Body support replacement

[Polar Bear Express]

I own a 1972 GMC Suburban It is in decent shape but has some issues with rust. I am currently replacing the original rubber body mounts and have run into a problem with the rear (drivers side body mounting rail). It is very rusted and I would like to replace or repair it . The rail runs across the width of the truck and supports the last two body mounts.It looks as if it could be removed.Would this mean lifting the cab off the frame? Can I buy a replacement ?
Thanks for your help.

 

[ryoken]

that's called the tailpan... every K5 on the planet has them rot... well, unless ya live in AZ...

LMC, and all the other taiwan stamped sheetmetal providers sell it.. http://www.lmctruck.com/chevrolet it runs around $90 iirc... the quality of that piece is actually pretty good...

tho it has some bolts, some welding is definitely required.. iirc, it has 2 bolts at each end, the 2 mount bolts, a weld bead at each C-post and then spot welds holding the floor to it... and no, the body doesn't need to be lifted to do it.. tho getting it out and leaving the very back edge of the cargo floor intact may be difficult... usually the rot has fubared that section of floor anyway...

here's a couple pics of mine going in, when I did my custom rear floor...

 

[Polar Bear Express]

Wow! Thanks for the speedy reply! Your truck is different than the Suburban . The floor is plywood sheet.[FONT=&quot]Absolutely[/FONT] original. Mine does have a metal piece across the very back however the "carrage bolts" for the rubber mounts go down through the plywood and through a support rail which runs perpendicular to the frame. I will try and take a few pics. Thanks for your help!

 

[diesel4me]

I had a '71 K-10 Suburban years ago,it had a marine plywood rear cargo area floor,and it was the best part of the truck,all the steel rotted to death around it,the rear quarters just about fell off when I cut the truck up for parts!...the plywood looked to be impregnated with fiberglass resin,because it was still in perfect shape..

You might be able to use a peice on "Uni-Strut" square tubing to replace the rails the floor bolts too,I think Home Depot and Lowes stocks it--electricians and HVAC guys use it to mount heavy furnaces and A/C units overhead,among its other uses...or you might try a steel supplier,they usually have some light channel steel available thats close to original size of the stock crossmembers...

BTW,I still have a bunch of parts from that truck hanging around--have side door and rear 1/4 glass,door handles & hinges,tailgate hinges,sun visors,ash tray,dash cluster,shift boot for the NP-205 T-case shifter,glove box door,dome light housing (minus the lens),dash defroster outlets,switches,knobs,ignition switch,and some other stuff,in case you are in need of anything like that...

 

[Polar Bear Express]

You are right about the durability of the plywood! This truck was Ziebarted on top of the original factory finish and it is as sound as the day it came off the line. I was a bit sceptical about it until I took the frame mounting bolts out. Not punky or anything. I had another look at the channel piece. It measures 3.75 " and I think I am going to have a short piece of steel sheet bent up to form a "doubler" and reinforce what is there. It is only the last6 or 8 inches in width that is chewed by rust. Thanks for the offer of parts.I am ok with most of that stuff.I am looking for a source of rubber for the T case support.Everones product is polyurathane which I read is not compatible with rubber (stronger causing torque of the bell housing). Any ideas about that? The truck never works hard in 4 wheel and I am tempted to replace the current mushy rubber ones even if at risk. They are not providing much support. Thanks for your help!

 

[76zimmer]

Are you running cast iron or aluminum trans?
Although you should run like for like on the mounts, if you have cast iron, I know people who have poly transfer case and rubber engine and had no problems, but I wouldn't do it with aluminum.

 

[Polar Bear Express]

Thanks for the reply, I have an aluminum transmission. I dont see rubber anywhere on the web. Everyone has gone to poly.Thanks for your help.