Swapping Suburban Tailgate to Doors - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

SRD art · 04-07-2016, 06:35 PM

Hey all. I did a search on the forum for this but didn;t come up with anything. I have a 77 Suburban with a tailgate and the window levers keep popping out of the plastic wheels in the tracks and the window falls down, most of the time it happens just while driving down the road not even raising or lowering it. I'm sick of farting with it.

I have a friend that has a late 80s parts Suburban with barn doors he said I can have. Is it a straight forward swap? Can I use all the parts off the parts truck or will I need to buy anything to make it work?

Thanks for any help. -Ben

cfan10 · 04-07-2016, 06:40 PM

I don't think it is, I asked a while back on here and the answer was no, without fab work. But I wanted the tailgate instead of those barn doors.

RandyP · 04-07-2016, 08:56 PM

Swapping bodies will be the path of least resistance for a swap from tailgate to barn doors. Otherwise you'll be sectioning in the quarters, roof and rear body panel.

cheepin · 04-07-2016, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyP

Swapping bodies will be the path of least resistance for a swap from tailgate to barn doors. Otherwise you'll be sectioning in the quarters, roof and rear body panel.

What? I was going to do this yrs ago and the only difference I could tell was the bottom pan. The bolt holes are even already in the jambs.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ead.php?t=4379

D13 · 04-08-2016, 05:53 AM

The reinforcements for the doors are not in the pillars.
Yes, the quarters are common. But all the reinforcements are different. So you essentially have to cut the back 6 inches off and swap them and weld them back in. Much quicker to do a full body post.
OP, easiest to fix/repace the tailgate. There's a nice metal bolt on panel that allows access to the window system.

RandyP · 04-08-2016, 08:29 AM

I remember "back in the day" when we'd do repairs on 'burbs, if we just needed the outer skin of the quarters they were the same across the board. But if we needed the inner structure and had to buy the quarter assembly or (heaven forbid they forced us) a used quarter, it did make a difference in the type of rear door(s). Same for the rear body panel/platform panel, two different pieces available depending on door(s).

04-07-2016, 06:35 PM	#1
SRD art Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St George, Utah Posts: 96	Swapping Suburban Tailgate to Doors Hey all. I did a search on the forum for this but didn;t come up with anything. I have a 77 Suburban with a tailgate and the window levers keep popping out of the plastic wheels in the tracks and the window falls down, most of the time it happens just while driving down the road not even raising or lowering it. I'm sick of farting with it. I have a friend that has a late 80s parts Suburban with barn doors he said I can have. Is it a straight forward swap? Can I use all the parts off the parts truck or will I need to buy anything to make it work? Thanks for any help. -Ben __________________ -Ben, Check out my website! http://www.streetroddesigns.com 1977 C2500 'Burby w/454 1979 Olds Cutlass Pro Touring wagon "Pumkinator" 1985 GMC S15 Slammed Daily Driver & Autocrosser

04-07-2016, 06:40 PM	#2
cfan10 Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 984	Re: Swapping Suburban Tailgate to Doors I don't think it is, I asked a while back on here and the answer was no, without fab work. But I wanted the tailgate instead of those barn doors. __________________ Rest In Peace:Mikhail {Mickey Rooney} Alpha 2/5/13 Omega 7/22/14 10:28AM I love you tremendously and outragiously Superpuppi Thai Ridgeback...The most intelligent dog known to me. Don't mess with my truck, my momma or my money...not necessarily in that order. © Stand for something or fall for anything. [LIST][*]'98 Bourbon St. Brawl ©2010

04-07-2016, 08:56 PM	#3
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Swapping Suburban Tailgate to Doors Swapping bodies will be the path of least resistance for a swap from tailgate to barn doors. Otherwise you'll be sectioning in the quarters, roof and rear body panel. __________________ *Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette?* There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. *VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good."* When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.

04-08-2016, 05:53 AM	#5
D13 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Memphis MI Posts: 1,851	Re: Swapping Suburban Tailgate to Doors The reinforcements for the doors are not in the pillars. Yes, the quarters are common. But all the reinforcements are different. So you essentially have to cut the back 6 inches off and swap them and weld them back in. Much quicker to do a full body post. OP, easiest to fix/repace the tailgate. There's a nice metal bolt on panel that allows access to the window system. __________________ 1987 2 ton 1982 250/TH350 beater in progress Dad's 1981 3/4 L6 3 on tree posi and no options, awaiting restoration or scrapping Plus a mess o' tractors

04-08-2016, 08:29 AM	#6
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Swapping Suburban Tailgate to Doors I remember "back in the day" when we'd do repairs on 'burbs, if we just needed the outer skin of the quarters they were the same across the board. But if we needed the inner structure and had to buy the quarter assembly or (heaven forbid they forced us) a used quarter, it did make a difference in the type of rear door(s). Same for the rear body panel/platform panel, two different pieces available depending on door(s). __________________ *Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette?* There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. *VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good."* When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.

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