front crossmember swap?

[68MoneyPit]

I have an 88 suburban donor and I was wondering if the whole front crossmember will bolt onto the frame of my 68. I wanted to do this to cut down on the work of swapping over to a 5 lug disc. Not to mention that it would just flat out be newer parts. I am worried mainly about the bolt pattern and the overall width. Same ? with the rear end.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[extd56]

The front will swap in with no problems, just have to drill two holes. The back will involve some welding. DO you have coil or leaf springs?

[68MoneyPit]

Coil

[extd56]

You will need perches on the rear end for the coil springs and a panhard bar kit from CPP to make the rear end work.

[70GMCer]

Don't know about the 88 year, but the 73 to 87 does and just the 2 holes don't match up. I think, (but might be wrong), there was a xmember change in 88. Someone else will chime in on this....

[extd56]

The Suburban and Blazer had the old body style that stayed the same basically from 1973 until it was changed in 1992.

[70GMCer]

Originally Posted by extd56

The Suburban and Blazer had the old body style that stayed the same basically from 1973 until it was changed in 1992.

If that's the case, why doesn't the rotors from 88 to 92 fit the 73 to 87 spindles?

[extd56]

The 88-91 Blazers and Suburbans have the same suspension from the 73-87 CHevy and GMC trucks. The 88-91 trucks went to a different suspension and use different rotors. Also in the 88-91 Suburbans still use a passenger side transfer case in the 4 wheel drive but the 88-91 trucks used a drivers side drop.

[70GMCer]

huh?

[dave2953]

I did my disc brake swap using parts from an '89 burb. The control arms will bolt to your existing crossmember, which will save you some work. This is what I did. The 88-91 'burbs have the same front suspension setup as the 73-87 trucks. I used the centerlink, tie-rods, etc. Also, my existing pitman arm worked with the 'burbs centerlink. I used an idler arm from the suburban. Hope this helps.

[70GMCer]

What about the rotors. Are they 6 lug rotors on the 89 burb?

[extd56]

5 lug on the 1/2 ton, 8 lug on the 3/4

[68MoneyPit]

i am down to frame now and have already pulled the front crossmember. It seems as though it would just be easier to go ahead and swap the whole crossmember while I am in the burb stealing the engine and trans.

what about the rear end? Is it the same width?

[LockDoc]

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It's an easy swap. Here's a pic of the holes that need modified. You have to enlarge the bottom one because there is a weld nut on the cross member. Some guys doing the swap have said that the bottom hole lined up OK.

LockDoc

[68MoneyPit]

hey guys. I just went out and looked at the burb and it has a rear leaf spring setup and the 68 I have was set up with a coil suspension. Can I just swap the axles and put the rear axle from the burb in place of the original rear end?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by 68MoneyPit

hey guys. I just went out and looked at the burb and it has a rear leaf spring setup and the 68 I have was set up with a coil suspension. Can I just swap the axles and put the rear axle from the burb in place of the original rear end?

I don't think it's a bolt in. I think you will have to relocate or replace the spring perches on the housing and add the panhard bar kit like some have mentioned...

LockDoc