try to get it to work.

Anything at all :confused:

I was really hoping this build would take off :(

This is cool! I miss my old 'Burb. I'm strongly considering another one for a utility/camping vehicle whenever the funds come around.

As a former owner of a 1990 4x4 sub,(That I miss) I would definitely keep the rear a/c as it provides much needed comfort in a hot climate.

Any updates on this build?