My Beast (4x4 Suburban)

[Sporty Modder]

So here it is, my Celica is down until I can find a new motor for it. So I am going to try to improve my mpgs out of my Beast.
It has some nasty aero nono's, big mudflaps and a huge roofrack, will be the first things to come off. Next will be an airdam install followed by a belly pan, prob only partial or easy to remove. Going to put a set of 235/85/16 road tires on it to replace the 265/75/16 mud tires
The truck has 3:08 gears but can't pull od under 65 mph or D under 45mph. The auto trans does shift early but the truck "loads up" when idling or going slow.

Oh 44gallon gas tank so fillups are $140-160

Any help suggestions welcome.

[Sporty Modder]

What I am starting with


Part time transfercase, and wornout frontend

[2000mc]

What year and engine? Otherwise stock?

[Sporty Modder]

1992 350ci v8 Tbi.
Highflow waterpump/oil pump, msd ignition, tb spacer, ebk preformer manifold, flowmaster dual out catback,
The previous owner threw parts at it trying to fix the problem, I replaced all the vac lines and made it better but its not 100%.

[2000mc]

stumble / hesitation problem, or just that it can hold a higher gear?

[Sporty Modder]

Originally Posted by 2000mc

stumble / hesitation problem, or just that it can hold a higher gear?

Stumbles until I get some rpms @ low throttle openings then it clears upand runs beautifully.

[thomason2wheels]

If it were mine i think i would seekout someone with a chassis dyno and a way to monitor whats happening in the computer. That should allow you to find the ttrouble.

[thomason2wheels]

Just had a thought...see if there are any engine codes related to the charcoal canister...

[2000mc]

Something we've been seeing is the magnet in the distributor inside the reluctor wheel will get a crack in it, and in turn messes up the timing and/or is killing the dwell time for a cyl. If its original it's going to be cracked, if it's a just bunch of small cracks it's probably not the issue. If there's a big split in the magnet then I'd try a distributor. Some of these trucks are great afterwards, some improved. Just something that a lot people and shops tring to fix these trucks seem to be overlooking

[oil pan 4]

Yes the roof rack has to go.
But I wish I had one, throw it on when needed, remove it the 98% of the time its not needed.
Big roof rack just make a long drive suck that much more. Any time you put something like that on the roof produces a lot of wind noise and the wind seems to catch it and move you around more, I noticed the wind and noise from just putting a ladder on top of my suburban. I think a roof rack would have close to the same effect.

There was an old thread I use to read about an early 90s suburban, the owner took it from like 18mpg highway to 24mpg highway with lots of bolt ons. Last up date was that he wrecked it due to snow and ice and that was like 2008.

If you dont have electric fans, get them.
Electric fans got me an instant 2mpg, no other mod has ever been able to come close to that. That was also one of the mods the 24mpg gas suburban guy had.
My ram air and super sized air cleaner got me between 1 and 2 but that wont do you any good on a gas powered truck.