OBS Chevy K2500 Suburban Mini-Makeover

[@toddbowser9415]

Yeah, got a 94 2500 7.4 burb super clean that I’m going to do the Edlebrock top end kit with flattop pistons, and a custom chip

[@LawrenceTolman]

itc cool you're keeping the TBI alive

[@TheBeerBox80]

I have been running 2" hubcentric spacers on my 2000 blazer for about 6 years with no issue.

[@LawrenceTolman]

hubcentric is the way to go

[@keithalbrecht4785]

LT, I also have a 99' 2500 350 4L80 14botl with Dayton looker. I did the air deflector. Truck has a nerf bar instead of a running board, it look good.

[@dylanwallace1104]

I think it looks way better without the step good call

[@calimero1569]

Watchin from istanbul man since ur powernation videos. More Obs videos please. Thanks for your Show

[@LawrenceTolman]

thanks for watching. and commenting, thats a long distance away! I just uploaded an exhaust video on the OBS suburban this morning, and there is a lot more to come!

[@calimero1569]

@@LawrenceTolman Its a pleasure to chat with you man

[@Apolloneek]

I found you off the 8.1 and you found a supporter with this k2500 I have 2 and need help as much as possible. Plz more 7.4 stuff

[@LawrenceTolman]

should have a little more on the suburban next week

[@PerfectTag]

Get the auto open side steps.

[@LawrenceTolman]

it does need em...

[@kisherwood820]

I need all that runningboard hardware for my 97 Suburban. Cannot find any replacements available

[@mikealexander4166]

1. Like the rims. 2. Yes looks empty without running boards especially with the air dam. 3. Funny some guy buys spacers at the swap meet or online for next to nothing and complains they are garbage. You get what you pay for. Never had an issue with spacers but I've always bought quality stuff. There's places to cheep out but when it comes to engine and drive line components im gonna spend money. 4. Like the channel a lot!

[@LawrenceTolman]

thanks for the words! I am in the market for some steel spacers out back

[@travischapin1072]

Pretty sure the front air dams were never installed on 3/4 tons. None of mine have had them. Cool build!

[@jeromeburrasca6710]

Built lifted Suburbans rule!! They’re super hot right now. Everyone is making sick Prerunner/Overlander Suburbans now. Wait until you see next years Sema builds! :). Bro you have to lift it and put 35s or bigger on it to look right.

[@williambosley2255]

I live in northern Utah my friend.

[@twoninecav]

LT, I just wanna say your home garage is as clean as your studio garage. OCD MUCH!?! lol 😝

[@LawrenceTolman]

yeah, a little I guess

[@twoninecav]

@@LawrenceTolman I have Three projects if you ever run out of one.

[@VATION3RD]

LT if your not plan on using the roof rack I'd take it off....

[@LawrenceTolman]

i'll keep that in mind!

[@MEGAPL]

This is awesome channel, already subscribed. Not sure if anybody said that in the comments, but 2500's just did not come with that lower deflector from the factory. But looks great with it. Put the running boards back, and paint them the matching Pewter. I had an 99 Tahoe, same Indigo Blue with lower Pewter. Added the fender flares and painted them and the running boards to match that lower body. Replaced the front and rear bumper with steel versions from GMT400 WT series and painted them also pewter. Added 2003 Tahoe wheels and this thing was a beauty.

[@LawrenceTolman]

hadn't thought about painting em the pewter color, that would look nice

[@MEGAPL]

I forgot to mention: what you could do is get the front and rear bumper from WT truck or 2000 GMT400 Tahoe Z71 OBS (the front will have cut outs for fog lights), they come without those rubber strips. Then remove the body strips going on the sides of the truck, and lastly, paint the front grill Indigo Blue and you get a very clean nice look with Pewter running boards. And I love those PYO wheels.

[@irondiver292]

Thank you

[@gravely1000]

Love the build. As a 1999 K2500 Suburban owner, the one thing I've learned when ordering parts is that I always check and sometimes order for a 1998 or 1997 K2500 Suburban. Since the pickup changed for the 1999 year suppliers think the Suburban did too. Keep up the great content. Loving it!

[@LawrenceTolman]

yeah, very true

[@ronfrance4041]

One wheel spacer will be fine. A ford king pin Dana 60 front has only 5 little bolts that hold the spindle on!! The same spindle that the 8 lug hub is on haha. And those 5 little bolts don’t break

[@brucebmendoza]

Bro. You got you’re channel. Cool. I would watch you on power block. Awesome. Okay what about the 2000 to 2006 Chevy suburban Z71 running broads. They look like running bars to me lol but much cooler.

