1989 R3500 frame same as C30?

[DieseLife]

From my reading I think the 89 r3500 shares the same frame and front suspension as the C30.

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Thanks in advance

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by DieseLife

From my reading I think the 89 r3500 shares the same frame and front suspension as the C30.

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Thanks in advance

Crew cabs in 89 (88-91) are the same.

[DieseLife]

That would be asking if an r3500 is the same as an r3500.

I'm asking if it's the same as a c30 ie an 85 for sake of argument

[74CustomK20]

I would think so...

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by DieseLife

That would be asking if an r3500 is the same as an r3500.

I'm asking if it's the same as a c30 ie an 85 for sake of argument

Absolutely the same.

We just changed the code to prevent confusion with the new GMT400.

When I need parts for my '87 R10 truck I normally tell the parts guy it's an '86 C10.

K

[andrewmp6]

Yeah gm kept the square body around tell 91,88-91 the crew cab the k5 blazer and suburban was still the square body.They had to rename the 1 ton crew cab because they had the gmt400 body out in 88 but it was standard cab and extended cab.The gmt400 didn't get a crew cab tell after 92.But its not just gm doing that ford has done it also.But ford did it with the f250/f350 keeping the old body a few years after the f150 has a new body.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by DieseLife

That would be asking if an r3500 is the same as an r3500.

I'm asking if it's the same as a c30 ie an 85 for sake of argument

Originally Posted by DieseLife

From my reading I think the 89 r3500 shares the same frame and front suspension as the C30.

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Crew cabs in 89 (88-91) are the same.

The answer of does an 89 r3500 share the same front suspension as an 85 C30 was there because r3500's were crew-cabs.
88-91 r3500's are the same as pre-88 C30's when comparing suspensions & frames. Interior & body parts are the same.

Wiring & electronics are different.

[DieselSJ]

To extend upon this further, are the 10,20 and 30 series frames the same? Thus is a C10 frame the same as the R30 frame? Specifically from a front suspension and steering perspective.

[74CustomK20]

No. Completely different from c10 to c30

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by DieselSJ

To extend upon this further, are the 10,20 and 30 series frames the same? Thus is a C10 frame the same as the R30 frame? Specifically from a front suspension and steering perspective.

Same basic layout with different/heavier duty parts (73-87 C10 compared to 73-87 C30/88-91 r3500 CC trucks/burbs).
88-98 c1500-3500's are very different.

[DieselSJ]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Same basic layout with different/heavier duty parts (73-87 C10 compared to 73-87 C30/88-91 r3500 CC trucks/burbs).
88-98 c1500-3500's are very different.

Thanks. On the 73-87 10 vs 30, are the frames the same width?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by DieselSJ

Thanks. On the 73-87 10 vs 30, are the frames the same width?

Yes. The front x-member, trans x-member, & 2 rear x-members are all similar. The trans x-member is taller on a r3500/C30 vs a C10 (frame channel is 2" taller under the body).

[DieselSJ]

Thanks. The reason I am asking is because I am looking at one of the rack & pinion steering kits. The only list it for the C10. I made a couple inquiries and asked if they could send measurements on their cradle and all they will tell me is "it won't fit". I need all new steering so this would be the perfect time for that swap.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by DieselSJ

Thanks. The reason I am asking is because I am looking at one of the rack & pinion steering kits. The only list it for the C10. I made a couple inquiries and asked if they could send measurements on their cradle and all they will tell me is "it won't fit". I need all new steering so this would be the perfect time for that swap.

I have a C10 x-member in my 89 r3500 CC dually. It's using factory C10 uppers (w/the C30 size BJ) & I modified the factory lowers for the r3500 before swapping to aftermarket for other reasons.

I would however research what the R&P's 'original' intended vehicle was to know the weight it was designed for. A dually front end is some heavy stuff vs a C10.

I used an aftermarket C10 trans x-member on mine. All I did was increase the height where it bolts into the frame channel. And I added another rear C10 x-member right behind the rear-end on mine.

[GM72K10]

fyi