OBS Tahoe build guide: Tahoe, Yukon and Suburban years and parts

An OBS Tahoe build starts with the same GMT400 platform as the 1988-98 pickups, but the SUVs have their own years, body codes and parts list. The full-size Blazer (1992-94), the Tahoe (1995 into 2000), the GMC Yukon and the 1992-99 Suburban share the pickup's front bodywork, so many OBS parts carry over, though not all of them. The trick is knowing which body you have and checking every part listing against it before you order.

This guide covers the SUV years, how the two-door, four-door and Suburban differ, and which Fesler parts list SUV fitment today. Everything we build for these trucks lives in the OBS truck collection.

What years are the OBS Tahoe, Yukon and Suburban?

GM moved its pickups to the GMT400 platform for 1988, but the full-size SUVs stayed on the older squarebody chassis a few more years. They switched for the 1992 model year, their first full redesign since 1973. Model histories describe the new SUVs as derived from the crew cab pickup body, which also debuted for 1992.

The big change for the two-door was the roof. The old K5 Blazer had a lift-off top. The GMT400 version got a permanent roof and became, in effect, a three-door Suburban. Chevy called it the full-size Blazer. GMC dropped the Jimmy name for its version and called it the Yukon from day one.

For 1995, Chevy renamed the Blazer the Tahoe, and GM added a four-door Tahoe and Yukon: a short-wheelbase Suburban with two rows of seats. The two-door lasted a few more years. GMC dropped its two-door Yukon first, and Chevy built the two-door Tahoe through the 1999 model year. The new GMT800 SUVs arrived for 2000, but Chevy also built the GMT400 four-door Tahoe that year as the Limited and Z71.

Chevy full-size Blazer (two-door)	1992-94. GM platform code GMT415.
Chevy Tahoe (two-door)	1995-99. 111.5 inch wheelbase.
Chevy Tahoe (four-door)	1995-99, plus 2000 Limited and Z71. 117.5 inch wheelbase.
GMC Yukon	Two-door only for 1992-94. Four-door added for 1995. Two-door dropped before Chevy's.
Chevy and GMC Suburban	1992-99. Four doors plus a rear tailgate or twin rear doors. 131.5 inch wheelbase. 1500 and 2500 series.

One more note for the year math: a 1988-91 Suburban is still a squarebody. If someone is selling a 1990 Suburban as an OBS, it is not.

Two-door, four-door or Suburban: which OBS SUV should you build?

There is no wrong answer here, only different builds.

The two-door Blazer and Tahoe

The two-door is the shortest of the three at 111.5 inches of wheelbase, and it has the cleanest profile for a pro-touring or street build. The Blazer and Yukon were sold only in the 1500 series. Gas engines were the 5.7 liter small-block, with a 6.5 liter turbodiesel offered from 1994. The 5.7 became the Vortec 5700 for 1996, rated at 255 horsepower.

The four-door Tahoe and Yukon

Same front end, six more inches of wheelbase, and real rear doors. If the truck is going to haul kids, dogs or a cooler to the river, the four-door is the practical pick. It only exists from 1995 on, so every four-door has the later interior.

The Suburban

The long one, at 131.5 inches. It seats up to nine with both rear benches, came in 1500 and 2500 series, and the 2500 could be ordered with a 7.4 liter V8. Suburbans also share their front bodywork with the C/K pickups, which matters when you are shopping for cowl and front-end parts.

How the OBS SUV interior changed in 1995

The SUVs followed the pickups. For 1995, the Tahoe and Suburban got the redesigned dash and instrument cluster along with a driver airbag. That split matters for any part that touches the dash, and it is the first thing to check on a gauge kit.

The Dakota Digital kits we carry show how it breaks down. The RTX-92C-PU-X lists 1992-94 GM SUVs (Blazer and Suburban) and pickups. The RTX-95C-PU-X lists 1995-98 pickups and 1995-2000 Suburban, Tahoe and Yukon, and the HDX-95C-PU and VHX-95C-PU list the same 1995-2000 SUV and HD range. The 1988-94 VHX and HDX kits we carry list trucks only. All of them use your stock or reproduction bezel, which is not included.

Which Fesler OBS parts fit a Tahoe, Yukon or Suburban?

Here is exactly what our product listings say, using the year ranges as listed. If your truck is not named, or you have a 1992-94 Blazer-badged truck, a Yukon or a 1999 Suburban, call before you order so we can confirm.

Smooth cowl panel	1988-98 trucks and Suburbans, 1991-99 two- and four-door Tahoes. $325.
Kick panels	1988-2000 truck, Tahoe and Suburban. $349.
Door panels, front pair	1988-98 two-door trucks and 1991-99 two-door Tahoes, front doors only. $775.
Door panels, set of four	1988-2000 crew cab trucks and Suburbans, front and rear. $1,499.
SUV carpet kit	1992-99 two-door Tahoe, four-door Tahoe, Suburban and GMC Yukon. Starts at $440.

