Better for HWY driving?

[Tony_SS]

k5 or suburban? I have never driven either... just my lowly c10. So I'm still looking for a suitable family squarebody. Which one is more suited for a comfortable cruising? I'm going to assume the 'burb 2WD, but I wanted to ask to make sure.

[68Timber]

The extra weight of the burb helps and hurts. It does go down the road nice but it's not the rig you'd want to be in to do an accident-avoidance manuever. Those extra doors are nice to have, though. The Blazer rides well, but either one will come down to the suspension and tire/wheel combo you choose. It's hard to go wrong.

[Tony_SS]

I found a nice 2wd. I wanted a 4wd, but what would a good wheel/tire size setup be for a 2wd burb?

275/60-15 and 15x8 on all fours?

[68Timber]

I like the 275/60's on 15's because you get good width and get to keep a 28" tall tire. The 295/50's look good but they're 26-point-something inches tall - just a tad short for me. 15x8's fit the 275's best.

[87 dually burb]

I drove mine stock with 31"s and loved it now that its bagged and lowered
with 255/70/15 on rallie's rides like a dream cruises great on the highway too

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

I have had a few K5 Blazers and loved them all. They have all been 4x4s though. They rode nice and had a good amount of room in them still. The burbs are nice but kinda big if you actually don't need all that room.

[Jonboy]

If you plan on towing anything, you will appreciate the extra wheelbase of the Sub. Towing with a lifted 4x4 Blazer sucks.

[N2TRUX]

Having had Blazers and Burbs, I suggest the Burb. As much as I love squares, I would look at 92-98's if your budget allows.

[Tony_SS]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Having had Blazers and Burbs, I suggest the Burb. As much as I love squares, I would look at 92-98's if your budget allows.

How come? It's a family rec vehicle so of course their safety is first priority.. What are the pro's of that generation?

[87 dually burb]

better ride and creature comfort inside

[Daggar]

Yeah I admit my burb rides like a lumber wagon with the leaf spring setup in the front for the 4x4 and as for creature comforts atleast my 91 Has power mirrors.

I almost got a 99 burb but the guy backed out on the sale.
Leather with heated seats and front/rear a/c low miles..

[Tony_SS]

Do the 2wd burbs ride that much nicer with the coil spring setup? If that's the case, I might lean that direction.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Tony_SS

How come? It's a family rec vehicle so of course their safety is first priority.. What are the pro's of that generation?

The 92-98 Burb platform is a huge advancement over the 88-91's. The ride, seats, power, and brakes are much better. In 96 they added the Vortec motor which was more powerful and efficient than the TBI.

[83burban]

I have an 83 2wd suburban. I have driven both 4wd and 2wd square trucks...but nothing rides like the sub. I have since driven it cross country multiple times and average better than 20 while drafting semi's. The ride is comfortable, you just ahve to drive safe and be defensive cuz that thing would much rather drive through something than around.

plus everyone at my school loves the fact that its older than a 95 beamer and can go anywhere, anytime, with alot of people comfortably

[USSkoval]

We have an '88 4x4 Burb as the family hauler, wouldn't trade it for anything newer. It's lifted and the ride is firm, but it's built for what we use it for. My wife drives it everyday and we drive it on all of our out of state trips. Of course the 2wd's ride much nicer. My Blazer isn't nearly as useful for family duties... and we need six seats now.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

The 92-98 Burb platform is a huge advancement over the 88-91's. The ride, seats, power, and brakes are much better. In 96 they added the Vortec motor which was more powerful and efficient than the TBI.

If you go that route, the four-door Tahoe/Yukon is a good "in-between" truck. These trucks are as easy to work on as the squares but they are significantly more refined.

[884x4Sub]

Look far ahead with the plans for the truck and know your local smog laws......If your going to tow the 350 tbi is a dog and that set up is dicey to make signifigant power increases......in my case our smog laws dont allow you to switch from tbi to carb (which I didnt know till after I bought the truck....duh).....I want somewhere in the nieghbourhood of 400hp so I had to sell my 88 tbi and bought a carb 85 so I can make some power.....I have an alum head carb 406 almost done....it is not a daily driver though.....D

[884x4Sub]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

The 92-98 Burb platform is a huge advancement over the 88-91's. The ride, seats, power, and brakes are much better. In 96 they added the Vortec motor which was more powerful and efficient than the TBI.

yeah until something breaks.....you wouldnt be too bad off if you stayed with 2wd but when a 4x4 version of one of those trucks starts breaking down hang on to your wallet!!.....had a '96 been there .....a square is probably the cheapest vehicle on the road today to fix bar none, and 92-98s are 10 to 15 yrs old now , you WILL be fixing it....with squares, body parts, motors, trannies, fuel pumps, wiper motors, brake components you name it.....entire trucks!.....dirt cheap.

