Polar Bear Suburban
 

Well, I ran across this rig on Craigslist Thursday night and I knew had to have it. I could barely sleep Thursday night in anticipation to call the guy first thing Friday morning. It is a 1989 V2500 Suburban, 5.7L, SM456 with rear barn doors and only 132,000 original miles. When I saw it had a manual transmission in the CL add my eyeballs about popped out of my head and the rear barn doors were a bonus (I don’t care for the tailgate with the roll up window on Subs). You won’t believe what I paid either. $1500! Actually, $1496.35 as I found a few bucks in pocket change when I took the interior apart for deep cleaning.

As usual with a rig of this age and price it isn’t without issue. It needs a clutch, the windshield is badly cracked, the steering column is wobbly as hell (typical loose tilt mechanism situation that these Saginaw columns are famous for), stereo is missing and it has a severe lean to the left due to a sagging LH front spring plus it was filthy dirty! None of this is a big problem as I have a good used Centerforce dual friction clutch that I took out by my K10 last year when I did the NV4500 swap. The lean isn’t an issue either as I have a pair of left over 4” front leaf springs from the K10 as well. Probably do a ORD shackle flip on the rear. I bet I already spent 20 hours since Friday night cleaning this thing. It is turning out nice though! The biggest disappointment is the fact it has 3:42 gears no biggie as I will be swapping in a 14 bolt FF soon but wasn’t planning on regearing the front. Looks like I need to find a pair of axles now. It has a couple small surface rust spots but they will come right off with a DA sander then touch it up with touch up paint. Nothing major.

When I do the clutch I’m planning to kill two birds with one stone. Just yank the engine to replace the clutch and give the engine a makeover (paint, tune up, new sensors, gaskets, water pump, etc). It probably will get an 8.1L and NV4500 someday as I still have a few laying around but for now I am going to run with this TBI 5.7L and deal with the priorities first (fix issues, lift it, address the rust spots).

Let the fun begin! My wife named it the Polar Bear.

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The underhood light even works! :lol:
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Ah, YES!! Manual trans:metal: Picture after a major cleaning. That is the shifter from the SM465 out of my K10. It is a NOS shifter with no slop and a new knob. Glad I saved thos Husky floor mats too!
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Congratulations, and welcome to the Burb club :metal:

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

:eek: You didn't buy it, you stole it! I know you spent hours cleaning it, but that looks amazing for the price, even counting the work you'll be doing. Nice find!!

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Here is the original CL add.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

You got a killer deal for sure, and with your elbow grease and spare (free) parts to get it solid again it will be even more the investment score!

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Wow, you got a killer deal. I would love that truck. How many of those did they make in 89, like 2, loaded w/4 spd, 3/4 ton....jack pot. I though my 4 spd 91 K5 was rare...

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Having seen the Bear in person yesterday I can attest to the score that was made. It even sounds good with the flowmasters on it. He shot me the CL ad Thursday night and said I should go after it and ditch my K5. If I only had the spare cash!

It is quite a score that's for sure. This thing is going to be beastly by the time Larry's done with it.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Wow awesome score or better yet steal. I can't believe you got it that cheap that's crazy. Even though it needs a few little things nothing major. Looks great keep us posted and keep up the good work.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Looks great for a 22 year old. You did a great job cleaning that thing up.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Nice! Only one problem...I was here first(sig)....:D

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

that thing is beautifull!!

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Nice!!

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Got the steering column all fixed up. Wow, it was really jacked up. All four of the tilt housing support bolts (the 4 Torx head bolts in the pictures below) were completely backed out causing the steering shaft ball bearings to fall out of the bearing cages in the upper tilt housing assembly. Then some idiot glued the multifunction switch lever in so I had to cut it off and replace the multifunction switch. Good thing I kept the steering column out of that G-Van I parted out a few years ago.

It’s all back together now! Next order of business is to get the windshield replaced and start taking apart the dash to clean everything and replace light bulbs in the cluster. Going to order up some more Superbrite LED’s like I installed in the K10 last year. Those work great!

I forgot to mention that while cleaning it I found a receipt from Big O Tires where the guy just bought $720 worth the tires for it 5,800 miles ago. :lol:

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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

I would love to have a stick shift suburban but i hate daily driving them and my is a partial dd so i would never do it but that thing is awesome and those under hood lights are awesome i swapped one onto mine best thing i ever did ive used it so many times and i found a place that sells a similar one much closer than lmc's, looks to be the silverado and has power windows and locks? if so im even more jealous ill trade you for mine =-p

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Great find! That's a rare rig loaded up with the 4-speed. How's the A/C work?
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

$1500!!?!?! VERY nice score. I love my 'burb, just wish it was 4wd.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Dunno yet, it’s been pretty chilly here. The compressor does cycle on and sounds quite and smooth when moving the control to A/C and defrost. The rear A/C blower motor is toast. It sounds horrible! :lol:

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Wow that's nice. 4spd and all! I was hoping to come across a good one like that when I found my Jimmy. Uh...is that a semi-floater? I guess it'll do for now.:lol:

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Yep....Exactly, it will do for now. :lol:

The Polar Bear will eventually get the same 14FF infusion as the last Suburban of this era that came through the Big Block Garage. Lift too.

