New Squarebody Guy NJ

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GeoCamino

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2025
Posts
5
Reaction score
11
Location
NJ
First Name
Geo
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Suburban Sierra Classic 1500
Engine Size
350
Hello everyone. I’ll be picking up a 1987 GMC Suburban a little later this week. It’s 100 % stock with 80,000 miles, 2W drive and 5.7 motor. Super clean condition. I plan to use it for fishing trips up and down the east coast.

Any maintenance or ownership tips would appreciated. My daily driver now is an 1987 El Camino so I’ll be giving the Camino a couple of days rest each week. I’ll post some photos later in the week.

Thanks for suggestions.
 

mtbadbob

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
May 9, 2021
Posts
849
Reaction score
1,438
Location
Montana
First Name
Bob
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20
Engine Size
350
Welcome from Montana! Oil, radiator fluid, trans fluid, air filter....Love that gen of 'Camino's also!
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
5,145
Reaction score
19,159
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
Welcome from Missouri.
 

Sad Sack

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2024
Posts
2,634
Reaction score
5,499
Location
Nebraska
First Name
Goober
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
C15
Engine Size
305
:welcome:
 

Jawzjeep

Honk if parts fall off
Joined
Jun 5, 2021
Posts
594
Reaction score
1,294
Location
Washington
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1991
Truck Model
Suburban
Engine Size
350
Welcome from the great north wet. Nice low miles on that 87.

As far as tips, take good care of suburban specific parts.

Some parts are unobtainium so check on how hard or expensive certain things are to replace before ripping it out or possibly destroying upon removal.

Highly recommend putting an access hatch thru your rear floor to your fuel pump on top of your tank. You'll be glad when the pump fails and the tank is full, because of course that's when it will.

Keep an eye on the rear wheel wells. There's a seam there that collects junk and rots out. Actually the whole rear end.

If you have rear heat protect the hose along the frame going to the heater back there and make sure the wires and hose penetrations are sealed well. Consider a valve under hood that bypasses the rear heater hose in case of a leak. Oh and protect the heater itself. The plastic housing is fragile.

If it doesn't have a rack or holes drilled in the top then don't put any. If it does seal it up well.

If its a tailgate style I like a pickup bumper on the back to give me something to stand on and lean over the tailgate or when putting something on the roof. The rounded blazer and suburban rear bumper doesn't give much to stand on without a sore shin or a quick change in elevation.

Sorry for the book haha
 

ali_c20

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2016
Posts
2,087
Reaction score
3,204
Location
Austria
First Name
Alexander
Truck Year
1974, 1979
Truck Model
C20, K5
Engine Size
350, 350
Welcome from Austria.
 

HOTFOOT

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2020
Posts
533
Reaction score
1,281
Location
northwest ct
First Name
michael
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
gmc k3500 srw
Engine Size
400
Welcome from Connecticut
 

Mr Clean

Super Moderator
Staff member
Marine Corps Moderator
Joined
Aug 18, 2010
Posts
11,312
Reaction score
13,883
Location
North East Texas
First Name
Shawn
Truck Year
1982 & 1985
Truck Model
K10 Extra Cab w/ Proper SWB, & 85 K5 Blazer
Engine Size
454 BBC, & 383 Stroker
:welcome:
 

brooksman9

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2021
Posts
859
Reaction score
2,670
Location
Olive Branch, MS
First Name
Patrick
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
Silverado & Custom Deluxe
Engine Size
350 & 305
Welcome aboard
 

animal

Super Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Posts
5,944
Reaction score
4,476
Location
Georgia
First Name
Lee
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
c10 silverado
Engine Size
350ish
:welcome:
 

WFO

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2017
Posts
4,357
Reaction score
6,506
Location
Texas Panhandle
First Name
Dan
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Welcome from the Texas Panhandle.
 

hoagster

Supporting Member
Air Force Supporting Member
Joined
May 16, 2017
Posts
2,444
Reaction score
6,600
Location
California
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1973, 2000
Truck Model
K10, 1500
Engine Size
5.3l
Welcome, Far north Norcal, sounds like you already now how to take care of an aged vehicle! Enjoy the new one. Pictures next
 

Long Rider

Full Access Member
Marine Corps Law Enforcement
Joined
May 5, 2023
Posts
182
Reaction score
316
Location
La Grande Oregon
First Name
Jim
Truck Year
1979, 1977, 1986
Truck Model
C10 + C20 C1500
Engine Size
350 X 3
Welcome to the Square addiction group. There is no treatment for what you have got yourself into.
 

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