88 1 ton 4wd dually same frame as the 3/4+1/2 ton 86 and older trks

[k30]

Hi all I have a 88 1ton 4wd dually with what I call the -OLD- body style I want to put a plow on it and I have a buddy a few states away that cn send me a set of plow push plates he has from a 85 1/2 ton trk I've been told by some people that the frames are identical.I wanted to chk here 1st though.Any help ?? Thanks

 

[tRustyK5]

Front of the frame is the same on the one ton, although the material is thicker. Rearward from under the cab the one ton frame is 8" deep versus 6" deep for the half ton frame.

For your purposes I think the brackets and stuff should work, and if not it shouldn't take much to make em work.

Rene

 

[k30]

OK great Thanks Rene

 

[dremu]

So your '88 must be a crewcab, or a cab-n-chassis (was originally made without a bed) to be the old body style.

In any event, the 1-ton frames are a bit different. Whether this affects plow fitment, however, is another issue.

The frame is taller and thicker on a 1-ton than on the 1/2's and 3/4's. I forget the details, but it's like an inch or two taller. Additionally, the frame rails are closer together -- at least in the back.

In the front, I believe the two frame types are identical, or at least similar. I know that the winch bumper from my '74 K5 fit onto my '74 one-ton dually, so the frame rails are at least the same outer width.

(NB: 73-80 frames/bumpers are different from 81+, but this won't affect you since yours are both '81+.)

I would take your buddy up on it, unless someone here posts up with specifics as to why they wouldn't work. I suppose it'll depend on how they mount to the frame; again, the frame on your dually will be taller than the donor trucks's. As long as the plates attach to the sides and/or top, i.e. not to the top AND bottom, you should be okay. You may have to do a little drilling or prying with a crowbar and swearing ... but I've often had to do that mounting bumpers even when they ARE an "exact" fit

-- A

 

[dremu]

Dangit, beaten to the punch. And corrected on the frame height; note to self, it's not the ENTIRE frame that's taller.

-- A

 

[k30]

So your '88 must be a crewcab, or a cab-n-chassis (was originally made without a bed) to be the old body style.

In any event, the 1-ton frames are a bit different. Whether this affects plow fitment, however, is another issue.

The frame is taller and thicker on a 1-ton than on the 1/2's and 3/4's. I forget the details, but it's like an inch or two taller. Additionally, the frame rails are closer together -- at least in the back.

In the front, I believe the two frame types are identical, or at least similar. I know that the winch bumper from my '74 K5 fit onto my '74 one-ton dually, so the frame rails are at least the same outer width.

(NB: 73-80 frames/bumpers are different from 81+, but this won't affect you since yours are both '81+.)

I would take your buddy up on it, unless someone here posts up with specifics as to why they wouldn't work. I suppose it'll depend on how they mount to the frame; again, the frame on your dually will be taller than the donor trucks's. As long as the plates attach to the sides and/or top, i.e. not to the top AND bottom, you should be okay. You may have to do a little drilling or prying with a crowbar and swearing ... but I've often had to do that mounting bumpers even when they ARE an "exact" fit

-- A

Hey Dremu I've had some folks say no dually bed on 88 1 tons and others say yes.This guy on Craigs said he bought this trk new and it had the bed on it not cab and chassis [email protected] (Craigs NH)This is another trk I looked @ opinions ??

 

[tRustyK5]

Dangit, beaten to the punch. And corrected on the frame height; note to self, it's not the ENTIRE frame that's taller.

-- A

Aft of the wheel arch the one ton frame matches the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton in height too. It's really the center of the frame which is taller...I'm guessing to prevent the frame from sinking in the middle from heavier loads.

Rene

 

[dremu]

Hey Dremu I've had some folks say no dually bed on 88 1 tons and others say yes.This guy on Craigs said he bought this trk new and it had the bed on it not cab and chassis [email protected] (Craigs NH)This is another trk I looked @ opinions ??

Don't get me started about "model years" and how they don't relate to a calendar. At all.

Officially GM switched to the new body style ("C/K series") for 1988 model year trucks for the single cab pickups. (There were also cab and chassis models in various flavours.)

The old body style (i.e. 73-87, called "R series" for 2WD and "V" for 4WD) was kept for the Blazer/Jimmy, the Suburban, and the Crewcab/Bonus Cab, and cab and chassis versions of the sixpacks.

I say "officially", 'cuz I imagine that some of one body style could have been made before or after the official switch date, i.e. it's possible that trucks made in very late 1987 were tagged as 1988 models but still had the old body style.

In any event, as long as the VIN on the paperwork matches the VIN on the truck, it doesn't so much matter what year the thing is tagged as. (Though if you do get a "1988" old-body style truck, post up the VIN ... I'd like to check it out, see what it's encoded as.)

The Craigslist one ... well, to me $3500 seems high. Especially with gas prices going through the roof, pickups cheap, older pickups even cheap, and big block trucks, well, let's just say you can afford to be picky:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/car/720677889.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/car/719731749.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/car/716037441.html

Grabbed a few off CL just as examples.

-- A

 

[k30]

OK Dremu thanks for all the good info/Yea the one for 3500.00 I took a big pass on.It was real rusty too.Thats why I passed on it.Regards K30