[@LawrenceTolman]

that might be a cool look as well...

[@moethai585]

Glad you picked a project vehicle that I'm partial too. Presently throwing a few add ons at my new to me '08 Yukon XL.

[@chriskubond6314]

I agree about the running boards. They're kinda grandpa ish or for ladies that have trucks IMO. I think it looks better without. I'm sure you'll get it looking like you want.

[@mickymaust2059]

If you don't want those running boards I need then so my disabled parents can get into my suburban. I am having a hard time locating a sturdy set of aftermarket and a good set stock out of the junk yards

[@rickstir7144]

I was thinking the exact same thing on the wheel spacers in the rear... what brand are they? I was doing some research and settled on Bora. Any information would greatly be appreciated. I started restoring my 1999 Chevy K2500 and trying to finish it by this summer to get it ready for my next big purchase, a travel trailer for the family. FYI, I stumbled upon your channel today and immediately subscribed. Great job on the work you’ve done on the suburban so far.

[@mattwright6759]

Watched you on powerblock, loved show then, and now you’re in Utah even better! Welcome! Subscribed.

[@LawrenceTolman]

Awesome! Thank you for the subscription!

[@habanero8192]

Greetings LT! ... I love the work you do and I too was looking for an OBS Suburban / Yukon years ago ... they are a nice looking truck. Regrettably, here in California there were no 2500s much less 3500s to be had, I suspect nobody bought them for any real work (towing), but only to attach oversized rims with ridiculously small rubber on them. After reading lots and lots of reviews and forum comments I also found out that the GMs were seriously inadequate in the brake department (small drums in the rear), that's when I looked to the far superior Ford Excursion with it's massive disc brakes all around (yes on all four wheels) and it's massive tow-power. From that point on my family and I have completely "flipped" from being GM fans, we are now dedicated FORD people. ... I remember the first time we had our Excursion up on a lift so that I could do a quick inspection ... man ... it was the beefiest thing my father and I had ever seen! ... it made our 3/4 ton Chevy Van look like a tin can toy ... we never looked back!

[@ChristopherGaul]

As the proud owner of a '99 GMT400 K2500 Suburban myself, I'm enjoying this series. Glad to see what looks like a PowerStop brake kit on there. That is the one upgrade I've made to my truck that I'm the most happy with. It's cheaper than dealer price on the inferior equivalent OEM parts, and the stopping power and brake feel are drastically improved. The rotors last forever since they don't overheat or get crap stuck between them and the pads which grooves them out. As for the running boards, I totally agree. They're ugly and the accelerate rusting of the rocker panels. Good riddance. If you're unhappy with the look, consider rock/step bars. My truck was HD optioned but with an L31 5.7l. I replaced the 350 with a GMPP HT383-E which I LOVE and replaced the 4L80E with a brand new one. I did the MPFI injection spider conversion myself (what a job!) and added a cold air intake and a complete Magnaflow exhaust system including performance cats behind JBS shorty headers. For now I just have a Hypertech High Energy tune while I consider an 0411 ECU swap. As for the stance issue, I'm not a fan of spacers, you can resolve the issue with wheel offset if you don't mind having different front and rear offsets. Are you sure that's a full float axle and not a semi-float? I thought they only came with the semi-float. I don't know why everyone jumps to a solid axle swap in these. Unless you're going rock crawling or other craziness off-roading, the stock style suspension is pretty decent. There's even nice IFS upgrade kits. But hey, it's your baby. Looking forward to watching this project progess.

[@TheOzarkWizard]

I have a 2001 2500 Suburban and I put bigger tires on it rather than spacing it

[@davidwalker5748]

How about a diesel Hood

[@rivdawg5899]

Congrats on 20k great video as always

[@LawrenceTolman]

Thanks a ton!

[@weareawake1116]

I would put the running boards back on. Glad I found your channel.

[@LawrenceTolman]

Welcome aboard!

[@davew3880]

If your wheels fall off from putting spacers on thats user error period however your ball joints are going to hate ya for it

[@richardcollins5931]

Forgive me for not knowing but did you leave powernation? Either way best of luck to your channel. Subscribed.

[@LawrenceTolman]

no worries. Yes, I did leave back in September when we wrapped the 2020 season

[@mrhyde843]

I've got the same year K1500. The running boards bother me as well.

[@561russ]

Paint the frame black it’ll look way better keep the up dates

[@anthonyattaway3437]

Hi Mr. Tolman! Yes whistlin diesel puts a lot of spacers on hahah

[@LawrenceTolman]

haha... thats the guy I was talking about

[@jdelbrid]

Not every job goes as planned. My motto is..."Nothing's ever easy." Keep up the good work and good content.

