Need help[ with major swap

[CT-Truckster]

Ok I got a 76 swb with noe engine or trans.
and a 89 suburban 4wd 350FI/700r4. the burb is complete, well it was wrecked, body was shot and has been cut off with exception of firewall and front floorboard area, in fact you can crank it up and drive it around, runs great, just looks funny as hell driving a frame around.
See where I'm going with this? I want to take engine and all drivetrain out of suburban and swap over to my 76. I think since I have the complete donor it would be a pretty straight forward swap, am I right? I haven't just looked at it real close, but can anyone tell me are there any differences in frames(I know there are major differences in frames) as far as crossmembers mounting and front end setup that would make this more trouble than it would be worth?

[Russell]

The major work for that swap would be installing a fuel pump, moving the transmission crossmember, and getting a driveshaft made for the truck.

The motor mounts in the burb would bolt right up, no problems, the EFI wiring harness would all bolt in real nice (might have to drill a hole or two for mounting the ECM), and if you didn't take the throttlebody off, you could lower the motor in without taking the TV cable off the throttle body, making it real nice to set everything up

As far as the fuel pump stuff goes, you can drop the Burban's fuel tank onto the truck if it is the regular burb tank size (approx 30 gallon tank) Then you'll have an in tank fuel pump, and will make plumbing MUCH easier. (88 + trucks have some sweet steel braided fuel line that'd work real nice to go from your throttle body to the frame, and from the frame to the tank) With the burb tank installed, you'll need to notch two of the bed crossmembers, and you'll need to plumb the filler neck either to your stock fuel door somehow, or move the fuel tank door to the back.

[CT-Truckster]

oh yeah I forgot to mention the 76 is 2wd
I want it to be 4wd using all the stuff off the suburban

[Russell]

Ah, that complicates things... It can be done, but to be totally honest, I'd go find a new 73-87 4x4 truck frame... You'll need to make sure that you get everything in the right spot or you'll never get your alignment just right, and you will need a couple of drill bits and drills, drilling the frame is real harsh on them...

[Prerunner1982]

it can be done, just takes time... measure twice (or three times), cut (drill) once....

[SanitysBane]

now your telling everyone about the trick with the 88+ fuel lines that i told you about eh russell? i bet no one else on this board has an eletric fuel pump from an 88 in there stock gas tank like i do though! drilling the frame is hard on drill bits, you will need a quart of two of oil sitting around to make shure the drill bit doesn't get to hot, but it can be done.

[Toolboy23]

I do, I put the 99 Tahoe fuel pump and sender/float mechanism, the entire assembly in my '74 tank. It took an entire Sat., but it had to be done to run that vortec 5.7 and operate the gauge in that dash. I also used the Tahoe fuel lines. Anything is possible!

[method2mymadnes]

Yo CT-
Anything is possible if you're a BIG DUMMY!!

[CT-Truckster]

I think I will sucker my big brother into doing the swap and he gets through I'll beat him up and take it away from him like I used to do when we were kids.

[CT-Truckster]

Originally Posted by Russell

and you will need a couple of drill bits and drills, drilling the frame is real harsh on them...

I guess the Drill Doctor will come in very handy.

[dark-star]

yah go with the brotherly love thing

[method2mymadnes]

I think ct just woke up from his coma that I gave him about 20 yrs ago!!