Are these frames the same?

[pritch]

I'm going to start work on my '68 panel. I want to get a frame first, and get it all ready, and then switch the body over. A guy gave me a frame off a '72 1/2 ton. Is everything the same or will I have to do any mods? I want to switch to an auto trans, and this donor has a four speed, so I know I'll have to switch cross members. Anything else you guys can think of?

[Classic Heartbeat]

If it is a 1/2 ton pickup it will be different. If it is Suburban it will be the same. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[pritch]

Ya- the '72 is a pick-up. What's diferent between them?

[Rod]

Rear Cab mounts are different... you'll have to switch them to the other frame.
The brackets on the top of the frame to mount the box or in your case a suburban body are specific to each owns application... so you'll have to switch the mounting brackets on the back part of the frame pretty much back from the rear cab mounts backwards.

The truck frame will be shorter than the suburban frame in overall length. Suburban frames are longer as the rear part of a sub / panel frame is the mounting point for the rear bumper.

Then are there difference in the rear suspensions... you have leafs on the truck frame? Coils on the sub/panel? If not and there both the same type then it should work.
I take it there both 2 wd.
A frame brackets for the trans linkage for an automatic you'll need off of the automatics frame.

[pritch]

The donor truck has coil springs and is two wheel drive. So other than changing the body mounts and adding the proper x-members for an auto trans., it is do-able? How much shorter would the pick-up frame be? That is one reason I want a new frame, because a P/O cut the rear end of the panel's frame off with a torch, I suppose to remove the bumper
(Dude-if ya got a torch in your hand, just cut the bolts!)

[Rod]

Its just the back end lengths of the frame rails thats shorter. Maybe 4 inches.... never really bothered to measure...myself... I have both I guess I should one day.

I guess it depends on what type of rear bumper you want to use... if you want a rear sport bumper style then thats what the original frame lenght of the suburban frame was made for.... mind you ... you have both frames... you could cut the difference off the older sbuburban frame and put it on the truck frame and you;'ll get the right lenght you'll need anyway. If no welder you could still cut it off and use a inner metal plate to put it together.

Whoopes re-read PO cut back off.

Ok I guess it depends on the bumper you want to use on the back.

Might be a member with a frame to chop up for the pieces if you need them, or make your own brackets that extend to the lenght you need.

[pritch]

Thanks, Rod. I just thought of something-I have a '67 truck bed trailer that wouldn't miss the last few inches of it's frame at all, and I'm a fair welder, so I think this just might be what direction I'll go.

[da-burb]

I can't tell what part of the country your are from, but if you happen to be in the midwest, I have a real nice Texas rolling suburban frame in my shed. I'll have another one after I do a body swap onto my K10 burb too. Plus I have 2 parts burbs that i would like to sell this year too. Need a frame by any chance??

[pritch]

Da-Burb, I am in Utah, so thats quite a ways to go. Thanks for the offer, though. I think I'll go with this donor truck that was given me, can't beat the price and it's only 3 miles from my house. There will be a lot of parts I won't be able to use off it-all the guy wants back is the cab-so after I get it all stripped I'll see what's worth getting rid of.