I can't seem to find any good information on this topic, but I own and drive daily a K2500 Suburban. I'm kind of out of the big truck game and need a new project.

How difficult would it be to take the same year Tahoe 1996 to 1998 and use the Burb for parts to turn the tahoe into a 3/4 ton?

I'm sure there are frame discrepancies, but it sounds like no one has used this method before......everything has been custom built or bought.

There are so many parts on each of them that are the same it just seems like by having both to build one you would be light years ahead versus customizing everything.

Any thoughts?

 

I'm less familiar with the GMT400, compared to the 800 and 900 platforms. What I can tell you is that the main similarities between the half-ton and 3/4-ton Burbs are the bodies. Underneath, just about everything is different - frame, suspension, brakes, axles, engines, transmissions.

Just spitballing, I'd say the easiest way to build a 3/4-ton Tahoe would be to take the 3/4-ton Burb, remove the body, segment out the frame and rear driveshaft to shorten it 18 inches, then drop the Tahoe body on the shortened chassis.

 

Hmmmm, that's a good thought. A lot quicker than my plan. I may have to play with that idea. It sounds crazy, but I like unique and that to me sounds like a cool ride with a little less size. Something not many have ya know...

 

I found a nice 1997 Tahoe with low miles for $1200 obo. I may just get it and take some measurements to see what it entails. I think the body swap and frame cut would be stellar. I got the welder anyway. I bet the driveshaft from the Tahoe may mate up to my u joints on the burb. If it doesn't look doable I'm sure I can clean the Tahoe up and flip it without much effort.

 

Keep in mind that the main purpose of the 3/4-ton Burbs is towing. A 3/4-ton Tahoe, while unique, will be less desirable because the shorter wheelbase will handicap it as a tow vehicle. Longer wheelbase is always preferable, especially when bumper towing a heavy trailer.

 

That was kind of the point to be honest. I can still pull a good sized trailer, but I don't have anything large to pull anymore so a build like that would be awesome. Cuz shoot even the Tahoe in 1996 had a tow capacity of 7k lbs. My 3/4t burb is only rated at 7500lbs. If it was equipped with a 454 it would be 10k lbs. so I'm like shoot.....what am I losing? 500lbs? The H2 is even rated at 8200lbs, so I don't believe I'm losing too much with the build.