Momma got a new pair of shoes / New Winter Beater 🤣

[Pullstart 62,891]

Mrs. P. loves her OBS Chevy Suburban.  She loves it so much in fact, that she wanted to park De Ette during the salty seasons.  I don’t blame her.  We also realized that Norman isn’t always the most friendly road trip vehicle and he’s the only one that gets double digit fuel mileage on most days.  We set out on Saturday to look at up to 5 Suburban (bodied) vehicles, including GMC and Cadillac brands.  Just no Tahoe/Yukon short wheelbase rigs.  Our budget in mind was landing us from some special 2015 models to some base 2021 models.  She made contacts with all the sellers, I just put in my 2 cents along the way.
 

Our first pick, a 2018 GMC Yukon Denali XL (XL in the GMC line indicating Suburban length) turned out to be a 2WD rig and I found it out by literally pawing around on the ground at the dealership, rain, wind, etc. but I needed to see what I was going to sign for.  We never heard it run.  The salesman asked me for my ID, barely made communication with her.  We constructively criticized the new salesman for the ad, and looked at a Caddy that was on the lot.  It was clean but made a lot of noise.  I left the lot in the driver’s seat.  We made it 1/4 mile and switched.  I proceeded to crawl around the cabin area while she drove a little neighborhood finding all the noises, seats rattling, ceiling crackling, way bad.  The Carfax comparable report indicated a major front on collision had taken place more than once and we were out.  

 

Our second vehicle was a private party.  2015 Cadillac Escalade Sport.  We didn’t realize at the time, but Sport indicates the Tahoe length.  Everything about it, the seller, the maintenance records, garage parked and regularly detailed, says we need to act on this one.  Maybe we can deal with the shorty back end.  While we waited for his weekend plans and ours to jive, we contacted another dealer about option #3.  

 

A 2021 LT model Suburban.  LT sounds kind of lame now days, but the newer LT is more flashy than the 2015 LTZ we once had.  It was priced fair, maybe too fair.  It sold minutes before we contacted the dealer.  We asked if they had anything comparable and were led to a 2015 Suburban, but it seemed too high miles for our taste and a bit ragged on.  Looking through their online inventory, we found this 2019 Z71 Suburban.  I am like a cub bear with boxing gloves with my new “smart” phone and I saw the entire 32 count picture gallery scroll in about .012 seconds.  Did I just see a blower under the hood?  I’m thumbing back through, frustrating Mrs. P at my haste and had to explain I just saw something that doesn’t belong and I need to find it again.  Sure enough, WHIPPLE cast into a blower, atop a 5.3L engine!  This dealer had a free carfax link posted online and much to my surprise and major taste, it had lived in Colorado it’s entire life.  The salesman made sure we understood that this was not a soccer mom car any more and we were well aware of that.  We said we’ be there in 10 minutes.  
 

Now we need to back up to option #2.  This owner through Facebook marketplace ends up being mutual friends with 8 of Mrs. P’s colleagues, friends, family even.  We had to at least pay him the respect of pulling through with an appointment.  2:30 we’ll be there.  
 

2:00 PM.  Now we’re torn.  We meet the dealer of the supercharged Z71.  We see this beautiful truck.  We hear the whine of the 2.7 liter Whipple blower.  We hear the absolute beast roar of the Borla exhaust.  We know that this is the one.  Nope, it’s surely not the one for everyone, but we aren’t everyone.  Momma’s daily driver goes about 6 miles a day.  Her 8 mpg if we’re lucky is just fine.  It’s more about a modern truck that she can daily drive and we can pack the family or friends in it for a road trip.  He made a copy of her license, tossed her the keys, and we rolled out.  A quick ride and we were sold, but we were 20 minutes from our next appointment and 15 minutes drive time away.  We told the dealer we are very interested but need a price.  There was an MSRP online but we never heard a sale price from him.  We also said we have to honor our next appointment, but hope to be back by their 3 o’clock closing time.