This Sub was a bit rough on the outside but had a fresh marine turbo 6.5L when it left. This one lives in Detroit, MI now where it got fresh paint and other upgrades.
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Junk 14 bolt 9.5” semi-floater ready to be returned to the salvage yard for core cost after it was pruned from the black Sub
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Got a few things done to the Polar Bear Saturday. Pruned the rattly nerf bars off, removed the rusty center caps, cleaned the wheels, painted the hubs, removed the aftermarket cruise control that didn’t work, fixed several vacuum leaks on the engine, removed the EVAP canister and painted the grill and radiator support. Next order of business is to get the new windshield installed then get ready for the clutch replacement.

I drove it around town quite a bit this last week. WOW! The TBI 5.7L takes some getting used to after being accustom to driving a square body style truck a 425HP 8.1L on tap backed by a much smoother shifting NV4500. The 5.7L, especially with 3:42 gears, feels like 4 cylinder. I almost forgot what a gutless truck feels like.

Another old wh*re with new lipstick. I always liked the grills of 89-91 square body rigs
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Looks much better without the nerf bars. Can’t wait to get the 4” lift on it!
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Nice looking truck!! I haven't seen a M/T Suburban of this vintage for many years.

Check it out before you buy any parts as the blower impellers are a slip fit retained by this goofy spring/wrap apparatus that doesn't work so well after a few years. Drop the motor down slide the impellers off, clean the shaft, put a film/coating of RTV on the shaft, slide the impeller back on, center it in the housing and let it set. Reassemble it after it has cured and they will stay put for many years to come. The rear blower motor in my Suburban (same motor as yours) suffered this same fate in the donor vehicle and as such, it was not used. This kept the motor in "like new" condition and once the impellers were secured has been working fantastic ever since. Resist the urge to put steel impellers on the motor--they do not move anywhere near the amount of air the ones you have move.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Great info Mosesburb. I haven’t even taken the rear A/C cover off yet to investigate the issue, which I need to because something is rattling around like crazy in there. Very annoying! Thanks again!

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Man that ting cleaned up AWESOME! Congrats on the cl find.

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That 'Burb is like the big brother to the '90 Blazer 350/4spd I had for nearly 20 years. I still want another. I really liked having one of each. Too bad you're so far away. I have the 4" Tuff Country springs from my '91 'Burb laying in the shop. Still have the paper stickers on them. You may want to go another route for lift anyway.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

I have the week off from work and the wife is out of town visiting her parents so I’ve been busy playing with shop projects.

Today it was the Suburban’s turn for attention. It has needed a clutch from the day I brought it home and I decided to pull the engine instead of pulling the tcase and trans as I wanted to give the engine a good cleaning, reseal, clean up wiring, etc. Also installing an ORD steering box brace while the engine is out as it is so much easier to install with the engine out of the way.

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How cute that little 5.7L is! :lol: I got so used to playing with big blocks these small blocks are like Mini Me's. A whole lot easier to man handle around by yourself too!
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The engine and engine bay all steam cleaned up by late afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised to find how clean the inside of the engine was once I popped the intake off. Since the engine was coming out I figured I’d might as well throw on fresh intake gaskets. Glad I did, as I found an external coolant leak by cyl #8
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I should have the flywheel back from the machine shop tomorrow and can start going back together once the paint dries.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Beautiful vehicle. Congratulations on a great find.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Like others said, you flat out STOLE that truck! I had a very nice 91 2WD/350/700R4 Sub that was a peach....problem was someone wanted it more than me, Some A$$HOLE stole it one night. It was the ONLY vehicle i'd never lowered or lifted, custom painted or anything. It was BONE stock with a PERFECT interior similar to yours ('cept blue). Your truck made me want another one bad. Again whatta nice find!
Tim

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Now that just sucks that someone stole your ride! Sorry to hear that. I would have to kill someone if I ever caught them stealing any of my rigs. Glad most of my rides have manual transmissions. Thieves aren't smart enought to drive them according to Autoblog. :lol: The best antitheft device is a manual trans as nothing else seems to detur them. Stupid thieves!

