K30 to Burb - drivetrain or body swap?

[Ned Kelly]

So I picked up a very rusted out K30 in fine running condition with 4" lift. I have a nice stock 1/2 4x4 Suburban in ok mechinical condtion, but who wants a 1/2 ton Burb?

What would be the best way to meld the two vehicles into a 1 ton Burb?
Swap the Burb body onto the K30 beefy frame using a 3" body lift?
or.......
Swap the K30 drivetrain into the Burb, but have the thinner, weaker frame (or is this a non-issue?)?

I like the idea of retaining the mucho beefier K30 frame, but not sure I like the body lift idea. I would need a 3" body lift due to the different frame profile between Burb and K30.

 

[Muddytazz]

I'd just swap over the mechanics of the K30 to the burb if it were me.

 

[mini_mull]

How about swapping the gear and boxing the burb frame if you're really going that hardcore? Any rust on the one ton frame, that might make it weaker than the burb frame?

 

[eclipse]

alot less work and alot better final product would be to swap your springs and axles to the burb. Swapping the body on to the frame would need alot of customizing and its not like you can load up a suburban with weight like a pickup so you wont need the 1ton frame.

 

[Ned Kelly]

Ok, I'll swap the drivetrain into the Burb. Thanks for the replies.

 

[eclipse]

if you haven't done a 1ton swap before, do a search on the forums here. Not everything will bolt right up since the 1tons spring perches, and such are different.

 

[BGKYK5]

If you have any trouble finding a place for the D60.....

 

[Ned Kelly]

if you haven't done a 1ton swap before, do a search on the forums here. Not everything will bolt right up since the 1tons spring perches, and such are different.

You are correct. I bought some RuffStuff 14bff spring perches awhile ago for this swap. Everything else should be straight forward I think. The rest should bolt over - or am I forgetting something?

 

[85-m1028]

what about putting a blazer body on the k30, chop out the rear wheel tubs for the extra wheel base and find a way to keep the saddle fuel tank???