My next vehicle is going to be a Suburban 2500 because I need to tow my Escape and a bunch of stuff across the country when I move, once I fix up and sell the Dodge. Budget about $3k. I know I'm going to be going for a high mileage vehicle in questionable shape but I'm happy to do repairs and I don't care too much how it looks on the outside.
I'm trying to make two decisions: 1. small block vs big block and 2. 96+ GMT400 vs GMT800
I've owned many GMT400 trucks, 98 k1500, 96 yukon, 95 suburban, 99 suburban, 92 c1500 (all half ton small blocks) in all of those, the tbi trucks (95-) have never given me any mechanical issues at all, and every single one of the vortec trucks (96+) has had bad intake manifold gaskets during my ownerships. That said, I can change intake gaskets in a weekend and entire 5.7s are cheap. I don't want another TBI because I want OBD2.
I really love how GMT400s look and ride but steering and brakes are notoriously awful. I've driven a single GMT800 Suburban 1500 and steering and brakes were far better, and I'm assuming the GMT800 Suburban 2500s are better the same way.
The cheapest and most "economical" option in these vehicles is the 5.7L (if I go GMT400) and 6.0L (if I go GMT800). Primary benefit to this is not the 1MPG or so improvement but the price and ease of repair. Plus, if I get a GMT800 with 6.0L a few years down the road it could end up with a supercharger
but that's off topic.
However, the bigger engines (7.4/8.1) get me a lot more power and torque stock with a slight hit in fuel economy. My biggest concern is reliability and cost of repair. I've heard they're all oil burners which doesn't bother me one bit (I check oil every fuel fill-up) but overall if the engine goes bad it's a lot more money and they're not as easy to find.
So, BITOG folks, help me out
Thanks!
I'm trying to make two decisions: 1. small block vs big block and 2. 96+ GMT400 vs GMT800
I've owned many GMT400 trucks, 98 k1500, 96 yukon, 95 suburban, 99 suburban, 92 c1500 (all half ton small blocks) in all of those, the tbi trucks (95-) have never given me any mechanical issues at all, and every single one of the vortec trucks (96+) has had bad intake manifold gaskets during my ownerships. That said, I can change intake gaskets in a weekend and entire 5.7s are cheap. I don't want another TBI because I want OBD2.
I really love how GMT400s look and ride but steering and brakes are notoriously awful. I've driven a single GMT800 Suburban 1500 and steering and brakes were far better, and I'm assuming the GMT800 Suburban 2500s are better the same way.
The cheapest and most "economical" option in these vehicles is the 5.7L (if I go GMT400) and 6.0L (if I go GMT800). Primary benefit to this is not the 1MPG or so improvement but the price and ease of repair. Plus, if I get a GMT800 with 6.0L a few years down the road it could end up with a supercharger
However, the bigger engines (7.4/8.1) get me a lot more power and torque stock with a slight hit in fuel economy. My biggest concern is reliability and cost of repair. I've heard they're all oil burners which doesn't bother me one bit (I check oil every fuel fill-up) but overall if the engine goes bad it's a lot more money and they're not as easy to find.
So, BITOG folks, help me out