suburban driveline vs truck driveline?

[oopsman_09]

Not the usual question. I know the suburban has a 2" shorter wheelbase thus a 2" shorter driveline. however i aquired an 89 1/2 ton 4x4 burb whith a good 700r4. My question is if i put this trans and t-case into my 81 1/2 ton 2wd what driveline should i use? I know mine wont work, and i know i should use a 2wd 700r4, but this one is free and i already have it. I was told the 2wd rear diff is farther forward than the 4x4 diff. So does that mean the burb driveline will work? Anyway i hope someone can make sense of this.

 

[Konas new ride]

Isin't a 2wd trans much shorter then a 4x4 trans and t case? Maybe sell the 700r4 and tcase and buy a 2wd 700 r4 and adjust your rear drive shaft to fit.

 

[HotRodPC]

Uhhh, this 4wd trans isn't going to work for your truck. The output shaft length is different all together.

However, your 81 should have a Th350 trans in it with the 9 inch tailshaft housing. You can use a 700r4 from a 2wd and use the same driveshaft that's in the truck now. There is only like a 1/2 in difference in the Th350 9in tailshaft that squares use, and the 700r4 in the 2wd models. You should have a 1/2 variation to play with in your driveshaft length and the 27 spline output shafts are the same on both the Th350 and 700r4.

Now if you need someone to give the 89 4x4 Burb A good home.... Uhhh Oh and I do happen to have a 91 Burb 2wd with a working 700r4 in it that will fit that 81 1/2 ton.

ROAD TRIP???

 

[bucket]

The way I'm reading it, he wants to put the trans AND t-case in the 2wd truck. If that's the case, I just say fock it and run the shorter Burb shaft too. May also need a conversion u-joint if the '81 rear is a 12 bolt, and the floor may need massaged with a sledgehammer.

In short, I personally think it's a silly idea and would not do it.

 

[HotRodPC]

Oh yeah, he'd have to massage the floor to make room for the Tcase.

 

[oopsman_09]

i would be running both trans and t-case.isnt the 81+ truck cabs the same? i know the 73-80 trucks had the bolt in 4x4 trans hump. plan was to turn this truck into a 4x4. was just wondering if it was at all feasible. as for someone needing a 4x4 burb i would be more than willing to sell a stripped frame with a good body. there isnt much left of it except frame, body panels, and some very dirty interior now though. body is pretty straight minus 1 dent i have found in the passenger fender. however the previous owner spray painted most of it red.

 

[oopsman_09]

was beginning to wonder if anyone was going to reply to this lol.

 

[HotRodPC]

i would be running both trans and t-case.isnt the 81+ truck cabs the same? i know the 73-80 trucks had the bolt in 4x4 trans hump. plan was to turn this truck into a 4x4. was just wondering if it was at all feasible. as for someone needing a 4x4 burb i would be more than willing to sell a stripped frame with a good body. there isnt much left of it except frame, body panels, and some very dirty interior now though. body is pretty straight minus 1 dent i have found in the passenger fender. however the previous owner spray painted most of it red.

I'd be all over that if cash wasn't an issue along with the distance. I've got a nice 2wd Burb, but I really really really wish it were 4x4.

Yes, the 81-87 cabs are very different. There are low humps in the 2wd Auto cabs, hi humps in the manual trans cabs, and long high humps in the 4x4 cabs. It would prolly make your 4x4 Burb unsaleable, but most who do conversions, cut the hump out of a 4x4. I'll be doing a cab swap soon and going to have to cut the hump out of the 4x4 cab and transfer it to the new 2wd cab.

Here are pics of my 86 20 and 85 K10.

 

[oopsman_09]

ahh i see. could i cut the hump out of the burb and use it in the truck

 

[HotRodPC]

ahh i see. could i cut the hump out of the burb and use it in the truck

Yep, that's what most end up doing. Now how the Burb hump matches toward the back of the cab, that I don't know for sure. Only way to really tell is pull the seat out of the burb and compare it to a truck cab.

Another tip, once you cut that hump out of the burb, the odds of selling it unless just for parts and cheaper, will become harder.

Being it's a 4x4 Chassis, someone may not give a big rats ass what shape it's in really if they want to make a hunting rig or mud truck out of it and you might be able to find a buyer for the rolling chassis. A bit harder after you cut the hump out. Maybe better to get a cordless sawzall and cut a hump out of a Pull A Part truck.

 

[HotRodPC]

That is what I'll have to do. I am going to be recabbing that Blue 85 Diesel 4x4 cab with this 85 Gas 2x4 cab that's in much better sheet metal shape, and much better interior shape, so I'll be cutting the hump outta the blue interior and putting it in the tan interior. And I'll hope to be getting a black rubber mat instead of carpet. That tan carpet won't fit after I get the 4x4 hump in it.