[@LawrenceTolman]

Well said!

[@charlesmooney3480]

Great content and very well said brother

[@JedediahBryant]

I know this is few years old now, but what brand where the spacers you originally got by chance?

[@dacoolmonkey]

Hello LT . Like your work brother and I think with your level of professionalism you should hit a million subscribers no problem. I need your help and advice on my 2013 f350 l got the 6.2 gas engine what should I do to get better fuel mileage? And thanks an advance

[@LawrenceTolman]

drive slower? haha. in all seriousness there isn't a lot you can do to significantly improve your fuel mileage, but something like a too agressive tire can have a negative impact on MPG. When I swapped from my stock tires to a similar diameter ridge grappler on my AT4, I lost about 2-3 MPG. Things like a cold air intake, free flowing exhaust, and a good tune can help a little, but usually the ROI for those upgrades is measured in years. Thanks for watching tho, and sorry I couldnt be more help!

[@mikestanavech7858]

Paint the frame rails and wheel wells, that’s the problem with missing running boards.

[@ryanlong8967]

And maybe some nice mudflaps

[@biringen]

why not just unbolt the driveshaft a the hub, to put the spacer on before reintstall the driveshaft, that could work.. but i did mount 10inch wheels at the rear since spacers is not allowed here

[@Ryanfantana]

Great upgrades, did you find the right spacers? My k2500 truck had the front valance missing and the worst aftermarket rims also, must be a obs thing. I always spray down the frame on my truck with rubber undercoating (because rusty looking) try that before you put the steps back on and I adapted some junk yard step bars for my truck because no one could find any for a ccsb obs.

[@LawrenceTolman]

I decided against spacers, but I have something better... a whole new axle.

[@raylaux8295]

Nerf bars or sliders. LT. 304 Stainless

[@ocjohnweber9698]

I ran into the same issue with the wheel spacers. I put it on jack stands, had a helper run the rear axle at a slow rpm, and ran a grinder on the hub/axle to achieve the proper diameter. I didn't have to remove much material, maybe 1/32" and then painted them with rust converter. Good luck!

[@michaelmanley9132]

Did you ever find a spacer? I have a 96 K2500 6.5L that I’d love to put a set on

[@LawrenceTolman]

Check out my latest videos, instead of using spacers I’m swapping the axle. Sounds extreme, but I’m also getting a limited slip and 4 wheel disc brakes

[@pugfpvdog1060]

Hello, are you going to convert the drums to disk on the suburban K2500?

[@LawrenceTolman]

probably I will, but I'm on the fence about swapping in an AAM 11.5 Duramax axle which would've had disc brakes on it stock, so we'll see...

[@itsalltaken666]

Is he not on Truck Tech anymore?

[@LawrenceTolman]

not anymore. 2020 season was my last

[@krishiatt7203]

Those spacers will help. Hope you can find the right ones.

[@LawrenceTolman]

I'm still on the hunt for a good set

[@johnschindler349]

You still on truck tech

[@LawrenceTolman]

no sir. the 2020 season was my last

[@timjohnson6864]

shlda kept the air damn off looks better off without running boards and looks better on with running boards always the first thing to go on my trucks lol

[@johnschindler349]

Will you be on a different TV show

[@towlife270]

Lt you done the best thing ever for that engine and cooling system when you added the front air dam. Those 5hings are necessary when the vehicle sits at stock ride height.

[@kurtiwaniuk]

LT , I took my air dam off, better approach angle. Personally I like my 2Door without it. As far as the frame, black spray paint makes the world look like a shadow!

[@LawrenceTolman]

great idea

[@ryanfrazier2987]

I think the running boards looked fine. The lined up well with the air dam. The back wheels being narrower than the front on the OBS trucks has always bothered me though.

[@bowtie092]

The 2500's of that Generation DID NOT come with an air dam FYI its not missing

[@MaineMadeAdventures]

A diesel front front bumper with some fog lights in the openings would look good on this!

[@LawrenceTolman]

very strongly agree!

[@michaelmanley9132]

I have a diesel bumper I just removed from my 96 k2500. It’s free to a good home if your ever in the midland/ Odessa Texas area. The rear one too. Just FYI lol

[@joseluisflores1536]

Hey LT you figure out what spacer would work? Have a 2000 k2500 crew cab short bed obs and the rear wheels really bother me how far in they sit. Thanks

[@fivestar8337]

The next generation truck axles are around 2" wider and have a disc brake option. Have to weld on new perches though. Drivetrain is solid on a 2500.

