1990 Suburban body on One Ton Frame?
Hi Has anyone tried putting a suburban body on a one ton chevy truck frame. I know there will be a wheelbase difference but not a problem. I can lengthen or shorten it to make the wheels fit the openings. Already have done a 72 chevy 2wd truck on a 69 3/4 ton 4x4 suburban frame. I really need the one ton weight capacity but hate to give up my vintage suburban body style. And don't need a truck with bed. If I did I would get a 91 4 door chevy diesel. Are the one ton frames narrower in the back? I know there is a spring perch center to center difference ( at least on the military cucvs) If it's narower it may force me to fab a new fuel tank as the old one may not fit between the openings. My old 90 body ( from upstate NY) is starting to fall apart and I hate to spend another two thousand dollars fighting body rot. My last fix lasted 4 years. Have a pristine 1988 3/4 2wd 454 silverado suburban body 75k miles with no visable rust underneith. Owner only used it in the summer to pull camper and pontoon. Ordered with all optins then he added several coolers, temp operated electric fans everything someone towing could want. Took a whole year to talk him out of it. But got it for about half of what he wanted when I first started trying to get it. Been outside since then and has some light paint peel and surface rust but my PA soda blaster will take care of that. Take body off and build rotating frame jig to really deep clean and seal whole underside. May even get it Rhinolined underneath.
I love my little 6.2 turbo diesel but may find a rolled dodge and do a cummins swap. It takes a whole lot of effort and money to get a 18 to 1 6.5 turbo to make the power I could get from the cummins. A lot of work but would be a really cool swap. Would love to do a dmax swap but not real computer savy getting everything to talk and would have to raise body to clear trans or build a custom trans hump. A lot more bucks too. I figure I could muster about 10k for the project. I already have the body so it would be the rolling frame and power train.
Thanks Darkroad
1990 GMC V2500 Suburban 6.2 Diesel ,DB2-4911 IP, 6.5 Turbo injectors, Banks turbo kit upgraded with Banks TE06H turbo. New Clearwater heads, Peninsular 105 GPM water pump,Kennedy dual thermostat conversion, DSG gear drive, stud girdle, Bilstein shocks, 4 amps 15 speakers.
1988 Chevy R2500 454 Suburban Silverado Loaded 70,000 miles always using Mobil 1, Saving for rust free body.
1992 K-1500 suburban new 383 sitting on engine stand, monster 700r4 tranny