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

So you gave the guy a nice down payment, when are you paying him the rest Larry? Or were you wearing a mask during the crime?

:smoke:

What do you think your going to use it for?

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Awesome burb, and yes you did steal that beast! :lol:

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

I know I still can’t believe the purchase price either. That is why I couldn’t pass up this rig regardless if I needed or not. I feel like I lost all chances of ever winning the lottery now being my lifetime lucky score was this rig. The seller was pretty desperate for cash and the tire kickers that looked at it before me were put off by the loose steering column (it was really bad! Worse loose GM Saginaw tilt column I’d ever seen!) and the fact it badly needed a clutch. Unless you spin wrenches yourself, fixing the steering column probably would have cost at least $300-$500 then the clutch could have cost another $700-$1000 at most shops with today’s door rates and ridiculous parts markups dealers and independent shops are asking. Most people (unlike us crazies!) aren’t up for an undertaking a needy vehicle like that which was good or me in this case. By the time someone would have paid someone else to fix everything, this thing would have been your typical $3000-4000 used 22 year old Suburban. Like the ole saying….”Mechanic’s Special” is what this Sub is all about. Nothing difficult or crazy expensive to fix just a bunch of little stuff and a lot of sweat equity.

Oilbrnr, I am not really sure what we will use it for but it will sure make a neat shop ornament. :lol: My wife’s current car lease is up in 10 month so she may take back her old Tahoe Z71 (my current daily driver) to be her daily driver being she only works 5 miles from home and I’ll use the Sub to go back and forth to the airport when I have to leave the home office (I don’t like to leave the powder puff low mileage 2001 Silverado HD at the airport). Our annual week long desert trips to UT and AZ are getting pretty popular with friends and family too and the K10 with the camper is only a 2 seater. The Sub will make a great chase vehicle for those that would like to follow along and make for a great second bedroom (Hmm, maybe an Outfitter opportunity someday?? :lol:). I have much more faith in the off-roadablity and reliability in this 22 year old straight axle Sub than I do our 2004 Tahoe Z71 that we bought new. The newer GM SUV’s aren’t great for off road driving (IFS, push button 4wd, meh….) but they are just decent all weather comfy vehicles for daily chores…..Not worth the crap if you leave civilization IMHO

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

I see them as all weather vehicles more than all terrain,just like the tires they put on "ALL"* factory 4wds.

*Ok,a few exceptions.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

:lol:Well, it was an excellent find!

Don't know why I'm so fond of the SM465 other than nostalgia, but I do like'em.

Maybe it could become the new Chuck Wagon for Bill? Should be able to haul a few potatoes...

Hope to get going on my K5 and maybe join you guys one of these days!

-don-

ps. get that 95 going again too. :lol:

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

:lol: Bill is pretty content with his well built Ram Charger. Yeah, that would be cool if some of the AZ forum members joined us on our desert trips.

Well, the rattle can rebuild is complete and the engine is almost ready to stab but I am struggling with some major seized exhaust manifold flange studs and the power steering pulley does not want to go back on. I’ve never fought a pulley like this one ever in my life! Errrr! I am going to pull out the hot wrench here in a minute to help with both of those problems.

Now this front axle snubber is just a dumb idea. I yanked it off and tossed it in the iron pile.
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ORD steering box brace installed
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Engine bay ready for install. New clutch fork, ball and release bearing. I didn’t paint the inner fenders as they will be replaced soon anyway. Same with the brake booster. It is going to be replaced with hydroboost.
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You can see those rat bastid exhaust manifold studs in this picture. Errr
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I wish I was putting this 8.1L back in instead of the 5.7L during this teardown. Next time!
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We’re all going snow wheeling tomorrow so nothing will get done with the Sub until maybe Sunday.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Okay, I'm in for this one :) That is a very nice looking rig for 1500, and judging from your other ride, I'm sure it will be top notch...whatever you do to it.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

What TBI unit is that?

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Just the stock TBI unit with some aftermarket TB spacer that one of friends dropped off yesterday.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Polar bear is cool, I didn't even know they still had manuals in the Subs, nice score and great project. Waiting to see the difference lifted.

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Wow! That's one heck of a deal you got Larry! I've always been a fan of your work, so I know this Burb will be pretty awesome when it's done :)

I can also back up the statement of a 350 with 3.42's feeling gutless :lol:

Re: Polar Bear Suburban
 

Quite the intake manifold on that 8.1. Is that an LS to the left Larry?

I know Bill wouldn't want to get rid of that nice Ram Charger, I was just thinking someone else could drive the 'Burb and it could hold the whole kitchen with food and drink and then some!

So, if it was built more or less like the 78, how do you think it would do on the trails you've gone on? Too long, or do-able with rear skid protection?