 

We cruised across town, met our private party salesman, made the small talk about the crazies on Marketplace and Craigslist, took it for a stroll, let him down easy.  Time to fly back to the blowerburb!  Before leaving the lot, the salesman told us his price, but indicated that it was on the lot over 140 days and had to move, so he was willing to make a deal.  We got back and played the hardball game.  He was granted the lot owner’s permission, showed us their physical lot sheet showing each vehicle’s purchase/trade price, days on the lot, and current sale price.  To the dollar, they asked us for their purchase price.  We shook hands.

 

This thing.  It’s clean.  It’s beautiful.  It’s got a loud button under the driver’s right foot.  It drives very well under normal conditions.  Push that skinny pedal and it’s a monster!  According to GM, the truck stock makes 355 HP.  According to Whipple, the blower at 7-8 lbs of boost makes over 200 HP.  That’s a claimed 550+ HP.  A 2020 Corvette makes up to 495 HP.  This is literally a race car feel in a soccer mom body.  Practical?  Yeah.  If it’s driven with respect.  Fun when we need it to be?  Sure is!

Now how did a vehicle like this live in Colorado for so long, then land in Michigan all of the sudden?  Our salesman told us the story.  Military.  Momma’s ride was an Army soldier’s baby.  He was injured and honorably discharged.  He moved back home to live near family and traded this in on a Jeep that was a bit more practical for him.  I am thankful for our men and women in uniform.  I am so sad to know we are riding in his pride and joy because he can’t.  I hope that he knows somehow, that we are honored to be the new stewards of this ride!

 

 

 

[953 nut 55,243]

17 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

She loves it so much in fact, that she wanted to park De Ette during the salty seasons.

You went out on a quest to find a winter beater and ended up with a real beauty.  Nice find and great backstory.     

That is too nice to subject to the salted roads and nasty winter weather,         Better go find a beater now.       

[Pullstart 62,891]

2 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

great backstory.

I really pulled out my inner @PeacemakerJack on that one!  

[SylvanLakeWH 25,562]

[peter lena 8,629]

@Pullstart  good story , good for both of you  !  related , counter and relatively easy , to get behind the fender mounting start area . penetrating lubricant , will creep down to the wheel opening edges . verify its protection , with an oil film there , instead of rot out . very easy to see what's going to happen , just look for a similar truck in any parking lot ! tail gate is also very easy , door / floor entry area , been doing this for many years on all my vehicles , zero rust / rot ,  also  wash it down as often as possible , that road salt , is nasty ,Pete 

[WHX?? 48,815]

Sorry Kev gotta side with Richard on this.

I just best come get it.

 

Don't worry T... I'll bring over the fish truck for you to run. A true winter beater and every time you see the wine stain on the carpet you get to think of @stevasaurus...

Edited December 11, 2023 by WHX??

[ebinmaine 67,508]

Beautiful ride Kev and Tay!! 

[Pullstart 62,891]

32 minutes ago, peter lena said:

@Pullstart  good story , good for both of you  !  related , counter and relatively easy , to get behind the fender mounting start area . penetrating lubricant , will creep down to the wheel opening edges . verify its protection , with an oil film there , instead of rot out . very easy to see what's going to happen , just look for a similar truck in any parking lot ! tail gate is also very easy , door / floor entry area , been doing this for many years on all my vehicles , zero rust / rot ,  also  wash it down as often as possible , that road salt , is nasty ,Pete 

I’ll get the Greasy Pete for sure!  Also, we have unlimited car wash packages at the joint about 2.5 miles down the road.  They have a 10 hour full brush wash, and a 24 hour touchless wash, both included in the package.  Sometimes we use it 3-5 times a week, sometimes once every month.  It is all depending on the vehicle’s needs and road conditions.

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,318]

Winter beater? I was more expecting something like this  ! 
  Sweet ride though

 

 

 

[Pullstart 62,891]

8 minutes ago, Sparky said:

Winter beater?

 

We gotta keep De Ette looking nice now!  I do not like the steering geometry of the Superlift bracket kit.  I think since she has a nice ride for all seasons now I might see about planning a solid axle swap for the front of the big one.

 

 

[Pullstart 62,891]

Under the hood 

[Moparfanforever 846]

WOW!!!

 

 

[stevasaurus 22,741]

Some stains are worth a million bucks...misty water colored memories.  

