Ideas on converting my 2wd Burb to a 4X??

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

So how much lift did you get from swapping the rear?

[70rs/ss]

I am feeling like I got about 7" with just the axle swap (check out the picts with the tape measure in them, half way into the center of the axle to where it was seems like 7-8" total difference). Once I get new unsagging springs I'll end up with a few more inches, but I'll more than likely go with a 2-3" dropped spring so I am not nose bleed high!

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice pictures on the previous page. Is that your mega cab in them? Other than the ultra short box, it's hard to beat a mega cab with a CR.

[70rs/ss]

Yeah, I love it, once in a while I wish I had the longer bed, but most of the time it is A-OK.

I was hoping I could pick up that Burb 4X4 frame of your friends, but once I really looked at this thing I had a lot of the parts to do the convesion vs pulling the body and using a 4X frame, time will tell!

[mosesburb]

Your 14 has the G80 "Gov-Lock" in it. While not a true "posi" like the passenger cars, it does lock both wheels together, often times with a substantial bang, when wheel spin is present. They are not bomb-proof, but with a small block, it should last a very long time, if not forever. Also, if it has not been answered already, the 14 is substantially stronger than the 60, but the 60 is plenty strong enough for a small block. As far as gearing, I would definitely go with the 4.10's--especially with the 700R.

[70rs/ss]

Originally Posted by mosesburb

Your 14 has the G80 "Gov-Lock" in it. While not a true "posi" like the passenger cars, it does lock both wheels together, often times with a substantial bang, when wheel spin is present. They are not bomb-proof, but with a small block, it should last a very long time, if not forever. Also, if it has not been answered already, the 14 is substantially stronger than the 60, but the 60 is plenty strong enough for a small block. As far as gearing, I would definitely go with the 4.10's--especially with the 700R.

You wouldn't have a spare front 60 around would ya?! I figured that either rear would work, just a matter of the gearing. If I can find a 60 w/3.54's cool if not I'll go w/the 14 bolt and the 4.10's. I'd hate to buy a whole K30 just to get a 60, but I found one with 4.56's are those too low?

[mosesburb]

Nope no spare D60F's around here. If you are looking for a 60 with 3.54's, do not even bother looking at GM trucks becaue they never had that gear in a GM. Look for a first gen Dodge 3/4 or 1T Dodge with a Cummins. 3.54 was a very common gear back then. The pad width is close enough to use in a GM and often can be had for less money than a GM 60. As for the 4.56's, it *might* be a bit too much depending on what tires you are running. The 700R will knock it down a fair bit, but if you are running a short tire, it may not knock it down enough.

[70rs/ss]

4.10's is what the 14bff has in it, maybe 4.10's are the easier ratio to locate? I am finding it is almost cheaper to buy a K30 and strip it than to try and buy the axle seperate!

[70rs/ss]

OK a small update and I hope to add some picts here pretty quick. I just purchased a FGB52 kit from a member here, it is made by DIY4x, and man is it a sweet piece! I'll be running 52" springs in the front from a 73 and up truck rear. The 52's will hopefully allow me to have a decent ride up front. I am still not too sure about what height to run on the rear coils, I'll finish up the front before I go there. I am tossing around the idea of a 6.5 diesel for a powerplant as the $$$ and time to use a cummins like I want to do isn't there. mybe later in life, but a 6.5 pretty much bolts in so I think that'll be what I use. The 350 will power it for awhile as I have not driven the Burb YET, I bought it and drug it home with no trans in it and started the 4X4 swap, so i want to drive it for awhile then the diesel swap is to come!! Picts to follow!!

[msgross]

One of our board members has a 72 4wd burb frame for sale in DE. Aren't you coming out here for x-mas? I can pick it up and have it at my place... pretty cheap too.. it was a package deal with a TH350/205 and a front axle for $300 total.

[justcuz]

I would run the 14 bolt myself and the 4.10's. Depending on the final decision on tire size, I think the dana 44 front axle you have will hold up. Especially if you are not going to hammer it too bad off road. You can never find a front 60 when you want one and later they tend to show up like long lost relatives that want to visit for a month!
The diesel idea is cool and there is some great info on the diesel page that is specific to GM diesels. It did a buildup on a 6.5 and they reduced the compression ratio and bumped the boost. The engine then became as reliable as any other diesel out there. They did a tow comparison test and a lot of other testing over a few years and it has held up quite well. I think if you are willing to do a little work and modify that engine you will have a cool, cost effective and reliable diesel conversion.

