Might check out an '05 2500 suburban, what to look for?

[mikez71]

There's one in my area, 4WD, 150k miles. Looks fairly clean, maybe a little spot on front roof has peeling paint.
Seller said it was sitting when he bought it. He threw a new battery in there and said it 'runs strong'.
Priced at $8k obo, little tear drivers seat, little wear passenger seat, and the tires don't look great.

What do I need to look out for? I have HPTuners so I can check for codes and whatnot.
Planning to go look at it, he told me to call him back in about 4 hrs, so we'll see.

 

[SpareParts]

Tell him not to start it. You want it stone cold when you get there.
Does it look like it was taken care of?
How does it drive?
Is it all heavily rusted underneath?
What do the fluids look like?
Are you happy with the general condition and are you willing to deal with what ever you find once you check it out?

Small tear on the driver seat is totally normal. Needing tires again normal.

 

[OR VietVet]

Check condition/dirty of all fluids that you can. Get any parts/repairs/maintenance tickets you can get. A CarFax if can. Bear in mind, my 2005 Tahoe is in extremely good shape with parts tickets for the work I have done but a CarFax will show nothing during my ownership because I did the work.

Check for broken bolt heads at the exhaust manifolds where they bolt to the heads. Tupically will break off at the front or rear. Sometimes a middle one or two. If just the front and rear ends, they make clamp kits for those. That will be on the 6.0 engine. If is the big block 8.1, not sure about those exhaust manifold bolts. But, better hope you never have to replace the crank sensor, at d/s rear of engine.

Check for rust and under carriage leaks. Road test in town and highway.

 

[mikez71]

Yep those are just things I could see in the ad, and totally willing to deal with that. Should be zero rust out here.

But he wasn't offering much info on the phone.. which makes me think he maybe hiding something.
(Though he did tell me it had been sitting when he bought it, and threw a battery in..)

Coolant tank seems low in pictures, but even that won't completely scare me if I spot a radiator leak or something.
(And then you have more to haggle with)

It is a 3/4 ton, 6.0... probably the most reliable years?
I know my neighbor always tells me how impressed she is with their NBS suburban..
Will update if I get to check it out in a little bit..

 

[SpareParts]

I liked my 6.0, 2500 Suburban. The fuel mileage is not that great but if you're driving what ya want who cares.

 

[OR VietVet]

Yep those are just things I could see in the ad, and totally willing to deal with that. Should be zero rust out here.

But he wasn't offering much info on the phone.. which makes me think he maybe hiding something.
(Though he did tell me it had been sitting when he bought it, and threw a battery in..)

Coolant tank seems low in pictures, but even that won't completely scare me if I spot a radiator leak or something.
(And then you have more to haggle with)

It is a 3/4 ton, 6.0... probably the most reliable years?
I know my neighbor always tells me how impressed she is with their OBS suburban..
Will update if I get to check it out in a little bit..

It would help to know where "out here" is. Maybe a link for the ad to review it. I am in Oregon and we don't see rust "OUT HERE" either.

 

[strutaeng]

6.0 LQ4, 4L80e, 14 bolt rear end, 8 lug disc brakes...bomb proof setup pretty much.

GM 9.25 IFS and NP246 are pretty robust as well, not many failures.

If it's been sitting, I'd be more concerned about mouse chewed wires and dry rotted rubber hoses, pretty much no different than any other vehicle that's been sitting. You'd probably drain/refill ALL fluids, including brakes, PS, Tcase, transmission, both differentials and coolant. At least that's what I would recommend.

Does it have 3.73 or 4.10? 4.10 is preferable for towing. G80 is a plus.

The dual fuel tank setup can be a little iffy to work on, but not horrible. It's got 2 pumps, one in each tank.

 

[OR VietVet]

6.0 LQ4, 4L80e, 14 bolt rear end, 8 lug disc brakes...bomb proof setup pretty much.

GM 9.25 IFS and NP246 are pretty robust as well, not many failures.

If it's been sitting, I'd be more concerned about mouse chewed wires and dry rotted rubber hoses, pretty much no different than any other vehicle that's been sitting. You'd probably drain/refill ALL fluids, including brakes, PS, Tcase, transmission, both differentials and coolant. At least that's what I would recommend.

Does it have 3.73 or 4.10? 4.10 is preferable for towing. G80 is a plus.

The dual fuel tank setup can be a little iffy to work on, but not horrible. It's got 2 pumps, one in each tank.

