1968 chevy to 1989 gmc suburban conversion - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ChevyBot · 04-06-2014, 12:25 AM

Hey guys so here's the deal; I picked up a 1968 Chev C10 LWB pickup last summer and have decided to do a conversion to a 1989 GMC suburban front clip and drivetrain (with the exception of rear axle) and was wondering what you guys think? And what problems I will encounter! I have already figured out the suburban has a mechanical speedo and I need electronic for the gauges to work. Any help on this project will be much appreciated. I can post updates as well if wanted. Thanks!

67_C-30 · 04-06-2014, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChevyBot

Hey guys so here's the deal; I picked up a 1968 Chev C10 LWB pickup last summer and have decided to do a conversion to a 1989 GMC suburban front clip and drivetrain (with the exception of rear axle) and was wondering what you guys think? And what problems I will encounter! I have already figured out the suburban has a mechanical speedo and I need electronic for the gauges to work. Any help on this project will be much appreciated. I can post updates as well if wanted. Thanks!

Is the '89 Suburban still the square body style (like the '81 - '87 was)?

ChevyBot · 04-06-2014, 01:07 AM

See for yourself

67_C-30 · 04-06-2014, 02:17 AM

Yep, that's a squarebody. The front crossmember is an easy swap. IIRC, you have to drill 1 or 2 holes, but once you get them both off, you'll see what you need to do by comparing both frames.

If the Suburban has a mechanical speedo, it should just be plug and play to make the speedo work. If your '68 has factory gauges, the oil pressure gauge is mechanical so it will work anyway. All you'll need is the '68 sending unit in the newer for temp gauge to work. You will need a kit to make the lockup converter work in the Suburban's transmission, if it is a 700R-4, unless you are putting the computer and wiring out of the Suburban in the '68.

If the engine in Suburban is EFI, and you want you run that, somebody else will have to help you on that, because I don't do fuel injection. Unless it's a diesel!

ChevyBot · 04-06-2014, 02:23 AM

Ok well I'm planning on using whole wiring harness and computer out of the suburban and I am not using stock 68 gauges. I'm getting aftermarket ones. The problem is finding 5" ones that are also metric. Thinking about going digital but lmc' new cluster is only imperial and intellitronix create a kit doesn't have an indicator gauge! I don't know what to get

**special-K** · 04-06-2014, 07:16 AM

I didn't understand at first,but by "front clip" you meant front suspension and not the sheet metal (which is what the "clip" is). Alrighty then,getting easier now. As Jamie said,you can do all you planned and fairly easily. The speedometer is cable drive,so no issue there,except the one you invite by not wanting to stick with the original KPH unit. Good luck with that. You're on you own there.

ChevyBot · 04-06-2014, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

I didn't understand at first,but by "front clip" you meant front suspension and not the sheet metal (which is what the "clip" is). Alrighty then,getting easier now. As Jamie said,you can do all you planned and fairly easily. The speedometer is cable drive,so no issue there,except the one you invite by not wanting to stick with the original KPH unit. Good luck with that. You're on you own there.

Yeah, I should have been more clear on the whole front clip part.

imjeff · 04-08-2014, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChevyBot

Yeah, I should have been more clear on the whole front clip part.

Would've saved me some horrific thoughts!

**special-K** · 04-06-2014, 10:59 PM

I've heard clip to refer to the front suspension,too,but I think the title started my confusion. I was wondering how someone could convert a 68 Chevy into an '89 GMC Suburban

ChevyBot · 04-08-2014, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

I've heard clip to refer to the front suspension,too,but I think the title started my confusion. I was wondering how someone could convert a 68 Chevy into an '89 GMC Suburban

Man why would anyone want to do that lol?

**special-K** · 04-08-2014, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChevyBot

Man why would anyone want to do that lol?

There is no explaining the thoughts and ideas of some minds out there. I've seen some trucks where my only thought was "WHYYYYYYYYEEEEE??????????

ERASER5 · 04-08-2014, 08:49 AM

I was a little worried there myself. Whew! Putting the vodoo doll away now...

Keith Seymore · 04-08-2014, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

I've heard clip to refer to the front suspension,too,but I think the title started my confusion. I was wondering how someone could convert a 68 Chevy into an '89 GMC Suburban

I was right there with ya on that one...

