Oppopinion: GMT400 Suburban

"Tristan" (casselts)
11/26/2016 at 18:31 • Filed to: None

I originally dismissed the GMT400 from my search, but I’ve decided to give them a shot. I know the 4L60E is kind of crap, the Vortec 5.7 eats intake gaskets and fuel pumps, and the interiors are rather shit, but they sure are cheap, and I rather like their looks.

I test drove this one today. ‘99 4x4 with 138k miles. Transmission fluid looked and smelled good and it supposedly had head gaskets and fuel pump replaced within the last 15k. The owner says he’s only put 10k miles on it in the 3 years he’s owned it. Asking price is $2,900, but I think if I offer $2,500 I could take it away. It looks to be in great shape beneath the layer of moss.

NPOCP? Good idea, or run screaming?

DISCUSSION (45)

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 18:39

Killing-Machine > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 18:47

I had 2 of these both lasted well over 200k, Everything is easy to fix, and rather cheap.

Urambo Tauro > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 18:50

NP!

(If you get it, have a look at those driver door hinges. The lines don’t look like they’re matching up.)

Frenchlicker > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 18:57

I’m not a massive fan but I’ll say NP.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 19:00

NP. Those fullsize suburbans go for a pretty penny around here, hard to find a decent-ish one for under $3k.

Tristan > Urambo Tauro
11/26/2016 at 19:00

The door opens and closes nicely and I gave it a wiggle. it’s solid, surprisingly.

Tristan > Frenchlicker
11/26/2016 at 19:01

Nor am I, but it’s a whole lotta truck for the money.

dogisbadob > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 19:03

Yeah I’ve always thought they looked cool, too. Barn doors are awesome, and bonus if you can find one with the diesel engine :)

Tristan > dogisbadob
11/26/2016 at 19:08

It’s tough to find one with a diesel, though a 3/4 ton would be nice. I don’t really want to daily a 454, though. The half ton/5.7 should get respectable economy and should be sufficient for dragging my travel trailer around the state in the summer.

RonnyPStiggs > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 19:15

The factory fuel pumps apparently have problems due to too much current running through them that burns them out. Apparently GM replacement parts are improved. Originals typically last 80k and make awful noises when they’re on their way out, but this truck has a replacement so I guess that’s no big deal.

The gasket issues are typically because of poor materials. Some high quality replacements should fix that issue.

The 4L60E is the 4L60E I guess. I think they can be upgraded for reliability. Maybe a trans cooler.

The cloth interiors IMO are nice and way better than the leather.

Also, the door opening mechanisms wear out eventually and stop working because they’re made of cheap plastic. There are metal replacements on the internet somewhere. I never got around to changing them on my own Tahoe before I sold it.

Urambo Tauro > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 19:15

Huh. Usually that’s a cheap yet satisfying fix. You get a door that opens smoothly again, and straight body line for good measure. Guess it’s something else, then.

Land_Yacht_225 > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 19:16

Do you need any other reassurance than the 1999 Suburban being Tony Soprano approved?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 19:17

I don’t care for these, but NP if everything checks out.

Frenchlicker > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 19:29

Yeah, it can haul the boat on Sunday and the Don and his crew on Monday.

Reece-Current Stinger GT owner > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 19:52

GMT400's are beasts. I have a 96 Tahoe with 226k miles on it and its the most comfortable truck I have ever had. Keep up with the maintenance and you’ll have a truck for life.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 20:18

What about the steering (pitman and idler) arms? GMT400s love to go through steering arms.

Nobi > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 20:44

The 4L60 isn’t THAT bad. Maintain it regularly, don’t beat on it, and put an external trans cooler on it and you should be all set.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 21:53

Uhhhhh this is probably the first time in my life I’ve heard “respectable fuel economy” associated with any GMT400, let alone a Suburban. Even “just the 5.7L” is only good for 11/15 MPG with 4x4. Remember those are from an era when my little RWD S10 struggled to get 17 MPG with the AC on. Overall NP though. I dig GMT400's. Like you said crap interior, and hey do have a few problem areas, but great trucks overall. I swear I see more still on the road than GMT800's.

Tristan > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
11/26/2016 at 21:57

When you grow up driving big old pickups with huge V8s, 4 barrel carbs and 3 speed autos, 15 MPG from something the size of a Manhatten apartment is indeed respectable! ;)

Tristan > Nobi
11/26/2016 at 22:00

That’s what I figure. It shifts nice and the fluid was nice and clean without even a hint of burnt smell. Trans cooler, mild shift kit and the Corvette servo should make it survive. I may throw in a trans temp gauge as well.

Tristan > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/26/2016 at 22:02

This is true. It all passed my crawl-underneath-and-try-to-wiggle stuff check, but I’ll definitely look into it further.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 22:03

Fair enough. I laugh when I see all the complaining over on the FP when the latest full size pickup comes out and it does 1 MPG better than the last. Every is up in arms over not having 30 MPG half-tons yet. It doesn’t happen overnight! But it adds up and now when you look back to what we had when I was growing up, the latest trucks that are bigger, make more power, and haul/tow more stuff getting over 20 MPG on the highway at all is damn impressive.

Tristan > Reece-Current Stinger GT owner
11/26/2016 at 22:04

I’ve seen so many with 350,000+ miles during my search. So, they can’t be that bad!

Tristan > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
11/26/2016 at 22:08

It’s especially nice because its rated at basically to same fuel economy numbers as the 2002 Grand Cherokee Overland that is my current DD. For the same MPGs, I get twice as much truck! Plus a massive gas tank so I don’t have to fill up every 200 miles.