[ri702bill 8,323]

Kevin - was that part of a Po-lice package????? Could came in handy for chasing out those pesky out-of-state Horse Rustlers... 

 

[Pullstart 62,891]

40 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

Po-lice package

Apparently some secret service rigs are supercharged 502 c.i. rigs.  They must haul more than mail!  This was all aftermarket but it runs and sounds so smooth!

[SylvanLakeWH 25,562]

1 hour ago, ri702bill said:

Kevin - was that part of a Po-lice package????? Could came in handy for chasing out those pesky out-of-state Horse Rustlers... 

 

 

Or make his infamous multi-day multi-state  pick up runs even faster!!!

 

[Tractorhead 9,064]

5 hours ago, Sparky said:

Winter beater? I was more expecting something like this  ! 
  Sweet ride though

 

 

 

 

I thought the same...

about a Winterbeater....😂

 

but instead - Whow, what a beauty.

That Ride looks dang pretty sharp.

Horsie‘s are also enough inside...

 

Be now a Member of the MIB huh?

 

Btw. Anytime safe Rides, wherever you Drive!

Edited December 11, 2023 by Tractorhead

[ri702bill 8,323]

2 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

 

Or make his infamous multi-day multi-state  pick up runs even faster!!!

 

Don't give him any ideas - a "Cannonball Run" with 8 WH tractors on the trailer in tow.....

[Handy Don 12,232]

Congrats on the new wheels.

Agree on it now being a difficult decision about which one gets to see the ice and salt.

Only one thought...you aren’t gonna put any poor, defenseless horses outdoors to make room to winter store one of those humungous trucks, are you? 

[8ntruck 7,005]

Nice find.  I'd call it more of a sleeper than a winter beater.

 

The torque curve on that could make for interesting slippery road driving.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,562]

33 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

 

Only one thought...you aren’t gonna put any poor, defenseless horses outdoors to make room to winter store one of those humungous trucks, are you?

 

 

[Pullstart 62,891]

39 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

Don't give him any ideas - a "Cannonball Run" with 8 WH tractors on the trailer in tow.....

I’ve known about that for years.  My loving wife… just recently learned of it’s reality.  And of course, her vehicle of choice is a Suburban for it.  I never realized I was enabling her dreams!  

 

37 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Only one thought...you aren’t gonna put any poor, defenseless horses outdoors to make room to winter store one of those humungous trucks, are you? 

Naww… she still wants to be able to drive the OBS on nice days.  It’ll be kept available for her.  It would be nice to have a garage for all these vehicles one day though but I’m sure I’d make it my personal tractor parking garage… 

 

9 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

Nice find.  I'd call it more of a sleeper than a winter beater.

 

The torque curve on that could make for interesting slippery road driving.

 

It starts making boost at about 1500 rpms.  It drives very well mannered if she wants it to.  If it were fun time in fresh snow on an empty road?  Might get squirrelly 

[Handy Don 12,232]

Are any of the driveline components upgraded to deal with the increased power?

 

I’m on my third Volvo wagon, this one with an electric super-charger on top of the turbo. I’ve always considered them wolves in plain wrappers. Like your new rig, quite docile until let out.

 

 

[Pullstart 62,891]

33 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Are any of the driveline components upgraded to deal with the increased power?

 

I’m on my third Volvo wagon, this one with an electric super-charger on top of the turbo. I’ve always considered them wolves in plain wrappers. Like your new rig, quite docile until let out.

 

 

Honestly, I don’t know all those details.  It was tuned for the upgrades.  Generally, that includes increased line pressure on the transmission, quicker shifts to decrease heat from slippage too.  The transmission feels very good.  I’ll keep an eye on the fluid and feel.  Many times these IFS GM trucks if launched hard with boost in 4x4 will damage tie rods.  I’ll keep those in mind, but I don’t see Momma drag racing it much though I know her circle track roots can get the beat of her on occasion.

[ri702bill 8,323]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

racing it much though I know her circle track roots can get the beat of her on occasion.

Hmm... cinching up the lap belt and adjusting the sunglasses at the stoplight might be a warning......!!