Smooth cowl

The OBS smooth cowl is hand-laid fiberglass in a smooth gel coat and a direct fit to the stock cowl. It gets rid of the factory's exposed screws. Indented drill points show you where to drill, mounting screws are included, and it ships ready for paint with very little body work. It ships oversize.

Door panels

Two-door Tahoe owners want the front door panel pair. Suburban owners want the set of four, the same set we sell for crew cab trucks. Both are hand-laid fiberglass, made in Arizona by Fesler, with a full-coverage design that replaces the entire factory panel. They take 6.5 inch speakers, and the set of four has speaker locations front and rear.

A few things to know before you order:

• They are laid out for power windows, with the window and lock switches moved to the center console. Door-mounted switches are possible with your own modification.
• They ship in gel coat, not upholstered. You wrap them or paint them.
• With a 1996 or newer stock dash, the front panel can touch the dash edge. Shaving the panel edge gives you the clearance.
• Expect a test fit and some minor trimming to get the alignment right on your truck.

We do not currently list a door panel set for the four-door Tahoe or Yukon. If you have one, call us before assuming the Suburban set will work.

Kick panels

The OBS kick panels list 1988-2000 trucks, Tahoes and Suburbans. They are hand-made fiberglass built around a 6.5 inch speaker, and there is a flat version that needs zero cutting. They drop in alongside our door panels.

Carpet

The OBS SUV carpet kit is made by Auto Custom Carpets (ACC) and covers 1992-99 two-door Tahoe, four-door Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon floors in cut pile. Pricing depends on body and backing: the two-door starts at $440, the Suburban at $494 and the four-door at $530, with Mass Back backing costing more. One Tahoe detail: the kits ship without rear floor heat-vent cutouts by default. If your Tahoe has rear floor vents, email us before you order so we can set the kit up correctly.

Can you put flush-mount glass in an OBS Tahoe or Suburban?

Partly, for now. Our OBS flush-mount glass kit is on pre-order, made with our partner Pilkington USA. The listing says the windshield fits the Blazer and Suburban, and that side and rear glass for the SUVs is still in development. If you can provide a roller for that development work, the listing asks you to contact us.

The windshield is laminated DOT glass that bonds into the factory opening with urethane and a frit band, with no outside trim. It needs a professional install by a certified auto glass technician, and glass is non-returnable, so confirm your body before you order.

OBS Tahoe build order: a simple plan

1. Confirm the body. Two-door, four-door or Suburban, and the model year. Check the VIN and title, not the badges.
2. Confirm the dash. 1992-94 or 1995 and newer. It decides your gauge kit, and a 1996 or newer dash means a little trimming on our door panels.
3. Do the cowl before paint. It needs drilling and paint to match, so it belongs in the body and paint stage.
4. Plan the interior as one job. Door panels, kick panels, carpet, speakers and console switch location all affect each other.
5. Call on anything not listed. Yukons, four-door door panels and early Blazer-badged trucks are the common ones.

If you want the bigger picture on why these trucks are climbing, read why the OBS is the next squarebody.

Frequently asked questions

What years are the OBS Tahoe, Yukon and Suburban?

The GMT400 Suburban ran 1992 to 1999. The two-door was the full-size Blazer for 1992 to 1994 and the Tahoe for 1995 to 1999. The four-door Tahoe and Yukon arrived for 1995, and a few GMT400 Tahoe versions carried into 2000. GMC sold the two-door Yukon from 1992 and dropped it a couple of years before Chevy dropped the two-door Tahoe.

Do Fesler OBS truck parts fit a Tahoe or Suburban?

Some do. The smooth cowl lists 1988-98 Suburbans and 1991-99 two- and four-door Tahoes. The kick panels list 1988-2000 Tahoes and Suburbans. The four-door panel set lists Suburbans, and the front pair lists two-door Tahoes. The SUV carpet kit covers 1992-99 Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon.

Do you make door panels for a four-door Tahoe or Yukon?

We do not currently list one. Our door panel listings cover two-door Tahoes (front pair) and Suburbans (set of four), but a four-door Tahoe or Yukon is not named. Call us at 480-748-2000 before ordering for one.

Can I put flush-mount glass in an OBS Tahoe or Suburban?

Our OBS flush-mount glass is on pre-order. The listing says the windshield fits the Blazer and Suburban, with side and rear glass still in development. It is made with our partner Pilkington USA, and installation should be done by a certified auto glass technician.

Do the parts fit a GMC Yukon?

The SUV carpet kit names the Yukon directly. Our cowl, door panel and kick panel listings name Chevy models, so if you have a Yukon, call us at 480-748-2000 and we will confirm fitment before you order.

Building an OBS Tahoe, Yukon or Suburban? Start with the OBS truck collection, or call us at 480-748-2000 and we will help you sort out what fits your body and year.

Sources: Wikipedia, Chevrolet C/K (fourth generation), Chevrolet K5 Blazer, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban (eighth generation) and GMT400 articles (model years, body codes, engines, rename and door history); iSeeCars (1995 Tahoe wheelbase figures).