[skchevota]

I dont think you will need to get drop springs in the rear. The B-52 kit with the stock springs add 4-5" of lift for a stock 4x4 height. Your burb was 2wd so it sat lower than a stock 4x4. I think you will need that 8" or so in the rear to match the front.... Nice project by the way.

[ERASER5]

Since you eventually want to do coil springs in the front, have you thought about air bags? There are bags that can easily handle the towing weight you require, and the ride height could be set exactly where you want.

I've been thinking about this type of conversion too. I wanted enough clearance for 32" or 33" tires, yet I wanted to drop it for easier entrance/exit. Or raise it higher for deep snow. I do not off road, but our winter roads get rough sometimes. A nice control system would make this setup work well. Or so it does in my head.

Just my thoughts.

[70rs/ss]

Cool thanks for the ideas guys, I pulled most of the 2wd front off of it this weekend and am sort of ready to start the FGB52 kit install, gotta get a set of springs first! Thanks again for the thoughts and ideas!

I found a little (HUGE really) surprise under the rubber mat, but that'll have to wait for the picts I took!

[glimmertwin01]

yer a tool...LOL
nice burb
I miss my 97 GMC 2500 4x4 burb..the thing was a beast! the 6.5 IS a good motor if trated right... Id say with the 14 B FF w/ 4.10s and Gov Loc just my 2 cents...

[70rs/ss]

I know I was kinda cringing as I was removing the all original GM parts, I mean the balljoints etc were tight and oe, the mileage is original and not over 100k! It is like new underneath!! I pressure washed the auto trans crossmember and it is still coated in the oe black chasis black paint!! It is really nice and somewhat a survivor, but it is a just a plain jane burb, once I get the 4X4 transformation done it'll be a wicked Burb!! I hope to get some picts of it this weekend, sorry for no pict updates!

[70rs/ss]

No new picts with progress, BUT I did find the buildsheet under the oe rubber mat! This Burb is so original I hate to think about completing the 4x swap. I actually have a deal cooking that would have me put this burb back to 2wd and I'd get a really seet Burb in trade, we'll see, sorry I can't say more about the new Burb but it is a deal so i need to keep it close to the vest untill it is done!

[70rs/ss]

My new comp doesn't want to "talk" w/my camera so no picts, but the 4X4 part of this build just took OFF!! I bit the bullet and bought a K30 so the Burb now will get a Dana 60 w/4.56's along with a 14 bolt w/locker and 4.56's!! I also scored a th400/205 and another 350 4-bolt. Essentially I got a complete square bodied K30, (it isn't running, but I think it will, i just need to change oil, plugs, etc, etc and try to turn it over). The guy I got it from scored it and stock piled it for a future project, so he didn't care to see if it would run as he intended to completely rebuild the entire truck, so i think I have myself a bit of a gold mine here!! I'll post picts as soon as I can get the comp and the camera to "talk"!

[ghettoluxury]

glad to hear that you are back on this one

[glimmertwin01]

Hmmmm D60? Im jealous!

[70rs/ss]

Well, she runs like a top!! BUT and there is always one of those, right?? The trans is making a whining sound and won't go into gear (I think the front pump is gone). Oh well, time for a 700r4, right?! With 4.56's I am in desperate need of an overdrive!! 35's and OD should help tame it on the roads. Still no picts, but soon!!

[70rs/ss]

Well, it has been "quite a while" since I last updated this thread, but alas I am still at it, just kinda slowly!! I took on a new job a while back and that hasn't worked out so well, so I'll have a bit of free time on my hands in a week or so Bright side is I believe everything happens for a reason, and that HE doesn't close a door where he doesn't open a window somewhere else. OH and I have some time and motivation to work on my "junk" as a move will again be in my semi near future so running vehicles load on a trailer much easier!! Check out some picts as of today!!


So here are some picts of the K30 donor truck. The big black bag is the 4-bolt main 350 that runs like a sewing machine! Then the th400/205 transfer case, and then the truck. I really feel bad about picking this truck clean since it is a really nice "clean" truck, but I bought it for the dana 60 front end and it is taking up way too much space!! Oh Oh Oh check out those knarley 16.5"X8" 8-lug wheels, yeah those'll go on something in the very near future. BFG and a few others make a 33 and 35" tall tire in a 16.5 so they are still practical and they look, well B@D @ZZ!!