How did you know all that?

 

[strutaeng]

How did you know all that?

I'm a "little" biased, of course. I have a 06 version, 2wd that's my daily driver, and a 04 version, 4x4 that's a project I'm slowly working on...both with the LQ4.

They are great rigs for towing, family hauling and camping. Think of them as a cross between the regular SUVs that are tailored more for comfort with the rear coil suspension, and a 2500HD pickup with the robust leaf sprung suspension and drivetrain geared more for payload and towing. If that makes any sense?

 

[OR VietVet]

I'm a "little" biased, of course. I have a 06 version, 2wd that's my daily driver, and a 04 version, 4x4 that's a project I'm slowly working on...both with the LQ4.

They are great rigs for towing, family hauling and camping. Think of them as a cross between the regular SUVs that are tailored more for comfort with the rear coil suspension, and a 2500HD pickup with the robust leaf sprung suspension and drivetrain geared more for payload and towing. If that makes any sense?

How did you know it was not an 8.1? The rest, I would assume is pretty standard.

 

[strutaeng]

How did you know it was not an 8.1? The rest, I would assume is pretty standard.

Yes, 6.0 was standard, 8.1 optional.

@mikez71 stared in post #4 it was a 6.0?

The only difference was the 6.0 had the 9.5" SF version of the 14 bolt, while the 8.1 had the 10.5" FF 14 version. Those axles are all interchangeable though, so no big deal.

I have a 14 bolt 10.5" FF axle to swap into my 4x4, but would be more like for if I ever go moderate off-road use.

You could even swap the 11.5" 14 bolt from the 8.1/Duramax/Allison 2500HD pickups, if you wanted to.

 

[mikez71]

OK, heres the deal..Guy bought it to flip, so it was tire shined up and slimy. It drove fine, you can feel old shocks and suspension, but no weird noises no problems. Started out cold. Felt more like a 2000 era vehicle than my '12 tahoe (duh) Has a trailer brake controller, so who knows. GT5, 4.10 gears? Pretty clean body (3 small spots of flaking paint) about as good as you get. No rust, I'm in california. Interior has a few broken vents but otherwise not bad! Tires were good! Thick tread.. Not as clean feeling as my '12. OBS NBS seats really are more comfy!! Little exhaust leak somewhere on passenger side..

I drove it a good 15 minutes.. Coolant tank looks low or dark, but I think it's just how older ones look..Heres some quick pics I took..

Thinking about it, only be a backup mover vehicle, so I'm not sure if I should spend the money and time and more money.. Do wish it had a 6l80...

 

[mikez71]

 

[OR VietVet]

Any broken exhaust manifold bolt heads?

 

[Fless]

FWIW it's an NBS, not OBS.

 

[mikez71]

Any broken exhaust manifold bolt heads?

I did not check yet, but since my '12 has broken manifold bolts, it would not deter me if I wanted to purchase.

I do worry about a broken cat or oil leaks (since it's been ghetto detailed) but driving around it felt solid, just a little dated. And I doubt fluids were changed.. Considering running a carfax, but this vehicle would only be a backup, and without garage space, would be left in the elements, so I'm wondering how much I really need it..

Thoughts?

 

[strutaeng]

Just run the carfax. If anything, you can get some leverage and potentially negotiate the price down a bit, depending on what it shows?

Just saw @Fless comment about this being a "NBS." I was a bit confused about why you were throwing in the OBS comparison, lol...

NBS (GMT800) seats are more comfortable than NNBS (GMT900)?

Yeah, this truck is gonna seem less refined than you GMT900, especially being the heavier truck. But honestly for a backup vehicle and/or pulling rig, who cares?

 

[mikez71]

yes, sorry I meant NBS seats are more comfy than NNBS! Padding feels better with more lumbar area support.

 

[Doubeleive]

How did you know it was not an 8.1? The rest, I would assume is pretty standard.

because 8.1's are unicorns and mike would have said it was

 

[Bigburb3500]

Surprised no one raised concerns about the heat Ts - might have some coolant leaking and the source of the low coolant.
Rear main seal is at EOL at this mileage and may be wet or dripping.

These trucks are great and honestly even for the spit polish shine, this is a LOT cleaner than I thought it was going to be. Try to get him to knock a grand or two off of it and at $5500-7k I think this is a steal.

And people say cars are expensive! PSHHH
…. Yes, new ares are expensive LOL