Nobi > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 22:36

B&M also makes a deep dump pan for it. holds extra fluid and it’s finned to aid cooling. You’ll lose an inch of ground clearance, but my GTO has one and it’s been good so far. 122k miles and counting.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 22:48

Fun story: in my teens I worked at a local garage/gas station (remember when those were a thing?) I patched a lot of tires, did odd jobs, and manned the two full service pumps (remember when those were a thing?) Anyway, we had a $75 shutoff on all of the pumps so we wouldnt get screwed too bad if some one pumped and ran without paying. The only vehicles that ever pulled up to full serve that I can remember hitting that were Suburbans. Even with the extra charge for full serve, it was a little under $2/gallon in those days... I think they have at least 40 gallon tanks.

Tristan > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
11/26/2016 at 22:50

42 gallons, I’m pretty sure!

Shift24 > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 22:52

Great vehicles have a k1500 with 150k+ original transmission and engine (almost the same thing). The trans are reliable as long as the person took care of it. They really only fail if you beat the shit out of it. They are not the Rams that cook themselves. Engines are again not as bad as they are made out to be, and if not it’s still a 350 small block which are a dime a dozen. Even a create motor is less than 2k.

Main things to look for if you are I’m the rust belt is brake lines. Easy to fix but are notorious for rusting through. Also look for leaf spring sag. Alot of people will load these up way past what they are meant to carry.

I think another oppo, Cleatus_44 has one over 200k

Tristan > Shift24
11/26/2016 at 22:59

Thank God I don’t live in the rust belt any more. There’s no way I’d be buying a 17 year old daily driver if I did! Heck, I could probably drive it out to Minnesota and make a decent profit selling it as a non-rusty older Chevy!

hike > Tristan
11/26/2016 at 23:19

We had one as a shop a few years back. It had over 400k miles and was on its second motor, but it was a tank. It ran great for what we had in it. Just make sure to check the brake lines and don’t let someone drop chocolate milk on the carpet and leave it there in the hot summer.

Tristan > hike
11/26/2016 at 23:29

Kinja'd!!!

It’s funny you should mention the carpet, cause that shit is RUINED. A full replacement is sub-$200, though. It’ll be first on the to-do list if I buy it.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Tristan
11/27/2016 at 00:36

The GMT 400 gets the job done. I had a 96 K1500 suburban that was in fantastic shape inside and out at 165k until a drunk driver took it out six years ago. I replaced it with a 99 escalade that I still have for towing the boat to the lake. At 154k, it is still a nice vehicle. The vortec 350 is a pretty bullet proof engine that will likely never need more than routine maintenace and possibly at set of intake manifold gaskets somewhere down the line. The 4l60e is actually probably the best 1/2 ton truck tranny from the 90's.

I’m partial to Tahoe sized chassis (unless you actually need the third row), as it is a lot more pleasant to park and drive off road. Either way, a set of helper springs will address the factory soccer-mom spring rate. Add some good front pads to that and they’all make a good tow vehicle for up to about 6000lbs.

deprecated account > Tristan
11/27/2016 at 00:43

4L60E is what made the family sell our’94. Well, that and skyrocketing fuel prices.

Sidwndr > Tristan
11/27/2016 at 02:06

Mine has 280k miles. Tranny rebuilt at 250k. Do the yearly service on it and will last longer. Goes through idler arms, pitman arms, and tie rods. Just get lifetime ones from AZ. Problem solved. One thing to watch for is plastic tees used in heater lines. They break with no warning.

Sidwndr > Sidwndr
11/27/2016 at 02:07

Also inside door handles break a lot, but $20 bucks for new. Not hard to replace

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Land_Yacht_225
11/27/2016 at 15:36

I’ve applied for vanity plates for my LS400 to match Christopher’s...

Shift24 > Tristan
11/27/2016 at 17:41

Yeah i live in the rust belt so mines already needed brake lines and the rocker panels are all rusted out. And heck if its nice enough Id be interested because everything out here is falling apart.

Chuck > Tristan
08/29/2019 at 21:13

All day long.

Had a 96 "LS" trim. All power, but cloth seats. Bulletproof truck. Bought it w/ 163k from original owner. Sold it with 205k for $4500. In many ways it was a better truck than my current 06 Z71 Suburban.

Chuck > Tristan
08/29/2019 at 21:15

All of these are essential.

I only got around to the temp gauge on mine tho.

Chuck > Nobi
08/29/2019 at 21:16

Heck they still uses them all the way thru 07. My 06 Z71 has one.

Chuck > Tristan
08/29/2019 at 21:17

Tow rating is kinda low. 6500# IIRC.

That's why I sold mine. Wanted bigger camper, needed more towing.

Chuck > Tristan
08/29/2019 at 21:18

Yup. My 96 was 42 gallons.

Chuck > Tristan
08/29/2019 at 21:25

Double check to make sure I hasn’t been hit.

Looking more closely at the pic, it seems there is a pretty distinct color break at the lead edge of the front door/trailing edge of the front fender.

Anyone else see that?

Tristan > Chuck
08/31/2019 at 13:30

I only owned this thing for 8 months before the shitty half ton GM components all failed, I sink a bunch of money into it and got fed up with the constantly sagging front doors. I bought a GMT800 3/4 ton and I've been extremely happy with it!

Tristan > Chuck
08/31/2019 at 13:35

Throwing the 4L60 into the ocean is essential. This Suburban convinced me that half ton GM trucks are just cars and should be treated as such.