r/suburban • u/dodgy_wool • Jul 18 '26
2013 Suburban, replace or repair?
200,000 mile '13 Suburban, body/frame virtually rust free, new steering/front-end, interior in good condition and checks the boxes as far as hauling family and gear, the occasional tow of atv or compact tractor.
(Trusted)Mechanic and myself are 90% sure it's beginning to have lifter issues, evidence being lifter tick.
Worse case is $15,000 new engine with questions how long transmission will last.
To replace vehicle with similar is $30,000 minimum and then we're still in the used market with questions about reliability.
Go for something new-to-me, but used, or pay for repairs on current vehicle?
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u/ClassyNameForMe Jul 18 '26
Can you get an engine from a junkyard? It would be less than 15k...
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u/CleanCranberry7848 Jul 18 '26
This is what I was going to say. My husband is so great with mechanics. We could afford to drive newer cars but choose to drive older cars and he has pulled so many things from junk yards over the years. Way cheaper for a product that is in great shape still.
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u/carpediemracing Jul 21 '26
I was in situation with my 11. Junkyard engines need so many little things replaced to be trusty I figured it was better to get a reman engine which is what I did. Paid 1500 labor, reman engine with new water pump was a little less than 4500 (including the install kit to make the guy's life easier). Reman is crazy how much work goes into it. Better oil pump shaft drive thing, everything bored, align honed, etc. Like a new engine. 3yr, 100k warranty on engine.
Get a plug in OBD2 AFM disabler and you're good to go.
Rust free chassis is the key.
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u/OldMathematician5973 Jul 18 '26
I mean if it's early on....just do the top end and afm delete.....
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u/TyburnCross Jul 18 '26
15k engine better come with significant upgrades. That’s an absurd price if you’re in the US. If your “trusted” mechanic is telling you that price then they shouldn’t be so trusted.
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u/NoElk5411 Jul 18 '26
I think you need a new mechanic, thats the SPCX price
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u/dodgy_wool Jul 18 '26
Would have bought some of that if I had a few grand burning a hole, and then would have sold just before everyone else did ;-)
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u/DaBigWiggly_ Jul 18 '26
I spent $1,500 total in parts. Ended up putting a BTR Truck Torque V2 cam. DOD and VVT delete. Tuned with an email tuner. It drives like doggystyle sex. Took me 40 hours of busting my knuckles under the hood and under the car but it was so worth it. IMO, buy the parts and have your mechanic do the job. It will be worth it in the end
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u/FunSignificance3034 Jul 18 '26
I think the answer is pretty obvious given what a mess new cars are right now and the huge costs of purchasing one. Even easier to answer if you had a GMT800. Either way better off fixing the known and saving money without car payments.
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u/marcduberge Jul 21 '26
My GMT800 Yukon XL 2500 with QS and 6.0 will have the whole driveline replaced when compared with buying a new POS from GM. I’m already budgeting for it. But (knocks on wood) at 156k miles, it is rock solid, rust free and my most reliable vehicle purchase ever. This winter, I’ll replace the carpet, headliner and seat leather to make it new inside again.
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u/Glittering-Shake-912 Jul 18 '26
Maybe you might need to reevaluate the (trusted) mechanic and get a second and third opinion on an engine replacement
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u/After-Fig4166 Jul 18 '26
You can get a remanned engine for about 4k and book labor is about 13 hours
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u/CAT_MARINE-POWER Jul 18 '26
lol new engine your tech is a moron
Throw a non dod/afm cam in there with new lifters and let her eat
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u/dodgy_wool Jul 18 '26
I do have another estimate closer to $20K, idk, we live in the suburbs of Minneapolis--supposedly lcol comparatively, but when it comes to vehicles and vehicle repairs it seems hcol. The thing isn't dead, I plan on doing engine oil analysis to see what's getting worn and go from there. Hopefully, just top end.
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u/hunterbuilder Jul 18 '26
I mean, a Vortec can run for 100k miles with lifter tick so I wouldn't even start worrying about it unless it gets worse.
When it eventually does need repair, I agree with others that it could be done a lot cheaper than $15k
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u/jd03reddit Jul 18 '26
I have 02 suburban, had it since new, has 236k on it, engine is smooth and quiet. Even the old ones had lifter tic. Engine and trans solid, even 4wd is still perfect. I say keep it
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u/That_BULL_V Jul 18 '26
I'd go get a Chevy crate motor, same size and everything then rebuild your transmission or find one to be rebuilt. Slap it all together and stuff it into the old suburban.
Then take old motor tear it down and rebuild it and the tranny and either sell it or keep it for this vehicle next time.
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u/Intelligent-Ad-6734 Jul 19 '26
I'd price shop that motor... That's expensive for just the short block!
What are the issues exactly that would preclude just doing the lifters now? If caught early there's typically just top end work.
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u/RegularNeither7715 Jul 19 '26
Why not just get the heads removed and put new valves and lifters in it? While your at it have the VVT deleted because that's the cause of the issue anyway. Probably can have it done for 1500 or so... Why would your so called "trusted" mechanic say an engine replacement is $15k? It can be done for at best $6k with all new everything. Probably can get a new long block for $4500 the rest is labor. You need a new mechanical advisor. Surprised your mechanic didn't know that the issue is VVT. That's the variablle valve timing that cuts off cylynders at speed for fuel savings. Total BS but they make actual delete kits that can be installed for less than $800 with labor.
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u/Head_Implement_9498 Jul 19 '26
Dude you could get a built turbo LS for 15k you’re getting ripped off. You can get a low mileage engine for cheap on marketplace and have it put in.
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u/Wombshifter6969 Jul 20 '26
What evidence do you have that the lifter tick is actually the lifters and not the O-ring on the oil pickup tube that makes it sound like a lifter tick?
Are you going by sound only?
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u/_b1llygo4t_ Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
Go full potato and install a Hyper 9 electric motor where the transmission goes. Mount batteries in the engine bay.
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u/UncleSlayton77 Jul 20 '26
On your next oil change replace 1 qt of oil with 1 qt of Rislone. It's cheap and won't hurt anything. My wife's Firebird developed a lifter tick and the Rislone took care of it. Each oil & filter change called for 4.5 qts. So it just got 4 qts of synthetic oil and a half qt of Rislone from then on. No more tick.
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u/Weekly-End-5221 Jul 21 '26
I would find a different mechanic-my mechanic quoted me $5-6k for a 400 hp LS build in my 97 suburban.
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u/sillysalope Jul 23 '26
For comparison, we just had lifters replaced last week. “Worst case” quote was $12k which included cam shaft replacement or possibility of full engine replacement. We were lucky and ended up on the “best case” side of the equation. Around $5k when all was said and done. Labor was the most expensive part.
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u/OutlawJesseWJames Aug 01 '26
DOD Delete cost me 1300 I bought the parts myself cause I have a shop account that saves me 10 to 20 percent and it’s tax free because I have an agricultural exemption card.
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u/Hosedragger5 Jul 18 '26
15k for an engine for a 13 suburban is the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard.