What's that 8.1L like? Is that the 454? Power? gas? etc? What did it come in?

 

The 8.1L is a 496 CI engine. 320 HP @ 4,200 RPM, 440 ft-lbs @ 3,200 RPM. Was the optional engine in the Suburban 2500 and Silverado HDs from around '01-'05.

When I flew south to buy my X, an 8.1L 'Burban was my backup in the event the deal fell through on the X.

 

Thanks, ......so it's about the same power as the V-10.

 

Yes similar in power to v-10, just as thirsty if not more. The ones we have are in 4500 bucket trucks, and 3500 cab/chassis dually with a fiberglass box. The mechanics started getting pissed off because we were not checking oil in between pm intervals. Several went in for pms 4 quarts low on oil. No leaks, it just disappeared. Performed pretty good, in 3500, but real dog in the 4500s. Cabs are very noisy in both. I, too considered a 3/4 Suburban with a 8.1L as a back up to the Excursion purchase.

 

Yesterday we walked out of the store to a mostly empty parking lot. Amongst the few cars was my white X and two white suburbans ( different years). Comparing the three different bodies side by side, there really was no comparison. Completely different class and size of vehicle. It's funny cause back when we were shopping for a large SUV, we were looking at burbs and Xs online and online they seem to be in the same class. But now I agree a suburban is similar to a 3 row explorer and compares well with them. The X has no similar SUV to compare to.

 

id rather have a 7.3l diesel then any gas engine made! youll love it.

 

Just so somebody asking aboot Subs doesn't get the idea that they are cheap, rattly junk from some of the previous comments, remember that they have higher degree of finishing than the work trucks that a large company may buy, and then add on work boxes, hoists, man lifts, etc!!

I don't consider them equal, but the Ex isn't a 350. All the weight specs are fairly close, with the edge to the Ex. My '99 K2500 LS is smoother and quieter than my '03 Ex XLT. 7.4L w/129K on the speedo. Yes the plastic is starting to see the effects of 90+ deg in our summers, but no worse than any 15yr old veh. The doors are tight and don't rattle and bang on bumps like the Ex (haven't done the door seal mod yet) and does drive like a car in town.

The Excursion does tow better than the Suburban, but not by a whole lot. Either gets 10-12 empty on the hwy, 7.5-9 towing, and 9-11mpg in town. Both have an equal feel towing on most hwys, but the Ex holds speeds better in the mountains, even with 3.73's in the back. The Sub has 4.11's, but does feel the hills more than the Ex.

I will say that they both wander aboot the same, although the Suburban is a bit more solid in town than the Excursion, but seems to be more affected by wear tracks in asphalt roads, probably due to the different track widths front to rear that GM built them with. The Excursion has gotten tamed down with a few simple adjustments, and does drive pretty well.

Neither uses any oil between changes, using Mobil 1 and changing around 5K to 6K on each one. Only major work done to the 7.4 has been the intake gaskets aboot 25K ago. Also got rid of the "DeathKool" then!! No trans or diffy problems on either at this point. Knock on plastic!!!! Edit: Forgot aboot the rear A/C (it's winter!!) on the Ex, had to plug the rear lines due to contact wear in pipes. Works real good, but not as well as the Suburban, still working with no repairs in the 10 yrs we've had it!!

At least I am doing my part in keeping the oil companies in business!!!


Gerry

 

I'll hate it

 

I don't just drive work truck models of Chevrolets at work. My current truck is a 2010 Silverado LT Hybrid crew cab with carpet interior, cruise/tilt, power door locks and windows. It has manual seats and it has all the sound deadening material that Chevy offers. It has 23500 miles on it and the dash and door panels rattle a lot.. The fit and finish isn't stellar and keep in mind this is no stripped down work truck. It has Onstar, digital dual HVAC controls, all the controls are in steering wheel and keyless entry.

 

im using a tahoe from 07 and its loaded, but the dash panels all cracked and broke, doorhandle ripped off when i tried to open it, the power mirror is stripped out.....

 

I attended a Chevy test drive event and drove the quadra-steer pickups, never knew they offered it in the sub.
It did corner well and was fun to drive in the slalom course.

I also have heard it is a maintenance nightmare, and since (i believe) it is no longer available would suspect it was not popular? And/or had issues?

Sent from my Sprint PC36100 using IB AutoGroup

 

You would love a 7.3 just admit it, no one is gonna judge you Brent.

 

Maintenance nightmare? I've owned mine for nearly nine (9) trouble free years with zero (0) maintenance. Literally, nothing. No service. No issues. No maintenance.

The Subs with Quadrasteer, having only a 130" wheelbase, turn even tighter than the pickups, which were all extended cab and crew cab models with longer wheelbases.

 

Not even oil changes?

 

It sounded to me like he was asking about the four wheel steering aspect of the vehicle being a "maintenance nightmare," not the entire vehicle.

Obviously, the entire Suburban itself has not been discontinued, only the Quadrasteer option, which did not sell well due to the extra $7,995.00 in cost initially. GM eventually repackaged the option groups to make the Quadrasteer appear to be only $1,995.00, by pricing the other required options (like Autoride, Limited Slip, etc) separately. Not as much of a reduction in price as a redistribution of how the component options were priced.

On the subject of changing oil, I did change the rear end differential fluid within the first 3,000 miles, to remove any potential wear metals from break in. I used the special Quadrasteer lubricant obtained from the dealer. But I did the same thing to my Super Duty, which does not have rear wheel steering, so this item of maintenance has nothing to do with the rear steering, and therefore cannot be added to the so called "maintenance nightmare" mythology.