i need help with a technical question

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High-Test

High-Test

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FlyingAGasoline
My Dad is looking at buying a pair of old diesel suburbans to ferry people to a retreat is the crap ever hits the fan. He wants something with as few electronic components as possible, so I'm thinking a pre 1986 Suburban, because 1986 was when TBI (Throttle Body Injection) replaced carburetors. But, I suspect that was for the gas engines.

But. I can't find a thing on the internet about whether the 6.2 liter diesels pre 1986 were carbureted. Or did they use mechanical fuel injection?

We've got a lead on a 1985 Suburban 2500 4x4 diesel, but I don't want him to buy it if it has electronic fuel injection.

Anyone have any ideas?
 
Old American diesels don't get that good of gas mileage like they do now, and actually make less power than some of the gas engines of the time. You are better off getting a big block vehicle with a carb. More torque, more horsepower. GM 6.2s aren't exactly the cream of the crop diesels anyways if that's what you're looking at.

Even if you get something (gasser) with a ECU, you can cut them out, swap an intake on it and a 4 barrel. Very easy to do.

That said, you're better off getting a Ford or a Dodge counterpart. The Suburbans are known for not having very strong rear ends. 2500s might be better but even the HD stuff isn't great. I've replaced 4 entire axle assemblies within the last year or so, a few of them under 80,000 miles.
 
Would a pair of Toyota Land Cruisers be prohibitively expensive? Unfortunately, I can't help you with your question.
 
We don't care about performance, we want something that will survive the apocalypse.
 
High-Test
We don't care about performance, we want something that will survive the apocalypse.
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That's why I suggested the Toyota Land Cruiser. I've heard that they're incredibly reliable. I don't know about the old American trucks, though. I don't think I've seen an 80's Suburban that I can remember. American cars of teh 70's and 80's are not known for reliability, whatever Slashfan might tell you.
 
I've suggested the land cruiser to my Dad. I've found a few FJ60s at a decent price. And the Toyota 2F pretty much has the same power and torque as the 6.2 diesel.
 
Beeblebrox237
That's why I suggested the Toyota Land Cruiser. I've heard that they're incredibly reliable. I don't know about the old American trucks, though. I don't think I've seen an 80's Suburban that I can remember. American cars of teh 70's and 80's are not known for reliability, whatever Slashfan might tell you.
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You really don't know much about them do you lol. 70s and 80s trucks are well known to be vastly superior to anything out now except maybe crash tests. Explain to me why my frame in my 85 has 650,000 miles on it, probably more miles than any on this board has put on a vehicle. There is a reason I much prefer them.
 
Diesel... Carbureted?! I didn't think they did that since the 40's
 
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