Want to replace my engine, tranny, and transfer case - what trucks can I pull from?

[Jessie James]

Hey all, I have a 1991 K5 with 250k miles on it. The engine needs an overhaul, the tranny is about dead, and the transfer case won't stay in 4wd.

I am looking around and there are lots of newer Chevy trucks on CL and wonder if I could pick up a 90's era Suburban or Tahoe and just pull and swap the entire assembly out, and put my intake and TBI setup on top?

If so, any advice or pointers you can provide would be great.

-JJ

 

[dyeager535]

Hey all, I have a 1991 K5 with 250k miles on it. The engine needs an overhaul, the tranny is about dead, and the transfer case won't stay in 4wd.

I am looking around and there are lots of newer Chevy trucks on CL and wonder if I could pick up a 90's era Suburban or Tahoe and just pull and swap the entire assemble out, and put my instake and TBI setup on top?

If so, any advice or pointers you can provide would be great.

-JJ

'90-91 K5 or Suburban.

There is a ton of mixing and matching that can be done with other years, but for a complete one for one swap as you are talking about, that's it.

 

[Justin V]

Any GM truck that you source from needs to be 87-95. Other years mean making extensive modifications to fuel systems, exhaust, wiring, driveshafts, shifters, crossmembers, etc.

That being said, 90-91 K5 or Suburban should derict plug and play swap.

Any 88+ NON Square body won't have the proper t-case. Those years switched to a driver's side front differential. Things like exhaust manifolds and engine accessories are likely different. The longblock and trans should be compatible. 87-89 square bodies won't have the Vehicle Speed sensor mounted in the T-case like a 90 or 91. There are surely more little differences between the years but these are just the ones I thought of quickly.

FYI, many times the trans mount is the problem when the t-case won't stay in 4WD.