To Burb or Not to Burb

[swissarmychainsaw]

I'm looking for a new project

Here's the deal:

I need a family kind of rig ( so maybe the blazer is out ).
Blazers seem like the right thing until you but a child in the back, then it just seems kinda unsafe.

I want a 4x4 (never done it before) so I can take the crew out to places like Death Valley and show them some adventure (and where I go dirt biking).

So it seem like a Suburban is the logical choice.

4x4 seems best, but I love the (california) pre-smog which really narrows the field. 2wd with a Locker could get me nearly anywhere right?

Seems that my options are:
1. Wait for the perfect 4x4 pre-smog rig (73-75)
2. Go Smog-i-licious: aka a 1991 4x4 2500 with the 4L80e
3. Diesel
4. 2wd with a locker?

Diesel seems like a bad choice, cuz I know next to nothing about them.
#2 seem like a bad choice cuz they are all really high mileage, like near 200K. But it seems that the 1991 2500 with 4L80E is good.

And the easy answer is to just get a nice 1975 2wd and put a locker in the rear and, more than likely climb over anything that the family will encounter within reason, no?

Thoughts on this? Yeah. It's winter and we got time...

Nick

[CamaroChris]

Hey Nick,
I went through the same thing before I bought my suburban. I started out wanting a tow rig so I could build a rock crawler. Started on single cab long bed, then decided that I want to haul people. that lead to crew long bed, then wanted a place to sleep while camping, That led to my suburban. room for 8 people or all your camping gear and your family.
One thing I found was that all the suburbans I looked at were NOT beat on and were all in stock form. seems like every damn 2wd or 4wd truck around me some guy has decided to tear out emissions stuff or tear the a/c stuff out to "Pretty" up the engine bay. Makes it a pain in the ass to get every thing working again. but every suburban I looked at (and I looked at a lot) had everything intact.

[68Timber]

I had a K5 back in the 90's when my daughter was born, didn't get rid of it until she was 5 or 6. No doubt Burb's are better for that, but I never felt like I was compromising. Just my .02.

[krazy_texan]

Suburban is the way to go! Im getting my new to me one this weekend the second one I've had. This one now is actually because I can use it. It's going to be my daily driver and my hauler plan on using it for hauling my mud bogger and lots of camping this summer

[swissarmychainsaw]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Chris: enjoyed your build threads, nice work! and lots of it!

Man, then I see THE GREEN MACHINE and it's just love at first sight. Rust and all.









Currently for sale in Oregon, about a days (big) drive from me. $2800.

Crazy right?

[68Timber]

I like it! Especially with the third pedal down there. The only thing I see that would bother me a little is where the trailing edge of the front wheel wells have been trimmed back, that opens them up to trap more mud inside the body than they normally do. But it looks like the interior is pretty much unmolested, so I guess it evens out! Road trip?

[swissarmychainsaw]

There are Diesels for sale, but they are running about twice the money.
Still cheap enough.

I like the idea of pushing the land yacht around and still getting 20mpg.

Is it worth the hassle of ownership? Good thing is you don't have to smog them...

[68Timber]

I haven't had any trouble with mine yet except for replacing the batteries and starter, I don't have a clue about working on them either. I've always figured I'll figure it out as I need to. That said, I really like the diesel square. It is nice to have one that doesn't need fuel every time you get in it.

[Cherub]

I have a soft spot for suburbans. So id say go for it you wont regret it.

[krazy_texan]

Just got mine this weekend and I love it but it's not my first one either

[motornut]

i miss the extra space going from burb to Jimmy
Fridays I could just throw everything in and go....
Jimmy kinda have to pack better lol
I'd vote burb

[DBLSPRT68]

I vote for the Burban also. I'm on my second and love it. I have a friend in Idaho who says they (and trucks) are all over the place. He sold a 90 4X4 Burb with a weak 350 for $1500 a few years ago. That might be too far away for you tho.

[swissarmychainsaw]

Went to look at this one Friday.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/4293702256.html

It was about 100 miles away and up in the hills (no direct route) by the time I got there it was dark and I was out of gas! The guy was a peach and gave me a gallon (what he had in his can) and the wifes car gets good mpg so I made it back.

This is about as cheap as they come out here.
Seemed in decent shape.
Minor front grill damage, clearly bumped something.
Clearcoat failing
Needs tires ( I just realized, after buying tires for my '75 that tires are a big deal, Expensive!)
Couple of paint fail rust spot (surface on the pass side).
Had LOTS of little issues that needed addressing, windows that don't work, locks that don't work, interior lights, Doors need bushings etc.
Small project stuff, but a lot of them.
A hing of an exhaust leak in the engine, just a faint wispy sound when it was running.
Trans or transfer case was ALL wet with oil.
(after my 84 chevy 700r4 rebuild NIGHTMARE I am VERY shy of buying someones problems, and yet i HATE leaking vehicles!)

