HD Frame Swap to 1+ ton

[Yukon 400]

After putting in a Cummins in my 3/4 ton suburban, I realized that the frame sags slightly, but that was expected and was not enough to bother me. Now getting ready to installing a front drive axle and jacking up the front the frame twisted a lot and brought up some concerns of durability with so much twist ans sooner or later with use it seems that fatigue will eventually lead to failures.

It seems that the 3/4 ton suburban frame of this era is not that much beefier that a 1/2 ton one. I looked at the idea of using a current day or gmt800 hyrdoformed frame would be much stiffer than what I have, but they are still not designed to handle the weight. So I was looking at using a 88-00 one ton crew cab chassis or even going with a straight rail version from the 4500 which might solve my emissions issues since I could get the papers for a vehicle that has a gvwr over 14000.

I just wanted to get some feedback on what you guys think if if there's another vehicle's frame which might may suffice, without major modifications.






1 Ton Chassis Cab




HD Frame

[LockDoc]

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How about going with a '67-'72 one ton frame. I think they are heavier than a 3/4 and everything should bolt up...

LockDoc

[Yukon 400]

Do anyone know if the 1 ton frame is deeper or just made out of thicker material?

After looking at various frames it seems that the newer ones 90's+ that there are quite a bit of differences in section height and stiffness compared to the 67-72 or 73-91. This is just from observation, i don't know if it's actually true or not.

It would still be a good amount of fab work for new body mounts, suspension, and drive train mounts. I was just thinking if this is going to happen anyways I would rather make it strong enough the first time, instead of doing it twice.

[Longhorn Man]

one tons 67 - 72 are a talled 'c channel' and also of thicker metal.
They also have a longer wheelbase.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

They also have a longer wheelbase.

I should have remembered that. Because you have to use a Longhorn bed if you want a Fleet bed on a 1 ton...

Sorry if I led you astray Yukon.

LockDoc

[Yukon 400]

Thank, I'll have to go look for an 67-72 1 ton regular truck frame and see what they look like compared to the newer ones. I saw some chassis cab campers but they were all heavily modified or hacked up.