dually conversion

[dennyswildworld]

Hello, I have an 84 2500 suburban that I want to convert to a dually. I have a 77 dually to get parts off. Neither truck is currently running. It is over an hour drive from my home, so I would like to get what I need in as few trips as possible. Does anyone know what parts I need to take? How much of an 84 and a 77 will interchange. Other than the rearend and wheels. Can I use my subs rear springs? How about the front end. Can I change spindles and use my a-arms? How much of the front end will I need to get?

[rcbildr]

Might want to take one trip and to go out and measure the width of the rear spring perches and take pictures of all that you want to work with. My friend did a similar swap..wanted to put a 1ton rear end under the 3/4ton truck... and he ran in to some problems. I can't remember all of them, but I think some were how the shocks were mounted at the frame and the width of the rear spring perches.

[Zoomad75]

One tons have narrower spring perch spacing than 1/2 ton and 3/4 tons. you will have to move the spring perches on the axle to match the suburban frame/springs. Most of the other stuff should carry over, but I'd measure and compare before pulling both apart.

[watahyahknow]

youre going to need the front diskbrakes/hub to replace the 3/4 spindles on youre truck the truckwheels would fit on the 3/4 hubs but it would stick in a lot and look like the wheels on a motorhome .
and you need the wheels themselves and the rearaxle complete if possible and the bed with the fender bulges when you want the wide rear on youre truck too
if you want the narrow rear axle and youre truck has a 14 bolt rearaxle the best thing to do in my eyes is to pull the shafts and replace the hubs on the rearaxle of youre truck with the ones of the donoraxle
the gearing in youre own rearaxle is prolly better then the one out of the one ton , you do need to move the mountingpoint on the axle that holds the rearplate for the drumbakecalipers inwarth cause the new hubs make the drums go further up the axle towarth the diff or put diskbrakes on (front diskbrakes from a 4x4 fit on a 14 bolt http://www.projectresponder.com/rear...ersion~158.htm or http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...b_disc_brakes/ , when youre going to use this setup you probably have to cut out and widen the inner fenders of youre own bed to get the wheels to fit but the duallie tires will fit inside the stock bed without the bulges .
you basicly made a chassis cab axle when youre done the only thing im not sure about is the leafsprings you might need to move those inboard to make room for the inner wheels

if the truck still has a clear title im verry interested in buying the papers and the vinnumber from that truck for a truck i own here in the netherlands send me an pm and we talk price .....

[dennyswildworld]

Thanks for all the info. Watahyahknow..I am getting the parts off a buddy. He does not have a title for the truck. Sorry,but thanks for the info

[watahyahknow]

it would look somewat like this when you do the narrow one

[dennyswildworld]

Wow!! Thanks for the pics!! I was planning on using a wide axle and ordering the custom fenders, but now I am not sure. That sub looks sweet.

Does anyone know if the springs will need to be moved?

What do you all think? In or out?

[Ivan D.]

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

hey man, I'm looking at the front axle of this truck, and I notice the lower control arms are at the same level as the wheel spindles, and most other trucks I've seen (mine included) the lower ball joints are several inches lower than the spindles - do you happen to know why does this truck sit so high in the front? Does it use some aftermarket lift spindles, or is there some factory GM spindles that can be used to give such a lift? Thanks!!

[watahyahknow]

i havent seen this truck in real life but it could be its a 4 x 4 and wat you see is a straight axle

[Ivan D.]

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

i havent seen this truck in real life but it could be its a 4 x 4 and wat you see is a straight axle

Ah, well yeah, that may be, I thought it just looks too thin to be a solid axle so I assumed 2wd with a front lift kit of some kind

[watahyahknow]

http://www.morlock-motors.de this guy in germany might now more he was the owner/seller of that truck .
he bought a lot of army surplus from the german bases of the usa militairy and he likes to tinker with the different parts making cars and trucks that actually never been build by the manufacturer that way .
i know him as a crumpy person that asks a lot of money for parts and doesnt respond whell to a lot of questions when there isnt a sell connected to it