2000 burb frame under 1972 burb body?
 

Anybody ever do this combination. I want to put a late model engine in my 72burb but thought that swapping the frame might be better (ride, abs, ease of use of trans, exhaust, etc...). I know the wheelbase will have to be shortened but did not know about if there were any width issues etc... I also posted this in the suspension section but since it is burb specific I thought I might get a better response here.

Re: 2000 burb frame under 1972 burb body?
 

A member named Jeffg1010 has something like this.

Re: 2000 burb frame under 1972 burb body?
 

I don't have any first hand experience.

Though there is a guy running around my town with a 66 burb that has a 2000 vintage chassis under it, along with the Duramax, trans, and transfer case.

I briefly spoke to him about it, and he said that it came from a quad cab pick up and that the frame was shortened in the middle.

The rig is a looker, and is always in the local shows and parades.

Re: 2000 burb frame under 1972 burb body?
 

make it easy on yourself....just graft the front cross member in and weld some perches to the y2k rear axle so it will bolt up the 72 trailing arms.

Re: 2000 burb frame under 1972 burb body?
 

I have a K10 and it seems to me that grafting the front end in would be no more difficult than cutting 3 inches out of the middle. I am assuming that the frame has roughly the same width and I know what happens when I assume. I have the opportunity to get a 2000 Suburban 1500 4wd cheaply so I would have all of the components needed.

Re: 2000 burb frame under 1972 burb body?
 

I'd be interested in seeing this, I live just up the road from you in White House.

Re: 2000 burb frame under 1972 burb body?
 

yes, but the newer frame is designed to fit an entirely different body. by just swapping the front cross member assembly and rear axle you don't have to worry about body mounts or anything else not lining up.

Re: 2000 burb frame under 1972 burb body?
 

Seems like it would be far easier to swap the engine and trans into your frame than the whole frame, or even the subframe.

Re: 2000 burb frame under 1972 burb body?
 

I'm in the market for a 3/4 ton late model 4x4 with a duramax. I plan to do exactly what you're talking about. It shouldn't be too hard. If you can weld in a new crossmember and rear axle then it shouldn't be too much harder to fab new body mounts. Plus the newer frame is stronger and all the geometry is made to fit the frame, plus you benefit from 30 more years of engineering advancements in suspension, braking and ride quality.