Pickup Body to Suburban Frame Swap?????

[97350]

Will a 73-87 pickup body(including the box) bolt onto a same year suburban frame? Is the wheelbase the same? Will the body mounts line up?

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Will a 73-87 pickup body(including the box) bolt onto a same year suburban frame? Is the wheelbase the same? Will the body mounts line up?

I'm gonna have to say no based on having a K5 frame and having my V10 down to the bare frame. But with some fab work it can be done I'm sure.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

It definitely won't be plug and play. The LWB and Suburban are fairly close, though. The data shown pertains to the 1987 model year.

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[bucket]

Burb wheelbase is 2 inches shorter and the rear half of the frame is different. It could be done, but a lot of fabbing would be required.

 

[bucket]

And IIRC, the Burb shares body mount spacing with a crew cab. So the body mount crossmember would need moved in order to bolt on a regular cab.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

I saw a build thread somewhere where a guy dropped a Crew Cab onto a 3/4 ton burban frame, had a little short bed, looked kinda cool.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

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[CSFJ]

The box wouldn't be that much shorter than a short box, just the wheel base would look a little strange.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

The box wouldn't be that much shorter than a short box, just the wheel base would look a little strange.

One guy mentioned using 64" springs and keeping the front location stock to push the axle back.

 

[97350]

Thanks for the info.I have access to a 3/4t 4x4 burb but want a pick up.I can get an old 1/2t 4x4 that needs a drivetrain and was just curious which would be easier/better,a body swap or a drivetrain swap.

BTW cool build Jrgunn5150.

 

[cooperhw]

Thanks for the info.I have access to a 3/4t 4x4 burb but want a pick up.I can get an old 1/2t 4x4 that needs a drivetrain and was just curious which would be easier/better,a body swap or a drivetrain swap.

BTW cool build Jrgunn5150.

"Anything can be done" with enough time, work, patience, and money. Just have to add in all the variables to see if it pencils out.
I would think you would just be better off getting what you want to start out with. Even if you have to update axles.

 

[twinturbo427]

The frame and suspension from my 1978 k20 Suburban ended up under an 85 c10 pickup. The front frame was cut off where it straightens out on both trucks and welded with gussets under the c10. The rear suspension was removed from the frame by drilling the rivets and then bolted in the factory location on the c10.
I didn't do the work and personally would have gone the bolt-on route with the front too. The builder/owner put thousands of miles on it afterwards.

With the 1/2 ton you are looking at being a 4x4, do the suspension swap.

Where there is a will, there is a way!