Okay, I had a older thread with no responses. But I had put things on hold before. I have a 85 suburban Im about to put back on the road. I plan to do a full restoration on it.

Choices for engine are between

A) 408 Gen1, 425hp/490lbs, mild build but nearer to the radical side (need carb & intake)

B) 5.3 Gen3, stock form, either carb, or fuel injection (but need msd box, engine mounts, harness and computer, intake manifold, fuel pump, etc)

Truck currently has a seized 5.0 Gen1 in it now. The gears are 3.42s. 700 trans I do plan to swap to the heavy duty once it dies.

Honestly Im highly leaning towards putting the 408, cause its brand new and seems like I cant sell it for what I put into it. Also all I will need is a big carb on it, and call it good, vs dumping tons into the 5.3 to swap and get wire harness, pcms, etc.

I got lots planed for it, 400 trans, gears, full exhaust, exterior black, maybe a 4" lift on some 33s as well.

Let me know what you guys think, and Ill update as I make changes.
Here are some pics.

 

You should put the 408 in the tahoe.

 

I also agree that would be cool, but if you are definitely set on restoring the Burb I would go with the 408.

 

I agree that beings that the Burb already has a small-block and due to the fact you already have the 408ci, it would make the most sense to go that route, but a big ‘ole battle cruiser like that sure would be nice with a smooth running big-block, like an injected L29.

 

That tahoe has a Vmax 6.0 in it. When time comes I would love to do a gen3 408 for it. But for now I need to put this gen1 in the 85.

Got the 85 debadged, demolded, and took those funky chrome pieces off the windows. The body is immaculate. I plan to paint the truck myself, plan on getting 1 of those shop compressors for my garage. That way I can paint both trucks. Ill have few more pics, as I make some more progress..

 

85 went under the knife today, lost alot of weight after some plastic surgery. Gutted the entire interior as the previous owner fucked it up. Spray painted everything white for some reason. The original interior is a dark blue. So I pulled the headliner, carpet, door panels, dash, etc. Prob end up riding like that for a while till I can restore everything original like I want it. Seen some cheap parts on LMC as well.





Also test fitted my new Holley Intake and Holley 750 cfm carb.


This is some progress on the outside

 

?Anyone know what type of wheel adapter for example the mm specs, if I would like to bolt up a Chevy 6lug to my 85 5lug truck. Ill snap pics of the updates later today.

 

the 6 lug is 6 on 5.5 the same spacing that the 5 lug is just one more stud

 

You should leave the body as is, lighten it as much as possible and make a killer sleeper out of the suburban!!!!

 

sorry for not updating this thread in a long time. Here is the list for the suburban:

1) Move my SS black 20s from my Tahoe onto the suburban. [Tahoe is getting SS black 22s next]
2) Wrap some tuff MT tires or aggressive AT tires to the 20" wheels.
3) 3" of lift for the suburban, via springs, and blocks.
4) Matte black paint job or flat black to match the wheels. Painted grills, bumpers everything black, like my Tahoe. Full debadged!
5) 408 cubic inch with 750 holley carb, holley intake, Longtube headers, and 3.5" single pipe, dumped under the truck. [engine is already in the truck ]
6) 5% tint all around.
7) more than likely the interior will stay the same, basic, and stripped.
8) 4.30 gears and trutrac as its a 2wd.

Both my trucks will have the same theme, but 1 is for street, and the other for offroad, dirty jobs.