Looking at a Suburban

[Madipie03]

Hello everyone. Forgive me but im new to posting here, so If im in the wrong spot forgive me. I'm looking at a 68 1/2ton 4x4 suburban. I'd really like a 3/4ton, but what would it take to swap out the axles and is there a better/easier year of a donor truck/axle for the install? I'd really like to avoid moving perches and shock mounts if possible. If im doing this disc brakes are a must. will I also have to upgrade the yokes on the transfer to a larger size? Thank you

[vectorit]

Welcome to the forum!

Doing an axle swap to 8 lug 3/4 ton is pretty straight forward.
I don't have personal experience in the range of years that are a direct swap as far as axle perch matching 1968, but there will be others that have and will be glad to offer their experience to help you in the right choices in axles.
Does the burb you are looking at still have the T221 Rockwell transfer case?

[Madipie03]

Thank you for your help! I'm not sure, but I assume so. Hes sent me about 20 pics of the burb. I need to see more. He doesnt know what/where a cab mount is so Im going to make the trip in the next couple days to see just how much rust it has. I need to figure out how to post on the wanted to see if I can find a 3/4 4x4 within 5-600 miles. Ive found posts about converting 71 and 72s. Maybe its the same. I grew up with a father that restored these and now I have kids. I sold a Cheyenne lwb, and a cst blazer and miss them! Except we all dont fit in a standard pickup and Ive always wanted a suburban. So here we go! Any help on the swap and help figuring how to post in the wanted would be great! Thanks

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Madipie03

Thank you for your help! I need to figure out how to post on the wanted to see if I can find a 3/4 4x4 within 5-600 miles. Thanks

You have to be a subscribing member ($25 a year) to post a wanted to buy thread....

LockDoc

[Madipie03]

Thank you! Im on it!

[Madipie03]

Bought a 69 3/4 4x4 Suburban today. Its actually one i'd been wanting for years and had hit him up a few times. Unfortunately it has alot more rust than it use to , and it does not have factory seats. However he swapped in discs up front and its a 3/4 ton like I wanted, with a 4" lift. I may be on the hunt for a 2wd donor soon. I will place pics tomorrow. Thanks for all your help. I'm excited!

[olblue60@aol.com]

Hi
Welcome to the board ! I'm no expert but I have heard that you can interchange just the axles in many of the differentials.Because you are looking for disc brakes and a different transfer case, I believe that you would do best to find a rusted out doner truck with the options that you want.Maybe a 72. I see them for cheap money from time to time.

[Madipie03]

I was actually thinking about keeping the the T221 if its whats still in there. I could swap out to a np205 or so. But then again by the time its all said and done I may have just been better off buying a 3/4 if I have to take this to far with the swap. The one im looking at has typical rust, but appears to be complete and original.

[vectorit]

Personally if I were hot on buying a 67-72 4x4 Suburban, I would be more concerned with how complete and rusty it is.

Conversions of axles, suspension, Tcase, and so forth are going to be new or rebuilt things.

Interior parts like 3 original OE benches, solid body panels, and doors that aren't beat to heck to me are more important than it being a 1/2 or 3/4 ton rig.

I would find the best most well loved Suburban you can afford, then figure out later how you want to upgrade whats already there.

[Madipie03]

I agree. Ive got some extra good parts lying around.Even some NOS trim! How do I post in the wanted? Its not giving me an option that I can see. Thanks

[Street Smart]

Nice, congrats on the new addition!