Get a carb 2wd Sub with a decent running 350, a 700r4 and a free flowing dual exhaust system and youll be kocking on the door of 20mpg hwy easy

[BigBlocksRule]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

If you go that route, the four-door Tahoe/Yukon is a good "in-between" truck. These trucks are as easy to work on as the squares but they are significantly more refined.

Bingo!

As far as breaking down, there are probably more parts in junkyards for the '88 - '98 than the squares. Squarebody trucks are getting to be like Corvettes - parts are becoming harder to find and folks that have what you need are only too happy to charge two prices for 'em.
I had a '99 'burb, loved the ride, now I have a '97 2-door 4x4, best riding and driving 4x4 I've ever owned.

[ericjon262]

old thread, but I'll pitch in. I've got an '87 one ton dually with a TBI 454, and it gets pretty good gas mileage without overdrive as long as I don't try to haul butt. I think I was getting about 15 MPG hwy. mind you, that's Florida hwy(flatland). I'm planning to swap in a TH-2004r which I bet would net me almost 20 MPG hwy between the lockup converter and overdrive.

you TBI guys need to go to DynamicEFI.com and get a EBL flash.


fully programmable.
Lean cruise
Decel-fuel cut
rev limiter
3bar map support
nitrous controller
ect.

check it out.

[Mkcustums]

Originally Posted by Tony_SS

k5 or suburban? I have never driven either... just my lowly c10. So I'm still looking for a suitable family squarebody. Which one is more suited for a comfortable cruising? I'm going to assume the 'burb 2WD, but I wanted to ask to make sure.

WAY OLD thread... but since for some reason people are still commenting so I will too. This one is for sale right now, looks very similar to your avatar... Maybe it's your twin.

[Space Truckin']

It really depends on exactly what you plan on doing with it. I run a '91 2wd with the Regency package and, for an "around the town" or highway vehicle, its great. It rides just like my '74 Sedan DeVille! A bit tough to find a parking spot in downtown though.

I would look for a TBI model if I were you, they get better mileage, are easy to upgrade, and offer better drive-ability at any altitude/attitude. They are also really simple, easier than dealing with a carb IMHO. The downside to the 2wd is it's off road performance but it's not bad by any means if you run suitable tires and don't get WAY off the beaten path. They can also be just as economical as any small to medium SUV with proper maintenance. With a little bit of modification mine gets 23-25 mpg, with the same mods my old '89 4x4 got 18-22 mpg. Both were automatics and the 4x4 had 32x11.50 BF Goodrich T/A KO's and went anywhere I pointed it on road or off! Both of mine tow a small 4 horse trailer or the 26' pontoon boat just fine as long as I don't try to do more than about 65 mph and STAY OUT OF OVERDRIVE! The 700r4 trans is a little weak on OD and you will burn it up if you try to tow much of anything in top gear. A transmission cooler (NOT the one in the radiator) is a must for these trannys. Most of the ones I see already have one but make sure you put one in if not, they are cheap and easy insurance especially compared to a $1200-1500 transmission overhaul!


Wow just saw the date on this! Oh well maybe somebody will get use out of it. And as far as parts go Texas has plenty of them used and the parts houses still stock most stuff new. I redid my entire brake system from the soft lines to the pads and a new MC for $145, ALL new parts, even the calipers and wheel cylinders. The cheapest way though is to buy a parts truck, if you have the room.

[Mkcustums]

Just to clarify to everyone "TONY SS" has bought a '91 4wd Suburban...

This thread is 11 1/2 months old!





** EDIT **I stand corrected I was wrong - oops! lol who is laughing now!

[Tony_SS]

Originally Posted by Mkcustums

Just to clarify to everyone "TONY SS" has bought a '91 4wd Suburban...

This thread is 11 1/2 months old!

Actually I sold it! I am squarebody-less, for now anyway. I'm looking for a 89-91 2wd burb.

[Mkcustums]

That I didn't know. What happened with the '91 you bought? Any plans you are considering for the 2wd?