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How To Convert A 1990 Suburban Half Ton 350 TBI To A Dually?

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blackandgold51

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I was going to get a dually truck but due to difficulties and instead since im going to get a large sedan(2000 Crown Victoria Police Version) i was thinking of maybe i should just go ahead and make my suburban a dually since i want a dually in general. 2 in 1: Dually suv and be able to carry 8 to 9 people and can tow. A heavy duty half ton. Short of like todays trucks that are 1500hd or 2500hd

Transmission is a built 700r4 that can handle 600hp
 
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You will need different spring hangers to match the narrower 1-ton spring perches. My understanding is the reason they are narrower is to leave clearance for the dual tires so I don't think you can use 3/4ton width perches that would match your springs.

Easy part is the rear most hanger because you can get a 1-ton shackle flip. You will need to get a different front hanger. Not sure if a hanger off a 1ton pickup would work on the suburban frame.
 
The fenders your gonna need are custom.

You can't use pickup dually fenders.

Like was said you will need to use a one ton set of spring hangers.

The one ton frame is bigger than your half ton frame.

Front a dually axle will bolt in.
 
blazinzuk said:
The fenders your gonna need are custom.

You can't use pickup dually fenders.

Like was said you will need to use a one ton set of spring hangers.

The one ton frame is bigger than your half ton frame.

Front a dually axle will bolt in.
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Or take the fenders and cut the fron half in half to put one piece on the door and the other on the back quarter panal
 
mrk5 said:
You will need different spring hangers to match the narrower 1-ton spring perches. My understanding is the reason they are narrower is to leave clearance for the dual tires so I don't think you can use 3/4ton width perches that would match your springs.

Easy part is the rear most hanger because you can get a 1-ton shackle flip. You will need to get a different front hanger. Not sure if a hanger off a 1ton pickup would work on the suburban frame.
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Can you show me what the hang and flip looks like? I 4got how it looks like
 
mrk5 said:
You will need different spring hangers to match the narrower 1-ton spring perches. My understanding is the reason they are narrower is to leave clearance for the dual tires so I don't think you can use 3/4ton width perches that would match your springs.

Easy part is the rear most hanger because you can get a 1-ton shackle flip. You will need to get a different front hanger. Not sure if a hanger off a 1ton pickup would work on the suburban frame.
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Can you show me what the hang and flip looks like? I 4got how it looks like
 
WhyOWhyOWhy would you WANT to put duals on a half ton Suburban? It won't magically make the truck good at towing, the only real difference will be in appearance.
 
campfire said:
WhyOWhyOWhy would you WANT to put duals on a half ton Suburban? It won't magically make the truck good at towing, the only real difference will be in appearance.
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This kind of negativity shall not be tolerated...

Although to his point I have though alot about this.

If I ever did it I would add some crossmembers to the frame to help because it still is a half ton frame.

I would also add thicker spring packs. And airbags to the back. But somehow I would beef up the frame
 
blazinzuk said:
This kind of negativity shall not be tolerated...

Although to his point I have though alot about this.

If I ever did it I would add some crossmembers to the frame to help because it still is a half ton frame.

I would also add thicker spring packs. And airbags to the back. But somehow I would beef up the frame
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Apologies if that came out wrong. But why do all the work of beefing up frame and suspension when GM made suburbans that already come with beefier frames?
 
campfire said:
WhyOWhyOWhy would you WANT to put duals on a half ton Suburban? It won't magically make the truck good at towing, the only real difference will be in appearance.
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Mainly for appreance yes the rest is a bonus and atleast it will be stable too while towing. It may also halp little more in towing more weight. Not much but still.

Short of like a 1500HD
 
campfire said:
Apologies if that came out wrong. But why do all the work of beefing up frame and suspension when GM made suburbans that already come with beefier frames?
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It's still half ton frame dimensions just a touch thicker. Still a wet noodle
 
Ok, appearance I can understand. Somehow I read the first post and pictured a 20,000 lb trailer behind this poor half ton. Axles by themselves don't magically make things good at towing.
 
campfire said:
Ok, appearance I can understand. Somehow I read the first post and pictured a 20,000 lb trailer behind this poor half ton. Axles by themselves don't magically make things good at towing.
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Im not going to put THAT much weight on my halfton even though it has the dual axles smh
 
I've seen quite a few 3/4 ton square bodies that had the 14 bolt SF or full floating axles converted to a dually using those adapters sold by places like J.C. Whitney that were used for towing and hauling heavy loads without any frame issues...the stock 3/4 and 1/2 ton square body frames are nearly identical other than a bit thicker,and some more reinforcement at the spring hangers in the rear..

A guy I know had a '78 3/4 ton K20 and he put the dually adapters and a dump insert in the bed,and used it often to haul dirt,loaded to the hilt,it never had any frame issues,but he drove it accordingly and not over rough terrain..he also towed a race car with a trailer with it often,and said the dual rears helped a lot as far as eliminating sway,and he felt safer with the added load reduction on the rear tires,having two on each side to share the load,rather than a single one..

I'm not saying you can do that to a 1/2 ton and haul 15,000 lbs either..its simply not up to the task..eventually that guys truck probably had issues,but not during the time he owned it a good 5 years or more..

Its a toss up whether it'd be cheaper to buy a 14 bolt rear and use the dual wheel adapters,or just get a dually axle and modify the spring pads to fit..(or just buy a dually truck to begin with,a one ton!)..
 
diesel4me said:
Its a toss up whether it'd be cheaper to buy a 14 bolt rear and use the dual wheel adapters,or just get a dually axle and modify the spring pads to fit..(or just buy a dually truck to begin with,a one ton!)..
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How do i modify the spring pads and where is it located?
 
blackandgold51 said:
How do i modify the spring pads and where is it located?
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Assuming that the geometry will fit your truck, cut the pad off and weld them wherever they need to be. But it sounds like if you widen the pad spacing on a dually axle you might be encroaching on the space occupied by the inner tire. :dunno:
 
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