Interior was pretty rough, needs front seat covers and dash pad (cracked).
Headliner sagging badly.
I always think "would my wife want to sit in here"? NO.

The kicker is that we have Smog laws out here, and upon transfer of title you must have your vehicle smogged. And he has not done that and does not want to.
Meaning if I bought this, and could not get it to pass smog, I could very likely not put it in my name. It's currently registered and he said it passed in the summer, but that's the risk I'm facing. But I could probably get it cheaper than he's asking.

I'm thinking I'll spend more money and buy less of a project.

Besides, my plan is to put a '74 front clip on the beastie!

[swissarmychainsaw]

73 Chevy
Suburban 4x4 3/4 Ton.

Just talked to this guy and it sounds really well cared for.
All original but he has done lots of details, like battery/cap/rotors/brakes/tires/etc.

crate motor (From Previous Owner)
new brakes
New tires
trans leak a bit from the speedo drive gear
steering box leaks a bit
New dual exhaust brand new, with crossover
Stock ex manifold, Two into one
Interior is "good" rip on drivers side seat
All gauges work
AC works,
heater works,
Body is straight
small rust on bottom of driver door.
Small rust Bottom of fender
Olive Green and white, primed rust spots
Tags are good until Sept.
Removed Smog pump and plugged manifold
Paint is decent
28 Gallon tank

He wants some money though too, what do you think its worth in California Dollars?
The 4x4 73-75 (pre-smog) seem really rare these days...



















I'm looking at this one like "what I DON'T have to do to it!"

[68Timber]

That's a good looking Burb. You buying?

[swissarmychainsaw]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

That's a good looking Burb. You buying?

Trying to decide. What do you think it's worth?

[68Timber]

I don't know, is he asking more than five?

[swissarmychainsaw]

Originally Posted by bruiser

i don't know, is he asking more than five?

$5,500!

[68Timber]

I'd be OK buying that. Just being in original condition with everything still working on a 73 is worth a premium over the typical 3-4K square on CL.

[american revolution]

that burb looks sweet!!!

offer him $4600 cash see what he does...he might take it if he sees the green.

[american revolution]

offer $4200.00 never know...last craigslist buy i did guy went down $2500 from what he was posting

sometimes people have to sell....

my 2 wheel drive on craigslist now for $10,500 and I am getting offers as low as $7k (good thing I don't have to sell)

California gas prices or something else you don't see a lot of these burbs or blazers on the road....my sister in law has a 91 burb and it just sits...drivers pillar all rusted out now but drives great.

never know till you offer....that guy that went down $2500.00 (64 chevy shortbed pickup) told me let him think about it one night...he called me the next day and set a date to meet and look at truck

I told him over the phone...i have this much $$$...don't want to waste your time so let me know...he was coming from boulder creek and I was in SF so we met in woodside...i brought the cash i offered him...he was cool if I liked it then I could buy it...and I could've walked away if I didn't.

[Cherub]

so did you pull the trigger on the burb?

[swissarmychainsaw]

I have not, I'm still looking around.

There are SO many, and CHEAP too, it's hard to spend my whole budget on an older one, when I can get one from 1990 for like 1500.
Then I would have some room to "expedition" it out.

My big concern is leaking transmissions and transfer cases.

My last truck 1984 C10 700R4 had to have the transmission rebuilt (twice) and ended up being a soul sucking experience, and that rebuild cost almost 2 grand (the truck was worth about 3K).

So do I get a Burb for 1,000 that needs work, OR
spend about 3,000 for a "nice looking" one (meaning my wife will approve).
Also at 3,000 I can find one that has had everything rebuilt but "looks" like a 1,000 rig. (this would be best for actual 4x4 use)
Or go "classic" for the whole enchilada.

My use for this will be: Part time commuter (40 miles per day), and hopefully "Family Explorer Wagon" for vacations and stuff.

This one gets "best pick at 3,500$"

[Joe69C10]

I'm considering a Burb right now also. They seem to pop up on Craigslist quite often for very reasonable money. I found a 2 tone late 80's 2wd to look at this weekend. 90k original miles, asking $6500.00 I think that's on the high side, but hopefully cash talks if its clean. NADA values from $1900-$6300 but they don't ask for miles...Hard to tell what I should pay.

[68Timber]

I'd have a hard time passing on that classic unmolested round eye.