Burb Frame swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TLoz · 05-25-2009, 08:58 PM

Hi,
I've run into little issue. I'm switching out a 1977 burb frame with a 1988 frame. The dog house is not fitting or I should say the rad support isn't. I bolted the inner and outer fenders onto the body. I then set the rad support onto the frame and bolted up the front of the fenders to the support. Next, I loosened up all fender bolts and attempted to get the rad support mount holes to line up with the frame holes-even removed the bolts at the rear of the fenders. They're at least 1 inch off. Has anyone run into this? This is a 4 X 4. I'm concerned about removing and relocating the frame mounts since the front shackle is attached to it. Would it be possible to remove the mounting brackets off of the 77 and bolts those in front of the old mounts? What about the bumpers? What to do? Thanks in advance. Tom

tvblazer78 · 05-26-2009, 08:30 AM

Your front frame harns are not going to be the same from the body mount to the bumper, so you can cut the the very end of your frame off and weld the old one on. I think this is about the only way to fix this.

Can anyone help him out with a easyer way?

TLoz · 05-26-2009, 08:03 PM

I went and cut the front off the 77 frame just forward of the steering gear box and started to compare/measure. From what I can tell, the only difference is the location and size of the rad support mount that's riveted on. It looks like it's riveted on the same as the 88 frame-at the front shackle, but it is wider with the hole at least 1 inch forward. Therefore I'm thinking about removing the rivets and bolting in place instead of attempting to locate and weld the frame horns on-I can do that in front of the mounts. If that works, welding the front bumper mounts will be a piece of cake. If changing out the rad support mount brackets doesn't work, I can cut the frame just in front of the shackle mounts and weld the two together.

Thoughts? Think it will work? Anybody done this? Many thanks, Tom

tvblazer78 · 05-26-2009, 08:05 PM

I think you are right, that is the way to do it and a lot less work then welding the frame ends back on. Keep us updated!

TLoz · 05-26-2009, 10:13 PM

Travis,
Just finished flame wrenching the old rivets out of both frames. Really went smooth. The rivets that attach to the spring shackles will bolt right up. I'll need to weld up the other four holes and redrill. They're about 1/2 inch off. No problem. I was able to bolt the rad support along with the rear fender bolt in the center of the hole-that should give me plenty of room for adjustment. Next, I'll temp bolt it all together and install the valence panel and bumper and see how that goes. Thanks, Tom

tvblazer78 · 05-27-2009, 02:02 PM

Sweet man! Keep us posted!

capev86 · 05-31-2009, 11:24 AM

i would just use an 80's front end....cleaner looking than the 70's.

WarBeard · 05-31-2009, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capev86

i would just use an 80's front end....cleaner looking than the 70's.

I totally disagree. I hardly see any good ol' round headlights around here any more. So many people have done that swap.

capev86 · 05-31-2009, 04:04 PM

the 80's front end is sleeker (especially with a full phantom grille). the 70's trucks are too busy looking on the front. the later front end was more in keeping with the rest of the truck. i have seen some nice 73-80 trucks and i like the 70's style brown with tan side stripe on any 73-91 burb. there is a nice late 70's pickup with that paint job up here. i just bought a 72 suburban 3/4 ton 2wd in very good shape from the original owner. now THAT truck looks good with the round headlights and the front end is cleaner looking than the style that immediately followed it. i say if you are going with a later chassis, just make things easy on yourself and go with the 80's nose. but keep the 70's shade paint job for a more nostalgic feel. it would be unique and people wouldn't be any wiser unless they checked the vin.

**truckfan** · 05-31-2009, 09:46 PM

round headlights rule. i used to change old trucks to square. now i change 81-87 to round.

i believe this is the color scheme

TLoz · 05-31-2009, 10:18 PM

Well, the switch is complete. It was a lot easier than I thought. Just needed to redrill 10 holes (8 on the rad mount and 2 on the front bumper mount) and everything lined-up and adjusted fine. As far as one's taste of round vs square, I like the round lights, period. I'm not going to have a two tone on this burb. It's just going to be viper red with the stick-on molding around the bottom third. I also like the dimmer switch on the floor