[@LawrenceTolman]

I had actually wondered about the AAM 11.5 from the newer trucks, and what width it might be

[@Z71_Kevin]

A 6.5 diesel front bumper would look badass as well! 🤘🏻

[@LawrenceTolman]

sure would

[@jmfields1976]

I’m ready for you to Avalanche it, I think it’s going to look awesome

[@LawrenceTolman]

now that would be a cool idea.

[@dennislord9809]

Hello Lt. Like watching your shows always full of info. Something to look into is a rear end out of late 80's and 90's vans with FF 14 bolt they have a wider track. I swaped one of them in old Square body to match the front axle so I didn't have to use wheel spacers. keep the great content coming.

[@LawrenceTolman]

very good info!

[@scottrasmussen8258]

I have always loved the 3/4 ton Suburbans. Looks better without the boards, if it was mine, I would paint the outside of the frame and the inner wheel wells an flat black. Maybe that is in your plans. Keep up the great work.

[@blue4980]

Is putting a lt4 or comp cam xtreme and tune worth the money for the little gains on these 5.7s or just save up for a ls swap? For some reason I want to keep my 5.7 because its a new low mileage crate motor but I want more power .

[@LawrenceTolman]

This one is the 7.4 454, but on the L31 5.7, absolutely you can gain some power from swapping the cams, but there are two challenges to making more power from the Vortec 350s. First, the stock injectors should be swapped to larger ones (depending on how much power) which is a challenge because of their style. Usually people swap to a marine intake, but they are hard to find. Second problem, is the tuning on the "black box" computer, usually you'd have to switch to an LS style 0411 ECM. But those challenges aside, a simple cam swap, valve spring upgrade, headers, and full exhaust can wake up the 350 nicely.

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Caught my eye on powernation, looking forward to seeing more of your own content from this channel which has been great so far! Keep up the good work! I try to make similar content on my channel but long way to go to get where you're at. Turbo 8.1 will be insane

[@LawrenceTolman]

Awesome, thank you! Thats a cool SAS project you're doing, I wanna do something similar to the OBS Suburban.

[@haier2]

Love your channel. I have a gmt800 8.1l w/ ff rear axle that I’d like to put spacers on, super informative

[@matthewpettit4367]

I did the same thing to my 05 gmc. AMD you need to pay t the inner fenders and frame black it kind of takes that look you dont like away.

[@LawrenceTolman]

thats a good point, that would help a lot

[@rubenarce4980]

That narrower rear track always bothered me on obs in general. Glad I wasn't the only one lol.

[@LawrenceTolman]

makes it so painful to look at

[@toddbowser9415]

Oh get rid of that roof rack! I just took mine off

[@zachtremblay4618]

Would they have gone on if you pulled the axle shafts out?

[@LawrenceTolman]

I wish I would've thought of that. a ton of people have suggested that in the comments, and now I feel dumb I didnt try

[@zachtremblay4618]

@@LawrenceTolman gotcha. Oh well, we all make silly mistakes sometimes. The videos are really great! Thanks for doing what you do😁

[@tucksmith8300]

Awesome job LT!!!

[@unome55]

So 3 inch spacers?

[@BlàckÐèàth]

3:20 I can only imagine you're referring to ol WhistlinDiesel 😜

[@LawrenceTolman]

thats the guy

[@karlferdinand188]

Who else would be crazy enough to do that

[@andrewdunlap9011]

Just an idea LT, have you thought about pulling the Axle shafts out first, then put the wheel spacers on and then reinstall the axle shafts?

[@habanero8192]

On wheel-spacers ... good point! ... dually pickup trucks have huge ones on the front and the rear ... and those do not come off. I suppose they can be safe if you properly torque them and frequently check and re-torque them at regular intervals. This being said if at all possible it is probably better not to have to have them on at all ... if you can measure and get the right axle-width from the get-go and the correct control arms, etc. for the front from the get go it can only be all the more better ... but that's just my $0.02.

[@svalenti94]

Duramax swap it!!! Thanks for the content LT! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@LawrenceTolman]

man, I would love to do an LBZ or something, just the costs are wayyyy up there

[@svalenti94]

@@LawrenceTolman ugh tell me about it!

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Awd it like the red chevy on truck tech

[@LawrenceTolman]

i want to do an AWD truck of my own, but it would probably be a RCSB instead of a heavy suburban

[@bennapier9260]

If you didn't do it. I was gonna say I always put wheel spacers on the rear. I can't stand the rear being narrower

[@LawrenceTolman]

i know, it looks so bad

[@AlexMiller-wq8eo]

Needs a set of factory fitted mudflaps to give it a nice finished look 👍

[@LawrenceTolman]

Not a bad idea

[@itsalltaken666]

The youtube Videos are better with him alone than on the show with the dude whose accent keeps changing.

