Suburban and truck Frame

[pontgta]

Would like to know if the truck 73-87 frame and 73-91 suburban frames are the same. I went to the local pick and pull, and saw a hidden hitch but did not know if it would fit.
Also , would like to know if the "valley/crossmember"( i do not know what its called.) where the motor mounts to the frame. Are all those components the same along with all the steering components?... Basically i think there are a few bolts that attach this "valley/crossmember" to the frame and then the everything attached to the wheels comes off the truck... I have been going to a few junks yards lately and see all kinds of parts.

[Jonboy]

The front is the same, for sure. There are 8(or so) bolts that hold it to the frame after the engine mount plates and steering box are off. The rear frame is similar, so the hidden hitch might work. It would be worth pulling off to see.

[JCampbell]

Negative. Suburban frames are different from the pickups at the rear. The Suburban frames extend all the way to the end of the body, and angle down slightly for the last 12" (approx). Pickup frames stop roughly 6"-8" short of the end of the bed. The hitch will not fit without modification.

The reason I know is because I bought a hitch off a Sub to put on another pickup without looking at it very closely first. I got it home, and when it didn’t fit, I looked at the frame on my Sub, and the difference was obvious. *D-OH!*

This is also the reason the inner bumper brackets off a Suburban will not work on a pickup, however, the outer brackets will...but that's another topic.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by JCampbell

Negative. Suburban frames are different from the pickups at the rear. The Suburban frames extend all the way to the end of the body, and angle down slightly for the last 12" (approx). Pickup frames stop roughly 6"-8" short of the end of the bed. The hitch will not fit without modification.

The reason I know is because I bought a hitch off a Sub to put on another pickup without looking at it very closely first. I got it home, and when it didn’t fit, I looked at the frame on my Sub, and the difference was obvious. *D-OH!*

This is also the reason the inner bumper brackets off a Suburban will not work on a pickup, however, the outer brackets will...but that's another topic.

Yep - agree.

K

[pontgta]

Thanks good to know. So, i guess everything from the front end will bolt right up. I will keep this in mind. when i go back out to the salvage yard.