• Seller: A. F ridlund
• Location: Eugene, Oregon
• Mileage: 208,435 Shown
• Chassis #: 1GNGV26KXKF125602
• Title Status: Clean
• Engine: 5.9-Liter Cummins 6 BTA
• Transmission: Semi Automatic 4L80

Mechanical rivalries are endlessly fascinating: Ford vs. Chevy, Polaris vs. Ski-Doo, Cummins vs. Power Stroke (or Duramax). Whether you refuse to take a side or are willing to buy the camo hat and bumper stickers, these friendly disagreements are a part of America’s social fabric. From a purely anecdotal perspective, it seems that in the world of diesel engines, there are plenty of Cummins fans, and one of them swapped a 6BTA into this ’89 Suburban way back in 1994; it’s been plugging along ever since with a healthy dose of regular maintenance as needed. If you need a tow vehicle with that distinctive diesel sound, one that’s seen plenty of rain but little to no salt, you might consider bidding on this 3/4 ton Chevy four-by-four. It’s located in Eugene, Oregon, and is being offered as a Barn Finds Auction.

The engine itself, the 6BTA, is a 180-horsepower, 5.9-liter inline six with a turbocharger and an aftercooler. It was purchased through Cummins’s “Recon B” program, not to be confused with their “ReCon” engine reconditioning program. Cummins introduced Recon B for individuals who were mostly satisfied with their current vehicle but wanted a Cummins engine to power it. Through the program, you can order a complete conversion kit for your Chevy Suburban, which includes the engine, all necessary parts for installation, a guide on how to swap it, and an engine warranty. When this one was swapped, the original Turbo 400 was replaced with a 4L80E, which has recently been rebuilt and upgraded by a shop in Eugene with billet components and a manually locking torque converter for more flexibility when towing or driving off-road. The upside of the powertrain swap is the ability to haul big loads while achieving excellent fuel mileage (for a Suburban); the seller has seen 20 miles per gallon unloaded and 16 while pulling a 7,000-pound trailer (it has a hitch with a 15,000-pound rating). All the major components have been rebuilt or replaced, and the truck fires up quickly when cold, thanks to its intake heater.

In addition to the powertrain modifications, this Suburban has been lifted four inches and has a slightly more aggressive tire package than a stock four-by-four. Being a Silverado, it’s well-optioned, with power steering and brakes, power windows and locks, cruise control, front and rear air conditioning, and a six-speaker stereo. The seller has recently replaced the wiper motor and installed two new batteries.

No, the Suburban is not perfect; it has some dings and minor rust, the headliner sags, and the passenger rear window is cracked. It is, however, a solid old hauler that can go almost anywhere with reasonable fuel mileage. The seller says that due to its analog nature, this Suburban is “a wonderful way to go green and survive the next major disaster.” If such a vehicle appeals to you, bid now!

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