Chevrolet Suburban 3500 Questions

[Geotrash]

Thank you! Looks like it has a transmission drain plug too.

I don’t believe it does. There’s a fill level plug on the highest level of the pan, but that’s the closest thing to a removable plug.

 

[Bigburb3500]

Thank you! Looks like it has a transmission drain plug too.

This by itself is a huge win for servicing these trucks long term. Everyone’s opinions and insight is super helpful!

 

[Bigburb3500]

I don’t believe it does. There’s a fill level plug on the highest level of the pan, but that’s the closest thing to a removable plug.

Are you sure? Unless I am looking at the wrong part and this is the engine oil drain plug…?

 

[Geotrash]

View attachment 434304
Are you sure? Unless I am looking at the wrong part and this is the engine oil drain plug…?

That’s not in the lower portion of the pan. As far as I know, that’s a fill level plug.

 

[Doubeleive]

That’s not in the lower portion of the pan. As far as I know, that’s a fill level plug.

I would slap one of the Holley B&M deep pans on there have it on both of mine. add's a couple extra quarts capacity and some cooling, drain plug
just have to fiigure out which one I think the 6l80/6l90 pans are each different maybe
shows no match for the 3500 but I bet you could just go by the transmission model, I don't think there is anything in the way versus a 1500
to install the exhaust may have to be loosened up as a little extra room is needed to get the pan on.
magnet is just transfered over to the new pan from the oem

https://www.holley.com/products/drivetrain/transmission_pans_and_accessories/gm/

 

[Geotrash]

I would slap one of the Holley B&M deep pans on there have it on both of mine. add's a couple extra quarts capacity and some cooling, drain plug
just have to fiigure out which one I think the 6l80/6l90 pans are each different maybe
shows no match for the 3500 but I bet you could just go by the transmission model, I don't think there is anything in the way versus a 1500
to install the exhaust may have to be loosened up as a little extra room is needed to get the pan on.
magnet is just transfered over to the new pan from the oem

https://www.holley.com/products/drivetrain/transmission_pans_and_accessories/gm/

That’s a good call since it’s primarily a tow rig. I’ll look into it.

 

[Geotrash]

The passenger side mirror glass on the 2018 Suburban 3500 is flat instead of the normal convex, so it's difficult to get a full view of what's on the right side, such as when backing out of a parking space, or passing on the highway. So I replaced it with an aftermarket convex one. It uses the same size, shape and mount as the GMT900 mirrors, and they're heated, with the blind spot alert LED, but no turn signal indicators. Naturally, GM doesn't list a replacement part that's not flat, and all other generations of the GMT900 that had heated mirrors, also all apparently had turn signal indicators, while only some also had the blind spot alert. Hence, the connectors and wiring on the back of the mirrors are different.

So, I bought a convex, heated aftermarket replacement with the blind spot alert and turn signal from Amazon, and modified the wiring on the back. I cut the wires for the turn signal indicator, and spliced the factory connector onto the wires for the blind spot alert with heat-shrink butt connectors. Seems to be working well, and I can see a useful picture in my side mirror now.

I didn't take pics but here are the parts I used and the video I followed:

Amazon.com

 

[Bigburb3500]

The passenger side mirror glass on the 2018 Suburban 3500 is flat instead of the normal convex, so it's difficult to get a full view of what's on the right side, such as when backing out of a parking space, or passing on the highway. So I replaced it with an aftermarket convex one. It uses the same size, shape and mount as the GMT900 mirrors, and they're heated, with the blind spot alert LED, but no turn signal indicators. Naturally, GM doesn't list a replacement part that's not flat, and all other generations of the GMT900 that had heated mirrors, also all apparently had turn signal indicators, while only some also had the blind spot alert. Hence, the connectors and wiring on the back of the mirrors are different.

So, I bought a convex, heated aftermarket replacement with the blind spot alert and turn signal from Amazon, and modified the wiring on the back. I cut the wires for the turn signal indicator, and spliced the factory connector onto the wires for the blind spot alert with heat-shrink butt connectors. Seems to be working well, and I can see a useful picture in my side mirror now.

I didn't take pics but here are the parts I used and the video I followed:

Amazon.com

THATS why I any see Jack, Betty, or the Prius I’m going to merge into! Thank you! Will probably do this as well and give me a good starting point to look into adding auto dimming to the driver mirror too.

Also, two other questions:
1) Without load, what do you see the transmission temp avg? I’m seeing about 160ish at highway speeds (70-80)
2) Are your rain sensing wipers super sensitive? I have them on the lowest setting and they will go full take-off speed even when it’s misting. *glass and sensor are clean unobstructed.

 

[Geotrash]

THATS why I any see Jack, Betty, or the Prius I’m going to merge into! Thank you! Will probably do this as well and give me a good starting point to look into adding auto dimming to the driver mirror too.

Also, two other questions:
1) Without load, what do you see the transmission temp avg? I’m seeing about 160ish at highway speeds (70-80)

Yes, same.

2) Are your rain sensing wipers super sensitive? I have them on the lowest setting and they will go full take-off speed even when it’s misting. *glass and sensor are clean unobstructed.

Not that I've noticed. Seems similar the ones on our Land Rover which work very well. Something may be wrong in the settings? Maybe try "high" sensitivity in case it's counterintuitive?

 

[Bigburb3500]

Yes, same.


Not that I've noticed. Seems similar the ones on our Land Rover which work very well. Something may be wrong in the settings? Maybe try "high" sensitivity in case it's counterintuitive?

