1989 4x4 Chevrolet Suburban Overland Build | Camper | Squarebody |
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- Here is a video tour of a 1989 V1500 4x4 Suburban Camper. This was a fun squarebody project and I'm excited to do more in the future.
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had a 73 and i LOVED that truck drove it over 500,000 miles until it rusted away and was no longer safe. that was the truck that atarted my love of suburbans... our "new" one is a 96
You might think about replacing the leaf springs on these old rigs. You would be surprised at the difference it makes especially in the rear. The fronts are not as bad unless they had a snow plow on them. You don't have to get fancy ones just replacements for the original.
I think like a 2.5 inch lift is great on these. Since the stock front springs are negative arched, on a 2.5 inch lift the springs are basically flat.
I had a K10 short bed when I was a kid, and the 4 inch lift springs I put on the front still barely had any arch.
Dude your video was really top notch. I bought my 89 Suburban 2 months ago and I have fallen in love with her. I love the square body man. You informed me in a really cool positive way so THANK YOU! I want to make some mods for camping and your vid was the best I've seen. Thanks again brother.
PD
10:15 i used to get 14 mpg combined with my 1991 chevy suburban v1500
it was the finest vehicle i owned
easy maintenance and reasonably priced spare parts
That's really pretty good considering. I had a 73 square body pickup, and I was lucky to get 8 or 9 MPG with it. It had a mild 350 with a Holley 650 carb on it, you could watch the needle move in that thing.
I've been looking into the 6.2 liter squarebody burbs, apparently they're slow as molasses, but can pretty easily get 20 MPG on the highway.
Looks good! I have a 91 v2500 suburban. I like the cubbies but I would want a flip down door on each one to keep the stuff in there. Then you could make the opening bigger/square. Probably thin aluminum panels but wood would work too. Tear the interior panels off the rear doors too and make that more storage.
Good idea!
love the flip-down idea
With RV type latches that keep an closed!
Square body for life. Lol
Definitely!
This is what I’m thinking
Really like the wood ceiling going all the way to the front, looks great. An awning off the back (like a lot of truck campers) would be great to go with those barn doors to create a really nice porch/cooking area. Thanks for posting.
Thanks!
Awesome build! but not feeling all the decals, maybe have a nice small one over the suburban sign and a small one on the rack. Just takes away from the truck a bit.
Perfect build, not over kill very user friendly and use your old school coleman cooking gear. Sweet!
Bombproof is a good description of the square body... Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely Gorgeous Build!!
Outstanding! 👍🏽👏🏽👍🏽👏🏽👍🏽
Thank you!
Love these old square body Suburbans, I looked for a long time and never found one in my area of Texas so five years ago I found an extra clean one owner 2005 with only 93000 miles os I jumped on it but I had to pay through the nose I still am enjoying it‼️
Just got an '88 out of Montana, with 4 speed manual to boot!
@@4himsanctified you got a real gym‼️ here in Texas it is almost impossible to find any Suburban in descent condition for sale. I have people ask me all the time if I would sale mine
@@mikemiles3068 such a fun conversation piece
You can buy my 87
@@skersfan6751 I wish you had said that five years ago when I bought my 2005 Suburban. I had been looking for a long time before this one came so I guess I will keep it but you shouldn’t have any problem when you do get ready to sale as they are highly desirable ✅👍
Another great build, Grady. I now know why you like the sqr body Suburbans! I might have to rethink my choice of year! lol.
Thanks Dan!
We had an 89 Blazer and loved it to
Nice!
That's in great shape for how old it is!
I have an 87 suburban with the 3speed manual. Wheeled it up till my back got bad after an injury in Iraq. It sat for about 5 years and since covid started I have been bringing it back to life. Just finished putting a shackle flip. Might be picking up a 14bolt / dana 44 pair this weekend. Currently running 33s
What axles are under yours now? On the front axle the difference from the knuckles out. So you can just swap the outers. Unless it's a gear matching thing.
I have a 89 that I have had since 91. I love it and will never part with it. these trucks are great off road rigs also. On a side note you talk about space, you can put a 12' 2x4 in side the truck and close the back window. Just don't tap the brakes very hard because that 12' starts at the front window.
I wouldn't paint it. Makes rest of car/truck look like crap. Put the money into something useful, like speakers or beer and pizza.
Nice!
I love this thing so much! The square body is definitely my favorite modern Suburban. Kind of a nostalgic thing, since I was born in 78 and these things were still being sold brand new up until I was 13 years old, and also because my dad had a 78 Blazer, and when I got my license I had a 73 short bed pickup. But mostly because it's just a fantastic looking truck.
