Is it true that the 3/4 ton Suburban from 73 to 91 is thicker than the 1/2 ton. I have CRAZY thouhgts of a Cummins powered 90 Sub. I already have a D60 up front and a 14bolt in the rear. The engine (Cummins) is sitting in the garage along with a NV4500. I'm just leery of the 1/2 ton frame. I've done a conversion before on a 75 CCab Chevy and I boxed the frame to mid way under the second door which really helped but it was ALOT of work that I really don't want to do again :doah:. It was probably a little overkill.
I have seen your projects and I think you like things that require alot of work. What does the better half think of this crazy thought?? :stir:
From what I have learned the 73 to 91 Sub frames are dimensionally the same from 1/2 to 3/4 Ton . If they are thicker on the 3/4 Ton's than it is not obvious by the naked eye. Bracing it up or fully boxing in the motor mount area sounds like a damn good idea for such a project . Please keep us updated with pic's if this idea turns into a project . Tom
Well the 1ton uses a larger frame. 9x3 in some sections. Soo the 75 that is in the back yard that I did all of the frame boxing on has been almost reduced to nothing but frame rails which makes it a perfect canidate for the Sub project by doing a back half on the frame which will decrease the time it would take boxing in the weaker Suburban frame. The engine mounts are already installed and the 90's GM radiator core has already been modifyed for the Dodge radiator/intercooler which sits behind the grill . The only thing thats got me stumped at this time is an Auto trans option for the swap. The 47RH is probably the best swap at this time. I already have an NV4500 rig and I don't like the way the Wifey drives it so she'll get an Auto waytogo
The spec book i have for my 91 says there is a difference in thickness.. (.177 vs .192). The RBM (lb in)(??) of the frame is 139,230 vs 151,320 as well. All the other dimensions appear to be the same.
quite a while ago i stumbled across a restoration link for GM. send in your vin, address, and you got the build list for your truck, the spec sheet for the year and a small handfull of other items. The 'spec sheet' i refer to was in those materials. Print date is Oct 90, Chevrolet Motor Division. Covers models, trim, powertrains, options, etc, etc, etc. Also has the 'real-live-no-bull$hit' mfr towing numbers too (which i've found handy from time to time!!). Glad to share!
Can you post the link? I've starting looking for my next project and info like this would be helpful.
