Dually Suburban.

[lmdangerous]

I have a 1986 suburban ( 121 k actual miles) that is really nice . I would really like to convert to a dually . I have seen a few. Which rearend /springs are used- the true one ton, or 3/4 ton width etc????? . Who offers the fenders for the back??? Do I change spindle , rotor, etc to the 3/4 (8 lug) style for the front suspension, or can I just go to an 8 lug rotor and be done with it?? Does anyone have a kit, or have list of parts / part#s that are required to do this? I really would like to do this if at all possible ,and will take any help I can get.
Thanks LMD

[BLE 'BURBAN]

All you need are a set of wheels, a set of adaptors and the fenders. and you can get them all from one place............ www.arrowcraft.com

[blakeduren]

You have a 1/2 ton truck it sounds like?

Yes, you will need a 3/4 ton SRW axle to bolt in, and add adaptors, or just go head and get the 1 ton DRW axle and reweld the spring perchs/shocks.

For the front, do you have 2wd or 4wd?

[lmdangerous]

I have a 2 wheel drive. It is very nice- dual air etc. All the ones I have seen look very good. Are the frames for the suburbans The same as the 1 ton trucks - it looks like my frame rails go straight back -flat on the top also?? So if I find a donor - hangers ,springs,and rear end - all I need really is the fenders?? will the 3/4 ton rotors work with my front spindels, or will I need to change spindles also???

[87 chevy silverado]

no mine

[SCOTI]

Is it a 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton Burb? (need clarification for better answers)

Adapters will make it a 1/2 ton truck w/dual rear wheels (not a true dually). Swapping 1-ton dually parts will make it heavier-duty than the 1/2 ton set-up, but the frame will still be weaker vs. a true 3/4 or 1-ton frame. The difference in frame strength shouldn't be a problem if your building it more for the 'look'.

My favorite . . ....

[lmdangerous]

It is actually a 1/2 ton suburban. I would really like to put the (8 lug) -1 ton rear end, and the 3/4 -8 lug front end under it . I tow a 26 foot narrow ( less than 6 feetwide ) X ( 6 foot tall- total) height trailer.I haul my front engine rails , and and anglia in it .I dont really need huge weight carring ability , but I do like the idea that it would increase stability , carring capacity , and just look good. Big Plus it would be paid for and I dont need a PHD to work on it.

[SCOTI]

I'm swapping out the load rated tires on my 1-ton dually for light truck tires. For me, that makes it a 7/8 ton . I still get the increased stability of the duals w/the heavier duty frame & suspension & a better ride. I have no plans to tug around a 5th wheel or HD trailers so I shouldn't have any issues. You would be doing something similar (but opposite?) & need to swap the HD parts like described. Use the 3/4 or 1-ton front suspension (a-arms, spindles, steering, & brakes) & bolt it up to your existing x-member. The 3/4 ton brake rotors would have a narrower track width but the whole spare-tire thing needs to be considered.

At the minimum, the rear would require swapping in a HD housing, cutting the sides of the Burbs sheetmetal for tire/wheel clearance, custom/fabbed shock mounts (dually rear housings mount the shocks in-board of the frame, 1/2 tons have them mounted on the outside), & the dually fenders. Check w/CaptKaos for a source of OE quality replacement fenders.

How are the fabrication skills?

[lmdangerous]

Fab skills are not a problem - both of my FEDs-where built in house- Won bowling green reunion in 05 , runner up in 06, working on an anglia -gasser from ground up as we speak -just sold my 63 GMC. Gotta have a tow truck ,and my son is tired of me bumming his 3800 series 1951 chevy 1 ton pick up - besides it dont have dual air - Guess I am getting old - there was a time that I said air wuz for a sissy - my how we change with time.Just trying to get everything I would need in line / plus the info needed - as I get older I am not much on doing things twice.
LMD

[Mkcustums]

Originally Posted by lmdangerous

I have a 1986 suburban ( 121 k actual miles) that is really nice . I would really like to convert to a dually . I have seen a few. Which rearend /springs are used- the true one ton, or 3/4 ton width etc????? . Who offers the fenders for the back??? Do I change spindle , rotor, etc to the 3/4 (8 lug) style for the front suspension, or can I just go to an 8 lug rotor and be done with it?? Does anyone have a kit, or have list of parts / part#s that are required to do this? I really would like to do this if at all possible ,and will take any help I can get.
Thanks LMD

Fenders & adapters - http://www.arrowcraft.com/index.php

Plus this one was recently started (for extra info) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=379827

[Mkcustums]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I'm swapping out the load rated tires on my 1-ton dually for light truck tires.