Thanks. Wonder if/how much difference the trans thermostat will make?

Tried putting it on high sensitivity and they will wipe with too much pollen on the glass… not sure. Oh well. Small first world problem.

 

[Geotrash]

Well, as expected, she is living in the garage and going weeks between drives. Next week she goes to North Carolina for a camping trip. I put a battery tender on it and actually dropped the coin for a dual charger before realizing that I don't need it and a single charger on the battery by the firewall will charge both batteries. Duh.

I should also mention that after sitting for 10 days, the charger only ran for about 5 minutes before turning off, so this generation seems to have better power management when parked than the GMT900's do.

Sure is shiny, but now y'all can see how messy my garage is in the other bay. We need a shed in the backyard to store the lawnmower and other crap.

 

[Bigburb3500]

Well, as expected, she is living in the garage and going weeks between drives. Next week she goes to North Carolina for a camping trip. I put a battery tender on it and actually dropped the coin for a dual charger before realizing that I don't need it and a single charger on the battery by the firewall will charge both batteries. Duh.

View attachment 435692

Sure is shiny, but now y'all can see how messy my garage is in the other bay. We need a shed in the backyard to store the lawnmower and other crap.

We just completed a 1700 mile round trip. Have racked up about 4K, almost 5k miles since purchase. I am fairly confident my shocks are complete trash at this point… lots of bobbing. I have an inquiry out to Bilstein for correct part number as the 5100 is not “technically” a fitted part. I have cross referenced what should fit, but waiting for confirmation.

Unfortunately, my garage is starting to look that way too…

 

[Geotrash]

We just completed a 1700 mile round trip. Have racked up about 4K, almost 5k miles since purchase. I am fairly confident my shocks are complete trash at this point… lots of bobbing. I have an inquiry out to Bilstein for correct part number as the 5100 is not “technically” a fitted part. I have cross referenced what should fit, but waiting for confirmation.

Unfortunately, my garage is starting to look that way too…

Glad you had a great trip. Let me know what you learn, please! How many miles on yours now? I don't think you mentioned how many miles it had when you bought it. I'm asking because I'm wondering if the ride you're experiencing is mileage related, or if that's just how they are. Mine rides rougher than the 1500s with magride, but I expected that.

 

[Geotrash]

Congrats on the hubba-bubba.
Please let us know if 4.10 makes you wonder if either of the Denalis would've been better off with 3.73?

Circling back on this to answer your question. So far, for my purposes of towing a camper, the 4.10 gears are absolutely perfect. And unloaded, I'm besting the fuel economy on my Denali's by 2-3 MPG in mixed driving. Didn't see that coming.

 

[Bigburb3500]

1) Cruise control is your friend if you are trying to get decent mpg. We averaged about 15-15.5 all in all.
2) Mirrors suck. Going to look at budgeting for tow mirrors and buy the BoostAuto ones. Might be a little while… $800 is steep
3) Looking at replacing shocks but really frustrated because the shocks that are listed are not great but can be cross referenced to 2010 Chevy 3500. No company has come out and said “yes your cross reference is correct.”

 

[Geotrash]

1) Cruise control is your friend if you are trying to get decent mpg. We averaged about 15-15.5 all in all.
2) Mirrors suck. Going to look at budgeting for tow mirrors and buy the BoostAuto ones. Might be a little while… $800 is steep
3) Looking at replacing shocks but really frustrated because the shocks that are listed are not great but can be cross referenced to 2010 Chevy 3500. No company has come out and said “yes your cross reference is correct.”

I'm going to look into towing mirrors too, but these have been fine for me so far. I snagged them from my 2012 and they fit perfectly. Might be a good short-term solution:

Amazon.com

Also, @intheburbs mentioned to me in a PM that the Billstien 4600s are the ones he runs on his 2500. Since the frame is the same as ours, I wonder if that might be the best choice?

 

[Bigburb3500]

I'm going to look into towing mirrors too, but these have been fine for me so far. I snagged them from my 2012 and they fit perfectly. Might be a good short-term solution:

Amazon.com

Also, @intheburbs mentioned to me in a PM that the Billstien 4600s are the ones he runs on his 2500. Since the frame is the same as ours, I wonder if that might be the best choice?

So many of the cross reference also points to his gen of Suburban but I’m focusing on the 2010 3500 JUST in case there is any valving differences and would prefer to focus on another 1-ton unit.

 

[Geotrash]

So many of the cross reference also points to his gen of Suburban but I’m focusing on the 2010 3500 JUST in case there is any valving differences and would prefer to focus on another 1-ton unit.

From what I've read, the valving for the Yellow (4600 HD series) and the Aluminum (5100) is the same but the 5100 series are longer and technically are for lifted trucks.

 

[Bigburb3500]

From what I've read, the valving for the Yellow (4600 HD series) and the Aluminum (5100) is the same but the 5100 series are longer and technically are for lifted trucks.

I have read that too… I have not seen it confirmed anywhere tho and the 4600 is also not technically “fitted” for our truck.

 

[Geotrash]

When I get a chance I will post pics of the hitch I made for my Yukon XL using the center section from a B&W hitch meant for a Silverado 2500/3500. From B&W the rating was for 16,000 lb trailer weight and I think the tongue weight was 1600 pounds.

@calsdad, if you can find the time, I sure would love to see pictures of your custom hitch setup. Doing a little project planning for the fall.