'93 Suburban performance

[opus]

I have a '93 Sub, 4WD, 5.7, auto, 1/2 ton. Gears must be something like 3.07 or maybe next step lower. Pretty much gutless, but will do 80+ like nothing, if you wanted.

It has 163K on it, runs great. Pretty doggy at about 60-70, quite doggy actually. It has a KN filer and exhaust is single with a glass pack.

What can I do for performance/mileage issues with this. I pull a 4x6 trailer with it, loaded with about 500#. We do all big road driving in MT, WY area. Lots of long grades, all about 70-75mph, unless going up hill of course. I keep my foot out of it, and dont use cruise.

Not looking for something thats going to make it loud or pretty, and make me the newest sex symbol....I already go that one figure out.

Looking for real tips, it you have any.

 

[d&mraceengines]

if you use it to tow put 3.73 or 4.11 gears in it rebuild the engine and put a pullin cam in it that is computer compatible and make sure it is a 350 not a 305 check your catilatic converter and see if it is plugged wiill rob all power and milage

 

[hilinerider]

x2 on goin through the motor, 92 - 93 350's were the lowest horsepower 350 made , 190 hp and that was when it was new

 

[MPS]

I have a 93 chevy 1/2 ton....it does the job for me and I dont want a truck payment so I am prolly keeping it for a while. I put a chip in it...cut out the catalytic converter (oh chit....i may be in trouble now), put a K and N filter on it and put in that spacer above the injectors (can't remember what ya call it). I think it does well. Of course I am not gonna compete with a whole lot....but went sledding with Slim Sunday and I kept up with him and his Ford diesel going up to Island Park. Mine is a manual tranny though.

 

[8alltheway]

^ throttle body spacer?

If you don't want to put much into it (motor parts, gears, chip) just make sure its got a good tune up (plugs, wires, cap, ect.), other than that you ain't really got much to work with, as far as performance goes. Sounds like you've got a good start with the k&n and exhaust, and not driving the tires off it

 

[8alltheway]

oh and you might want to install a trans. temp gauge too. Or just make sure its flushed as needed. those tall gears probly don't help that tranny out much, especially with that kind of driving. A $40 insurance plan for a $1500 repair

 

[yammerhammer]

Convert it to a Vortec by changing heads, cam and intake.

 

[opus]

Ok, its all interesting. I'd be willing to do dual exhaust but I've not really seen any real numbers saying its worth it. I dont want to put a lot into it. When the engine goes, whenever that would be, I would then put something else into it. The gears are stock gears and stock tires, so they arent too tall. I can do Homestake at 55-60 pretty easily without putting my foot to the floor.

 

[MPS]

^ throttle body spacer?

If you don't want to put much into it (motor parts, gears, chip) just make sure its got a good tune up (plugs, wires, cap, ect.), other than that you ain't really got much to work with, as far as performance goes. Sounds like you've got a good start with the k&n and exhaust, and not driving the tires off it

yes, throttle body spacer....thats it

 

[MPS]

Convert it to a Vortec by changing heads, cam and intake.

how much $ are we looking at to do this yammy?

 

[triple]

PM me the VIn and I'll tell you what the factory built for diff ratio on your truck.

 

[capen4]

put 3.55 gears 3.73 is to low you'll turn to many Rs at 75. do a simple 383 stroker and freshen up the rest. and a rv cam will work great. just spend the money on a small chip when your done and the thing will out run most diesel engines and get good mileage not great but good.

 

[opus]

Wow, you all must have more money than you know what to do with!

 

[8alltheway]

haha, ya im with ya there. By the time you'd get done spending $ on re-gearing, or tearing the motor apart to swap in some perf. parts you would be much better off just trading up to something thats already got what your looking for. But if you're set on keeping it theres not much you can do,.. cheaply anyways. It's only money tho

 

[Wolfrun]

I had a couple ,three of them and your right its great on the flat and no hill climber. The transmission is a lot of the problem in the half ton. The exhaust maybe some of it if it isn't 3 inch all the way but they are not worth putting any money in it. Just take real good care of the engine and it can run 400 thousand no problem. the engine is the best part of it. That's it.

 

[T-Bone]

I had a '92 chevy that I tried just about everything on. Tried just about every exhaust combo out there. Finally ended up with true 2 1/2" duals with no cats, tbi spacer, and k&n. Ran great unloaded, pulled ok just as long as I kept it out of overdrive. Oh, and if you end up with true duals and flowmasters and no cats, wear earplugs.

 

[opus]

I had a '92 chevy that I tried just about everything on. Tried just about every exhaust combo out there. Finally ended up with true 2 1/2" duals with no cats, tbi spacer, and k&n. Ran great unloaded, pulled ok just as long as I kept it out of overdrive. Oh, and if you end up with true duals and flowmasters and no cats, wear earplugs.

With the one glasspack, I should be wearing ear plugs.

 

[Motley Doo]

put 3.55 gears 3.73 is to low you'll turn to many Rs at 75.

Chit, 3.73's too low with an overdrive tranny? R's CAN help mpg, take this for example, my 89' suburban, heavy 3/4 ton, 4.11 gears, 33" coopers, new TH400 with BBC valvebody, behind a 97' 350 with an Edelbrock MPFI system, the old girl got 16-17 mpg at 70mph, she's spinnning boat motor type RPM out on the highway, but the higher intake vacuum, along with properly setup induction system really helped her out! Also have a 87' 1ton crewcab, 454/th400, 4.11 gears, 14mpg at 70 unloaded.

 

[Fosgate]

Had a 92 2dr Blazer. Ripped the trans out after it was already slipping by pulling a 4 place in OD. Warranty took care of it. I had about 118k on it and it was kinda lazy like you state. I did a Wynns engine flush, Wynns injector flush, changed plugs, wires, Cap, EGR Valve, pre filter and air filter (K&N) and she idled better (especially after the flushes). She was really tight and felt like she was new again.

 

[opus]

Chit, 3.73's too low with an overdrive tranny? R's CAN help mpg, take this for example, my 89' suburban, heavy 3/4 ton, 4.11 gears, 33" coopers, new TH400 with BBC valvebody, behind a 97' 350 with an Edelbrock MPFI system, the old girl got 16-17 mpg at 70mph, she's spinnning boat motor type RPM out on the highway, but the higher intake vacuum, along with properly setup induction system really helped her out! Also have a 87' 1ton crewcab, 454/th400, 4.11 gears, 14mpg at 70 unloaded.

I am going to work on getting it to breathe a little better first. Gotta do something around the air cleaner area. I think that area is a big stoppage area.
I found out it does have 3.73's.