[@24kgraham]

I am right down the road from you, would love to get your help on my obs, you can even put it on your channel..

[@LawrenceTolman]

send me an email to [e-mail] so I have your contact info!

[@USSRairsoft]

@@LawrenceTolman I'm also a Utahn with a project Burb! 93 with the 494! It would be cool to do a GMT400 Utah meet up after things return to normal. I absolutely love my Burb, and your project has come right in time to deliver some inspiration!

[@matthewanderson6767]

2500 and 3500 never came with the air dam, at least that i ever saw, i added one to my 2500 crew cab.

[@LawrenceTolman]

never paid enough attention to that to be honest, but you might be right

[@brandonloll4262]

I like your style

[@EricErnst]

Ive always liked those factory aluminum wheels. Are those spacers for a semi-floating 14 bolt axle?

[@LawrenceTolman]

maybe, when I ordered em online they said for a FF axle, and I even saw a picture in the reviews with em bolted onto a FF axle, so maybe it was an order mix up?

[@jahiemrankine1381]

Like the new project

[@LawrenceTolman]

thanks!

[@stevenmoreno131]

Love the content even if some stuff is a little mixed in

[@brucenaylor2043]

It needs running boards not those but it needs some.

[@LawrenceTolman]

maybe I'll add some sort of rock slider/running board in the future

[@footz71]

A machine shop can mill the lip on the spacer for you

[@LawrenceTolman]

true, but I'm probably gonna buy some better steel ones instead.

[@jasondunyon3065]

That is awesome you're in utah. I'm in elsinore.

[@shadowopsairman1583]

LT put wheels on craigslist or offerup

[@LawrenceTolman]

they were on FB Marketplace for a long time, nobody seemed to want em

[@davidpreston2502]

What SAS kit are you going to use?

[@LawrenceTolman]

still deciding, but I really like the WFO setup to use the 2005+ superduty front axle

[@davidpreston2502]

@@LawrenceTolman I used off road design with leaf springs next one i do I want the coil overs for the ride.

[@craighirsch6464]

@@LawrenceTolman if you ever make it out to WFO I’ll take you out to lunch. They’re only about 20 minutes from me.

[@Snowman3g]

That’s cool that you’re giving out the rims lol has anyone taken them yet?

[@LawrenceTolman]

Nope, still taking up space

[@michaelwhite984]

Lip looks good. I'd put some steps on, pr maybe some tubular nerf bars. Still digging the PYOs!

[@natenasty6292]

I feel your hair loss...

[@LawrenceTolman]

haha... the struggle is real

[@StraightLineCycles]

Wondering if removal of the bolts, install spacer, reinstall bolts

[@LawrenceTolman]

the bolts didnt stick out enough to hit anymore. but maybe the axle shaft itself could be pulled, others have suggested that

[@watajob]

Bolt on never is

[@tonyvickers8659]

I was told the reason rear wheels are not even with the front is that it helps with the truck tracking. If that is true, how do you think it will track going down the road after adding spacers?

[@LawrenceTolman]

I had seen a lot of people say that about the rear end, but then my question is why arent all trucks like that from the factory? Most trucks I see on the road have an equal track width front to back and they seem to do fine, so I'm not sure. I will report back with any findings when I do put the spacers on there.

[@rubenwong9574]

Hey bro so i have 02 silverado like ugly truck. I replaced all rotors brakepads wheel bearing master cylinder brake booster purge the lines but my problem is when coming to stop brake pedal feels like am sliding through ice or mud it did before replacing all the parts i mention but seems like it didnt help what else can it be? is also a 2wd

[@LawrenceTolman]

is it activating the ABS or does the pedal still feel spongy? I know there is a function some scan tools have which activates the ABS motor while bleeding the brakes to help get any air out of the motor which can otherwise become trapped...

[@rubenwong9574]

Yes its activating the ABS and it feels spongy and pedal goes to the floor but it does stops the truck

[@gocart09]

4:54 I know this music comes from KZbin but it reminds me of another KZbinr that says it's Friday fool and you need this tool

[@alvinnelson4439]

As always good job !!

[@LawrenceTolman]

Thanks a bunch!

[@ronfrance4041]

Seen the Maine lobster sign you have on the wall. Mainer myself and my father is a lobsterman. Shhhhhh don’t tell anyone from Massachusetts

[@LawrenceTolman]

haha, your secret is safe with me. Raised in Waldoboro myself, right on the coast.

[@fcwilli]

What does “OBS” stand for?

[@LawrenceTolman]

Old body style, just a non official term for the GMT400 trucks