Berb Body Swap

[mudhound72]

Today I drove by a used car dealer and saw a 88 Berb 4wd for sale nice and clean inside not to much in the line of rust eather, it is also a converson set up with the nice seats and the raised roof. Sharp truck, it got me thinking my tow berb needs some body TLC, so my thought it how big of a pain in the a$$ is it to swap berb bodys

Also I want to keep my tow rig 2WD and I am also making it a dully, just need to swap some tires and rims around and messure for flaires, I am going for the bling factor with 500ci under the hood

 

[bigbluesuburban]

I did a body swap not to long ago on a Toyota.

The biggest problem I found was lifting and moving the bodies and frames. I built two huge A frames and used 4 chain hoists. I also had a trailer ready to place the bad body on so that I could move it around.

I do not suppose that the Sub would be really different, but do your homework first. Take the time to look at things like Auto vs Stick, 2wd vs 4wd (you have already stated this difference) e brake cables, brake lines, electrical, etc etc.

The thing I have always liked about Chev and Toy is that lots of different years have similar components. For instance I put a 95 4 Runner body on a 85 Frame and it was actually a breeze, the body mounts only required 4 custom length body pucks to fill in the gaps. I could have moved the mounts on the frames... but it was a difference of 3/8" on two of them and 2 3/4" on the other. I know the 2.75" is a little long, but with all the others being short still it was just simpler.

My point is that I don't think it's rocket surgery. Just take your time, do your homework, and invite friends for the muscle factor.

Oh and BE PATIENT. Don't get sawzall and torch happy.

Good luck, take pics, and post them.

 

[KingDuramax]

Go here and see a Burb body swap done. It is my brothers truck.(KingSuburban..Hes a member on here too) It took us a 3 day weekend to do it. www.burben.com Any questions feel free to ask. We did it in the driveway with a floor jack. Click the Transformation of Burben 2002 link and you will see all the pics.

 

[Muddytazz]

Check out my webshots (link in my sig) I did a burb body swap a couple yrs ago

 

[KingSuburban]

It was easiest for me to just cut the old body off. I used pallets and a floor jack to lift the body up and lower it back onto the frame. It worked very well for us.

http://www.thesanfilippos.com/~jtoys/cut up 14.JPG

 

[mudhound72]

Looks like something I can handle, it justs depends on how things go with getting a house I am looking at

 

[bigbluesuburban]

We did it in the driveway with a floor jack.

You forgot the 50 or so pallets and 6X6's you happened to have laying around.

 

[KingSuburban]

There were actually only 40 pallets I borrowed from work the 6x6's are nice to have once I spent the $$ up front. It is always good to have those around...

 

[KingDuramax]

You forgot the 50 or so pallets and 6X6's you happened to have laying around.

Details Details!! I figured you would get the idea when you looked at it.

 

[cbbr]

Check out my webshots (link in my sig) I did a burb body swap a couple yrs ago

How big a PITA was that from a plumbing/wiring standpoint? I am now entertaining the idea but want the A/C, heat and electrical to work.

 

[uao85]

yeah thats one big reason(a/c) that I am going to be doing a crew cab swap on my cucv this christmas break........

Remington

 

[1979jimmy350]

Looks like something I can handle, it justs depends on how things go with getting a house I am looking at

body swaps are not that bad, that blazer body i picked up from you only took me a few hours to put on the new body, the only thing that you might have to worry about is the front end differences becasue your burb is the older style the front part of the frame will be different