I think the only issue with these is just the old school suspension and steering. I remember my K10 rode like a covered wagon, though I DID a 4 inch lift kit on it, and the steering was very loose and imprecise. It was an old truck, so whatever. Then again I wasn't trying to drive it across the country, haha.
I think the only issue with reliability on these would come from the fact that they are 30 years old now at the youngest. So you're going to have to deal with a lot of old truck problems. I would say that once you get them dialed in, they'll be super reliable since everything is stone simple, and like was mentioned, the parts are cheap. If I was looking for one, I would definitely go with the 87 to 91, to get the fuel injection. It's only TBI, which isn't great, but still a little bit more user-friendly than a carb. The TBI 350 made around 210 horsepower and 300 foot pounds of torque. Not a lot of HP, but that torque came in at a nice low RPM. The other reason I would go with the later years is because the first few years of the four speed auto had some issues, but that had been addressed by the time the fuel injection came out.
They're super easy to work on too, as long as you don't get one from New England that's all rusted to hell. I remember I used to sit under the hood of my square body on the inner fenders when I was working on it haha.
Watching this really makes me want to get one, but I'll have to look up West. I live in Rhode Island, these things are virtually non-existent around here.
Just got my 89 suburban not long ago ! I get 14 mpg all day long, looking forward to building it a lot like this. Thanks a ton, love the content !
I love this so much! I like the patina too, hopefully the owner kept it the way it is. I like the look of a well-worn older truck. I think the reliability wise, the only reason why you would take a hit is literally just the age of the vehicle. I think the mechanical systems will be good as long as they've previously been gone through, but I would worry about electrical issues from 30 year old wiring. On the plus side, if you have decent mechanical knowledge these are probably easier to field fix than a newer rig. Like for instance if I'm not mistaken the TBI system still runs a mechanical fuel pump off the side of the engine, rather than one in the tank.
I would buy this in a heartbeat. When I call tomorrow to put my deposit down we will discuss this wide body.
I’m inspired , my 89 was my daily for ever , want to make a camper looking for ideas , this kinda helped , thanx
Again, amazing work giving these trucks a second life. Love the square bodies
Thanks!
Inherited an 85 that my uncle had already used for camping back in the day. On some nice wheels and tires. Sitting with a spun bearing and a little rust. Tempted to get it back and do a similar build but know it’s probably a fools errand!
Go to a junkyard, pick up a 350 or 454 and slam it in there.
Great job as always. Love the older Subs
Another excellent video, thanks for sharing it, great timing too as I just bought a 1990 square body Suburban 3/4 ton 4x4, will be picking it up later today. I’ll be LS swapping it with a 6.0 LQ4 engine and rigging up the back to sleep in, getting some good inspiration from watching your videos.
Got an '88 a couple months ago. You on Square Body Addicts?
@@4himsanctified no I’ve never heard of that, I’ll search it up, is it a forum or Facebook group or what exactly is that?
@@LowbuckLS yes, FB. over 123k members. A "must" for SQ Bodies.
@@4himsanctified nice, I just joined, thanks for the tip
Awesome!
Thanks for the share
Great vid - reliability is key- great takeaway. Love those subs
I've got a 85 Chevy suburban I'm trying to build into a overlander from scratch
Nice!
Awesome! Great build
Thanks!
Love what you do.
Thanks!
This is a great build. "Normally", I hate the fact that GM paint did that. I had a '91 pickup that peeled like a bad sunburn. But somehow, this "patina", just looks cool on this truck. Not sure why that is? Might be a good idea to 'clear' over it, just to stop what ultimately is a cancer for automotive bodywork.
Any way, I love the channel and the content. Please don't apologize for a "long" video. Some of us enjoy it, and want more than you're currently producing. Rock on man, I love this. Thank you for the Chevy porn. If I were closer, I'd apply to be one of your worker bees.
Thank you!
Sweet! By the way, I have seen a white suburban, probably in the range of 2000 for the year, driving in my neighborhood with Suboverland stickers here in Utah! I may need to take a road trip with my 88 GMC Suburban to your shop and talk options and pricing with you in the near future.
Awesome!
Just an FYI the 2nd gen Ram 1500's used solid axels till 2001
I want that
👍
Great build, I do love the old Suburbans! Is there a way to fit the spare tire underneath the truck to leave more room on the rack?
