does dodge or ford offer something to compete w/ the suburban? and I'm not talking about an excursion... I'm talking about something from the late 70's/early 80's that I can pick up for $1000

thanks for playing

 

What about the charging system?

 

We used the GM alternator and the GM A.C. Made a bracket for both and installed a new belt. What trannie are u wanting to use in the Suburban?

 

I would use an NV4500 and transfer case out of a dodge, D60 front, and probably a D80 back because I have one... maybe a 14 bolt if I can find one

Forrest

 

I'd take a Ramcharger over a Subus anytime. But you are right-not a direct competitor. And I would do the Excussion over a Sub. But you won't find much for a grand anymore!!

 

What trannie is in the Suburban, Now?

 

they didn't make a 3/4 ton ram charger did they? I would want something with a frame that I felt would hold up to 1000++ ftlbs of torque... and the ram charger is a stubby little thing... I want something w/ some cubic feet in it...

I'd LOVE a Cummins powered Excursion, but people in hell would love a glass of water, ya know what I mean?

also, I refuse to own anything that isn't smog exempt... in TX we've got a 25yr rolling exemption, so 1980 or earlier is exempt... diesels are also exempt, so if I found a later 3/4 ton diesel 'burb w/ a tired 6.5 in it, that would be great too.

we've had a few suburbans when I was growing up as a kid... obviously I hate the motor/tranny, but I can't really complain much about the trucks themselves... our '92 has a lot of squeaks and rattles, but that's because my dad is lazy and doesn't investigate and take care of stuff like that when it springs up. our 89 was a really nice truck. I like the old square body trucks, and like I said, you can pick them up cheap a little rough around the edges... it would be getting a camo paint job anyhow, so I can live with a little rough

as for the tranny? I don't have a Suburban yet, but I'm assuming whatever I find will have an automatic in it... if I can mate the factory transfer case to the NV4500, that would be swell, but I've got a suspision that the spline count wouldn't match, so I'd just go w/ a dodge NP x-fer case. I've got a Dodge NV4500 w/ a chewed up main shaft... it's out of a 2wd, but I'd just buy a 4wd shaft and tail housing... you can score the tail housings for ~$50 and it already needs a main shaft, so no worries there.

hell, I might just leave the D44 or whatever up front just to get the thing together as cheap as possible... just take it easy in 4wd. actually, I rarely have a use/need for 4wd, but if I'm going to spend the time/money/energy to do a swap on something like that, it's gonna be a 4x4.

 

It you buy a suburban with a 4l80E or a th400, you could use that and there would be no need too convert axles and trans case, They will hold up to the cummins. We haul 27,000lbs with the 4L80e, and no problems.

 

nah, then I'd have to buy a dress to wear whenever I drove it

 

What do you mean buy that?Our 4L80 is holding up better than the Dodge Automatics

 

no slush boxes for me... bolt action for life!

 

i personnally prefer the gm trucks ,like the interiors better,they ride better,quieter,and more room,plus better feeling seats.when you ride in a dodge you know your riding in a truck,but i put on 1000-1200 miles a week,and my back can't take getting the discs beat out of it,i'm already short one and would like to keep the rest.also mines just a 2wd.i love my truck to no end but gm does let me down in the diesel department.i figure by converting to the 4bt i can have the best of both,also forrest if you would consider a 2wd sub i have a 94 3/4 with a 6.5/4l80e,4:10s,one other thing,what really makes me wonder is why dodge or ford never came out with a suburban type vehicle,they just let gm have that market and gm sold millions of em.i guess ford did try once with the centurion,or whatever it was called.

 

here is one already done on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=90967

 

catmando,

like I said, if I'm gonna spend the time/money/effort/etc. to convert one, it's gonna be 4wd. we go to Colorado every year, and it sucks not being able to get up the hill sometimes in my truck! now, with the added weight over the rear, it might be a little better, but the total cost/effort won't be THAT much greater going 4x4... like I said, I might just keep the stock front axle up there as it would only be used for emergencies, not for hard core wheeling.

Forrest

 

yeah i here ya there the 2wd subs aren't the greatest thing on the planet for snow.