A random thought, I guess I could search this info and I will if I don't get a response here, but will the frame from the K30 "fit" under the burb?? The reason I ask is that the truck frame is spotless and has all the "stuff" for a 4X without all the mods I still need to do along with the ones I have already done?? Any ideas?? I know ANYTHING can be made to fit, but is it pretty easy??

[glimmertwin01]

sweet!!!!!!! i was looking at a 74 GMC 2500 today the dude told me it was a 1 ton but no dana and the vin says 2500... originally a big block truck turbo 400 203 its a solid truck wanna send me that body???? LOL
the 454 in the blazer is runnin sweet but might get donated into the 2500 and the 355 put in the blazer or one of the 2 other 350s i have

[70rs/ss]

A few more random shots from around Mi' Casa. Does the 72 2wd Blazer look familliar to any of you?! I still have it, may need to let it go, but I won't if I don't have to as I have had it for quite a while and it is paid for and not costing anything to sit there, and besides how many dudes are cool enough to have a slammed 72/68 2wd Blazer as lawn art, right?!

Then random picts of the sunbird my old boss gave me, it needs a trans but my 17 yo daughter has no interest in getting a permit or wanting to get "dirty" so it may go to the crusher??

The blue 67 4-door was bought because I couldn't afford a 2-door then low and behold I found a pretty nice 2-door, and a fricken SS to boot! Has a 67 396 and four speed but the block doesn't match the VIN, so it'll get a 500+ci stroker rat, I have that Vortec Block I've been ratholing away for a few years, this'll be it's new home unless I can score a good used and more importantly "CHEAP" 502 block so I can get closer to 600 ci out of it!! C'mon it's my dream why not shoot for the sky, right?!

The red 94 Camaro was to be for my niece, some of you may remember that one as well?? Anyways her fiance' passed away and his mother gave my niece his car, so the Camaro is under my banner and will get the LT1 I pulled from my brother's old 9c1 cop car after he passed away. Man typing that goes to show how crappy it has been here in NO AZ, my wife and I have suffered the loss of more loved ones than I care to talk about. Anyways on a more upbeat note, the 94 has all new everything suspension wise and I pulled a rear out of a stick car and scored the rear discs as well as a posi and a bit deeper rear gear. The LT1 may get a stroker crank or not, I am truely torn on this one, I know an LT1 is kinda passe' if you will with the LS craze, but I have the complete drivetrain out of the 9C1 including trans, wiring and comp, plus I have a completely rebuilt set of factory aluminum Vette heads so I really am too far down the LT road to go LS without losing all the $$$ and time I have in the LT. Anyways that'll be tucked away for another day!

OH and the BOAT or as I like to call it the hole in the water that I toss $$$ into!! I am 1/2 owner with a friend of mine on it and I am the handy man so it is here to get a new floor in it and a new belly fuel tank. Curious about the motor?! I was untill I saw Piece of FoMoCo under the lid, but it is a v-8 and I can fix just about anything, I hope!! Summer is quickly coming to another end, but fall is really mild here so we can be on the lake untill, well all year if a little cool weather and or snow/rain don't bother you too bad?! It is AZ after all and the water doesn't really freeze so it will get wet a couple of times before we put it down for the "winter!"

Boy looking at my picts and the car lot, er I mean my yard, I better get to work, I have way too much to do and all the time to do it but unfortunately the $$$ is now harder to come by. Oh well I haven't been blessed with the ability to have a cake and eat it too, but I keep on, keepin' on, cause that's all I can do! I hope you guys are all having a good, calm summer!! Enjoy!

[70rs/ss]

Originally Posted by glimmertwin01

sweet!!!!!!! i was looking at a 74 GMC 2500 today the dude told me it was a 1 ton but no dana and the vin says 2500... originally a big block truck turbo 400 203 its a solid truck wanna send me that body???? LOL
the 454 in the blazer is runnin sweet but might get donated into the 2500 and the 355 put in the blazer or one of the 2 other 350s i have

Seriously Dan, the truck is yours, come and get it, heck $4-500 to ship it would still make it a sweet deal?? There is zero rust, and it has a tilt, column shift tec etc, for it's time it was top of the line AC, tilt, cruise, etc. I'll put a 14 bolt 10 bolt under the front if I don't use the frame, so it'll be a roller less drivetrain?? Want it, it's your's come hang out, I have some time on my hands, I'll show you the sightes in NO AZ!