Buying Burb: Best years:reliability, power, etc. Please help!!!

[Crusty1]

I'm getting ready to buy my first Surburban but really need some solid input from savvy burb owners. I tow a 5500# trailer in addition to 4 dirt bikes and all the gear. I've been looking at a 93-97 year range but want to know if the 5.7 93-95 pre vortec engine is more/less reliable than the vortec engines in the 96 when they switched to the vortec. I like the idea of more power for towing, etc. but have been curious about the fuel pump, injector failures in the vortec engines. Also, are the USA made burbs more reliable than the Mexico made ones? I noticed they started making some of them in Mexico in 1996. I really love GM products but have been hesitant with all the problems with the late model GM products. Any and all technical info. regarding these years would be really appreciated! Thanks, Dennis

[Crusty1]

Yo hoo. Any body out there? Anyone with an informed opinion? Helloooooooooo?

[rambler-kc]

I've got a 93 5.7, got 208,000 miles on the orginal engine.. only problems with it was the water pump I've pulled horse trailers with it etc... the trans is something else.. get a aftermarket cooler as if the tranny gets hot,, it WILL go out plenty of power.... in my opinion,, and decent gas milage.. cant help you on the comparision on the vortec engine...

[Boomyal]

Buy the Vortec 5.7. It has more HP(lower torque) than a TBI 454. Pulling nearly identical trailers, a friend's '99 5.7 vortec 4x4 has no trouble keeping up with my '94 454 TBI 4x4. He gets a lot better mileage to boot. On a 180 mi round trip, over coastal mountains he got 12.8 to my 8.5 mpg. He bought his Burb on Ebay in October. We drove it back from Houston to Portland Oregon. Running a constant 65 to mostly 75 mph, he averaged about 16.7 mpg.(High of 17.1 mpg) Alot of that was over 5000 ft altitude. Getting way down and dirty my 454 with Banks Power Pack would probably just walk away from his dead stock 5.7.

Make sure you get the tow package w/ tranny cooler and don't pull in overdrive (4th gear)

[back2life]

whats so different about the vortec motor compared to the 5.7?is it really better?

[Boomyal]

It is GM's version of the mult-port sequential fuel injection. It starts out with higher compression and is managed by more sophisticated electronics. Hence more power and better economy. The joke is, for all you GM fans, that GM was only about 10 years late applying it to these vehicles. If Ford had put out a respectable competitor for the Suburban they would have had as big a market share for it as they did for their trucks. Gm made a big hoopla when they introduced the Vortec, as if they invented MPFI

[BDATI2D]

The Vortec also has a better head design for improved mileage and power. I owned a 99 Tahoe with the vortec. loved the pulling power but didn't like the stability pulling a 25' TT at 7200 lbs. Switched to a 94 Sub 2500 with 454 better stability but not as much poop. I know my 99 would outpull it. not to mention waaaaaay better mileage. Only bad thing is brakes. Stock ones are terrible. Best to upgrade to power slot rotors and performance pads up front if you buy anything under 1999.

[back2life]

i have a 94 2wd my brakes seem like i only have front brakes but ive put new ones on front and rear and rotors still crappy. if im driving and hit the brakes(soft or hard) on ice,snow, mud antilocks kick in and it slides like hell .had it about 2yrs did not does this when i first got it cause i bought it in the winter!it seems like it may not stop when i need it to could there be a problem with the master cylinder or combination valve?how do i check?i think the rears will grab good damn near to the floor!

[jsnowbordr47]

What was the difference between the 1994 Fuel Injected Suburban, and the 1995 Throttle Body Injected Suburban? Was there a real power difference, or fuel efficiency difference? I have a 95 TBI, and my friend has a 94 EFI, but they both sound very loud as they both have after market exaust systems. I was just wondering because didn't GM switch from EFI to TBI in 1995, but then to Vortec in 96? I noticed a big difference in sound between the 1996 and the 1995 Suburban. It seems like the 94's, and the 95's have equal power, while the 96's and above sound like they have much less power compared to even a 94 Suburban with the Stock exhaust.

[Boomyal]

If I'm not mistaken, all post carbuerated suburbans until 1997 were throttle body fuel injected (TBI) In 1997 all suburbans went to the sequential multiport fuel injection. There were no other varieties.

[jsnowbordr47]

I always thought that 1994 and below were EFI, and that they changed to TBI for some odd reason in 1995, but isn't the sequential multi port injection with the vortec? Cause the vortec came out in 1996?

[BDATI2D]

EFI and TBI could probable be considered one in the same as they both use a throttle body injector unit. My 94 454 TBI and a freinds 89 TBI are almost the same unit, just a few differences in design. and yes the vortec came out in 96.

[back2life]

boomyal is correct 94 -97 is tbi your friend should have tbi in that 94 unless it is a very lately made 93. also my truck is kinda loud after replacing my dual exhaust with turbo mufflers back to a factory style