Just make sure the sidewall on the inside of the duals don't rub from sidewall flex, tires don't last long doin' the "slap and tickle" game...

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Mkcustums

Just make sure the sidewall on the inside of the duals don't rub from sidewall flex, tires don't last long doin' the "slap and tickle" game...

Good point.

[Mkcustums]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Good point.

Maybe you could use a spacer, there are a few guys and a lady here that use them, they are runnin a pair of 36's to 40's in the rear. The guys runnin dual 49's are nuts!

[4pilgrim4]

A bunch of years ago I saw one at a rest stop in Arizona where the axle was shortened such that the outer wheel was in the stock single-wheel position. Inside the wheel wells were made larger to accommodate the inner wheels.

The first tip off was the huge Boles Arrow trailer the owner was towing. Second was the Bud wheels on the front. Finally a distant third was the real duals.

I did have a camera along but didn't think to take a pix.

[JURKFASE]

there is an 88 4X4 dually suburban on the nashville craigslist.

http://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/2150672660.html

[lmdangerous]

I have just come back -in the middle of a snow storm- from looking at a 1985 C20 3/4, low miles , and the 350 ,700r4 has been pulled for ever. The truck can be bought on the cheap. - State HWY truck. The front end will literally bolt in my 1/2 ton CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG . The rearend is what looks like a 14 bolt. But it is a semi floater - The springs, are 42 3/4 in apart center to center. SAME as the 3/4 ton , shocks are on the outside of the frame etc. Will this rearend hold up???? I might consider leaving it a 3/4 SWD ,but I really want a full floater - did they offer a full floater that will bolt in ???? I would like the dually set up , but this may be better , and cheaper in the long run.
Thanks for any info
LMD

[blakeduren]

Yes, all of those 80's parts will bolt right in.
They did offer 14 FF in those years, but only in the big block trucks.

[lmdangerous]

Thanks Blake , now I gotta start looking for a big block version I guess. Thanks for all the info guys, this is not looking as hard as I thought .
Keep the info , and ideas coming
LMD

[lmdangerous]

I just scored the C20 ( 85 model) for CHEAP.Whole truck -Less motors and trans. The front and rear suspension, rearend, and front end all are in ex. shape- the cab, doors, and the front fenders are not bad either - they put a later bed on it -looks like a 95 or so - While this is not a FF 14 bolt -( is a SF) its nice , and the front suspension along with the whole truck to boot was to good to let go. fresh brakes etc. , I still want a FF 14 bolt for the BURB , but anything beats this 10 bolt I have . Nothing wrong with it -I just dont want to pull my trailer with my rail in it -with that rear end . After I get what i want off of it - the rest is up for grabs . Thanks for all the info and help -
LMD

[SCOTI]

Cool. Post up pics of the conversion.

[cochino12]

here is a clean one on Denver Cl

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/2161084670.html

[Mr. 250r]

I thought the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton frames were the same i've seen the argument so many times im not sure what to believe but i also remember my dad telling me about his 1/2 ton 2wd big block suburban he made into a dually and used to pull around two cars with it, as for the semi floater i abuse the....... crap out of mine in my mud truck and its held up fine but i bought a 06 FF with factory disc brakes and parking brake to put under my 91 suburban there's two types of them basically the old design and the new one which i think came out in.... 88? housing has more fins for cooling i would assume and the drum brakes are slide off if im correct here's some info on them http://pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista...ble/index.html

[greguw]

Picture is worth a thousand words ... This is out of a factory GM book . I have found that the 1988 thru 90 v2500 had thicker frames than earlyer years .

[thirdstreettito]

Greg, where did you get the book? I want one!

[greguw]

That is a GM Dealership Factory manual ... I got it out of a dealership that had a bodyshop ... really don't see many of them pop up ... Think alot of them got thrown out .