05-25-2009, 08:58 PM	#1
TLoz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 326	Burb Frame swap Hi, I've run into little issue. I'm switching out a 1977 burb frame with a 1988 frame. The dog house is not fitting or I should say the rad support isn't. I bolted the inner and outer fenders onto the body. I then set the rad support onto the frame and bolted up the front of the fenders to the support. Next, I loosened up all fender bolts and attempted to get the rad support mount holes to line up with the frame holes-even removed the bolts at the rear of the fenders. They're at least 1 inch off. Has anyone run into this? This is a 4 X 4. I'm concerned about removing and relocating the frame mounts since the front shackle is attached to it. Would it be possible to remove the mounting brackets off of the 77 and bolts those in front of the old mounts? What about the bumpers? What to do? Thanks in advance. Tom

05-26-2009, 08:30 AM	#2
tvblazer78 Low & Fast! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 3,110	Re: Burb Frame swap Your front frame harns are not going to be the same from the body mount to the bumper, so you can cut the the very end of your frame off and weld the old one on. I think this is about the only way to fix this. Can anyone help him out with a easyer way? __________________ Southeastern Mini Truckin' Nationals April 27 and 28, 2012

05-26-2009, 08:03 PM	#3
TLoz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 326	Re: Burb Frame swap I went and cut the front off the 77 frame just forward of the steering gear box and started to compare/measure. From what I can tell, the only difference is the location and size of the rad support mount that's riveted on. It looks like it's riveted on the same as the 88 frame-at the front shackle, but it is wider with the hole at least 1 inch forward. Therefore I'm thinking about removing the rivets and bolting in place instead of attempting to locate and weld the frame horns on-I can do that in front of the mounts. If that works, welding the front bumper mounts will be a piece of cake. If changing out the rad support mount brackets doesn't work, I can cut the frame just in front of the shackle mounts and weld the two together. Thoughts? Think it will work? Anybody done this? Many thanks, Tom

05-26-2009, 08:05 PM	#4
tvblazer78 Low & Fast! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 3,110	Re: Burb Frame swap I think you are right, that is the way to do it and a lot less work then welding the frame ends back on. Keep us updated! __________________ Southeastern Mini Truckin' Nationals April 27 and 28, 2012

05-26-2009, 10:13 PM	#5
TLoz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 326	Re: Burb Frame swap Travis, Just finished flame wrenching the old rivets out of both frames. Really went smooth. The rivets that attach to the spring shackles will bolt right up. I'll need to weld up the other four holes and redrill. They're about 1/2 inch off. No problem. I was able to bolt the rad support along with the rear fender bolt in the center of the hole-that should give me plenty of room for adjustment. Next, I'll temp bolt it all together and install the valence panel and bumper and see how that goes. Thanks, Tom

05-27-2009, 02:02 PM	#6
tvblazer78 Low & Fast! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 3,110	Re: Burb Frame swap Sweet man! Keep us posted! __________________ Southeastern Mini Truckin' Nationals April 27 and 28, 2012

05-31-2009, 11:24 AM	#7
capev86 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eliot, Maine Posts: 1,314	Re: Burb Frame swap i would just use an 80's front end....cleaner looking than the 70's.

05-31-2009, 04:04 PM	#9
capev86 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eliot, Maine Posts: 1,314	Re: Burb Frame swap the 80's front end is sleeker (especially with a full phantom grille). the 70's trucks are too busy looking on the front. the later front end was more in keeping with the rest of the truck. i have seen some nice 73-80 trucks and i like the 70's style brown with tan side stripe on any 73-91 burb. there is a nice late 70's pickup with that paint job up here. i just bought a 72 suburban 3/4 ton 2wd in very good shape from the original owner. now THAT truck looks good with the round headlights and the front end is cleaner looking than the style that immediately followed it. i say if you are going with a later chassis, just make things easy on yourself and go with the 80's nose. but keep the 70's shade paint job for a more nostalgic feel. it would be unique and people wouldn't be any wiser unless they checked the vin.

05-31-2009, 09:46 PM	#10
truckfan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lawrence KS Posts: 821	Re: Burb Frame swap round headlights rule. i used to change old trucks to square. now i change 81-87 to round. i believe this is the color scheme __________________ 1981 Chevy C30 440 Holmes 42K one owner miles

05-31-2009, 10:18 PM	#11
TLoz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 326	Re: Burb Frame swap Well, the switch is complete. It was a lot easier than I thought. Just needed to redrill 10 holes (8 on the rad mount and 2 on the front bumper mount) and everything lined-up and adjusted fine. As far as one's taste of round vs square, I like the round lights, period. I'm not going to have a two tone on this burb. It's just going to be viper red with the stick-on molding around the bottom third. I also like the dimmer switch on the floor



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