The gas tank sits where the spare would go under the bed of a regular pickup if that's what you mean. Just looked under mine.
I personally don't like having a spare on the roof. Not really practical getting it down when you need it. Best option I think is having a custom bumper on the back with a swing out, that holds a spare and extra gas.
I just want to say thank you for all your videos I have been building out my 91 suburban and have really enjoyed your vids I was worried about my wait so my bed is probably over kill but I’m 6’3 and 400lbs so 2x6 and 2x4s lol I would really like to know how you wire up for your net zero generator I do not have much experience with wiring and keep hearing different ways to do it but I want to make sure I do it right. Thanks from
Rocky Mountain family
Nice!
What alternator size would you recommend? My 89 has(d) the 105 & I'm considering a Powermaster 200 amp alternator, since I plan to add quite a few lights (9 up front & 2 in back), hard hitting music (180 watt amp & 300 watt bass), 50 watt HAM radio & 12 watt CB and other overlanding requirements. I'm adding a Optima Red top for starting & a Blue top for the 2nd battery. Enjoyed the vid!
The turning radius is pretty large with the solid front axle, over 50 feet.
Ya not the best.
You can increase the turning radius by swapping to crossover steering. Steering design is poor on squarebody.
this looks like the one tristan broke
It's crazy, but there are 2 wagons that i love, the one is a Toy 75 and the 2nd is this Sub squarebody with 2 solid axles. I heard that the Chevy's transfer and transmission group is not so much tough for off roading, is it true? I'd love to see some Subs building for tough use.
Shoulda did leaf springs cause they looked inverted
what does it cost just to have you build the bed plat form and the sides with the storage and wood roof and fan.. I got a 87 square body wanting it done. got my own ideas for the other stuff
The only thing I would want is a sunroof and no cargo basket on top.
How do u cook on rainy and or snowy days??
Who makes your roof racks id like one for an 85 suburban im currently building
I custom build them.
I made mine too
How much would a bring-my-own "San" model 1994 GMC Suburban cost?
Hello Video I like what you did with the suburban where are you located and how much would it cost
How much does this setup cost. I just picked up a 1991 but wanna keep the second row seats. I'm ready to write the check though
Great! Email is at support@suboverland.com and we'll get you a quote.
Nice build!!! Quick question in a 2003 Burnban, where do you put the fridge? Same place?
Ya between the driver and passenger seat.
Wait this is stock height?
Too bad where I live these are as rare as unicorns.
Where are you? You can buy mine
If we already own a SuV can you do the work on it to get it ready? Do you just do the vehicle sales?
I know the rarest square bodies have the single door
Do you sell a DIY kit for these?
We don't. You can bring us your suburban for install though
Dyu still have it ?
Do you sell just the rack setup you have on it?
We don't
About how much a build like that will cost?
Anybody know a good universal roof cross bar set for a square body??
Around how much do those 89 or 90 go for 💰 ?
Do any of your square body builds retain the middle row seating?
Yes👍
Do you do auxiliary battery installs? How much do those generally run?
We don't anymore. We just install goal zero units.
Do you know anywhere in town that does do the part in the engine?
Does the front end sit up slightly higher than the rear? Or is it just the angle
I think that's normal for most suburbans of that era. Atleast everyone I've seen has gotten the sag. Most people throw an add a leaf on the back to level it out.
The rears usually sag over the years. If it's a 1/2 ton you can swap to a 3/4 spring pack in the back. Plus consider the weight added with all the wood in the back. IMHO an add a leaf or helper spring should be required if your permanently adding weight like this.
v1500 is a 6.2 Detroit Diesel Model.... I prettttttty sure. :D. Still cool.
Would have been even cooler if it were a Diesel!
C- two wheel drive
K- four wheel drive
R- two wheel drive 87-91 square body
V- four wheel drive 87-91 square body
SUBOVERLAND
alright alright alright!
Must be too confusing for me!😂
Btw, I cannot WAIT to get a suboverland build in my suburban 😁
How much for it
This build probably went for around $20k. That includes the vehicle sourced by us.
Are you for fuel injection or carb?
It’s not the best fuel injection system on these trucks but it’s simple and reliable. And it not being carbureted it will start better in the cold and get better fuel mileage
@@reece7259 Thanks so fuel injection it is
@@ronaldpierce8325 tbi: throttle body injection
@@bobstigler difference?
@@ronaldpierce8325 Throttle body injection is what they called the fuel injection system in the 87-94 trucks
I'm having an affair and it's with my square body suburban!
What a shame.