Whew!

K

ChevyBot · 04-13-2014, 12:00 AM

Just got motor in today and boy she is a tight squeeze

04-06-2014, 12:25 AM	#1
ChevyBot Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Saskatoon, SK Posts: 13	1968 chevy to 1989 gmc suburban conversion Hey guys so here's the deal; I picked up a 1968 Chev C10 LWB pickup last summer and have decided to do a conversion to a 1989 GMC suburban front clip and drivetrain (with the exception of rear axle) and was wondering what you guys think? And what problems I will encounter! I have already figured out the suburban has a mechanical speedo and I need electronic for the gauges to work. Any help on this project will be much appreciated. I can post updates as well if wanted. Thanks! Attached Images __________________ -1968 C10 Longbed-Work in progress

04-06-2014, 01:07 AM	#3
ChevyBot Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Saskatoon, SK Posts: 13	Re: 1968 chevy to 1989 gmc suburban conversion See for yourself Attached Images __________________ -1968 C10 Longbed-Work in progress

04-06-2014, 02:17 AM	#4
67_C-30 I have a radical idea! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sweet Home Alabama! Posts: 6,513	Re: 1968 chevy to 1989 gmc suburban conversion Yep, that's a squarebody. The front crossmember is an easy swap. IIRC, you have to drill 1 or 2 holes, but once you get them both off, you'll see what you need to do by comparing both frames. If the Suburban has a mechanical speedo, it should just be plug and play to make the speedo work. If your '68 has factory gauges, the oil pressure gauge is mechanical so it will work anyway. All you'll need is the '68 sending unit in the newer for temp gauge to work. You will need a kit to make the lockup converter work in the Suburban's transmission, if it is a 700R-4, unless you are putting the computer and wiring out of the Suburban in the '68. If the engine in Suburban is EFI, and you want you run that, somebody else will have to help you on that, because I don't do fuel injection. Unless it's a diesel! __________________ '67 C-30 Dually Pickup 6.2 Turbo Diesel, NP435 ‘72 C-10 SWB , 350 4bbl, TH350 '69 C-10 SWB , 250 L6, 3 OTT '69 GMC C3500, dump truck, 351 V6, NP435 '84 M1009 CUCV Military Blazer 67 C-30 Turbodiesel build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=254096 My trucks http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ediafilter=all Member of the 1-Ton Club!

04-06-2014, 02:23 AM	#5
ChevyBot Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Saskatoon, SK Posts: 13	Re: 1968 chevy to 1989 gmc suburban conversion Ok well I'm planning on using whole wiring harness and computer out of the suburban and I am not using stock 68 gauges. I'm getting aftermarket ones. The problem is finding 5" ones that are also metric. Thinking about going digital but lmc' new cluster is only imperial and intellitronix create a kit doesn't have an indicator gauge! I don't know what to get __________________ -1968 C10 Longbed-Work in progress

04-06-2014, 07:16 AM	#6
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: 1968 chevy to 1989 gmc suburban conversion I didn't understand at first,but by "front clip" you meant front suspension and not the sheet metal (which is what the "clip" is). Alrighty then,getting easier now. As Jamie said,you can do all you planned and fairly easily. The speedometer is cable drive,so no issue there,except the one you invite by not wanting to stick with the original KPH unit. Good luck with that. You're on you own there. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

04-06-2014, 10:59 PM	#9
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: 1968 chevy to 1989 gmc suburban conversion I've heard clip to refer to the front suspension,too,but I think the title started my confusion. I was wondering how someone could convert a 68 Chevy into an '89 GMC Suburban __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

04-08-2014, 08:49 AM	#12
ERASER5 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 4,859	Re: 1968 chevy to 1989 gmc suburban conversion I was a little worried there myself. Whew! Putting the vodoo doll away now... __________________ '70 GMC C1500 LWB Power disc brakes. WooHoo! Posi 6 Lug Dana 60

04-13-2014, 12:00 AM	#14
ChevyBot Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Saskatoon, SK Posts: 13	Re: 1968 chevy to 1989 gmc suburban conversion Just got motor in today and boy she is a tight squeeze __________________ -1968 C10 Longbed-Work in progress

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