Stovebolt.com Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Planning a 4x4 conversion.

I have a 1962 GMC with a pretty cobbled frame, the rear shock mounts have been replaced with a 1/4in thick tab of steel welded to the top of the frame. It also has the factory motor mounts cut out and others welded in that are not in use. The motor (a 61' 235) is mounted by the bottom front mount, the mount itself is attached to the cross member by only 2 bolts and its kinda crooked. the trans (sm420) mounts are non existent, about 1/4 of the back lip of the trans sits on top of a cross member that has been poorly relocated and interferes with the torsion bars when the suspension is compressed.

Seems like its alot of work to repair the frame issues it has. I'm thinking I want to modernize it a bit anyways that way my wife can drive it. I would really love to convert to 4x4 with a bit of a lift and have disc brakes.

I've looked at E-Z Chassis swap kits, they recommend a 1973-1991 suburban. is that the chassis I should use?

I also have some complicating factors, I cant spend much money at once and I am limited as far as space goes. I do however have nearly unlimited time to complete the project.

I don't have a chassis yet though I am talking to a guy who has a 91 suburban with no trans for $100 but i think is only 2wd.

I looked at trying to swap over the suspension to a more modern setup but then I still have to deal with the crossmember and motor mounts, also to convert to 4x4 i would have to do a pretty ridiculous lift to get clearance for the front axle (not to mention making room for a transfer case).

so as far as I can tell a frame swap would be a good option as the amount of work required for either swap or repair of "original" parts is pretty close as well as potential cost.

I want to hear your opinions though, and if anyone has done a swap or conversion this big I want to hear about it, I read just about every conversion (both successful and not) that I can find through the search on here.

You are going to create an ill fitting ugly mess. Tires sticking out, lost of modifications for cab and bed mounts, lift blocks, steering, bumpers won't fit, nothing will fit.

Options/Opinions

1. Buy a donor 2wd 60-62 frame and swap it to obtain a nice original undercarriage. Live with 2WD.
2. Buy a donor 4wd 60-66 chassis Chevy or GMC.
3. I would have to examine the cobble you speak of to decide if I could just fix it with EBay/Craigslist/junk yard donor pieces. Cut all the bad stuff off and put donor stuff on. The trans and motor mounts are the least difficult issue to fix.
4. Add newer 70's or 80's Chevy 4x4 axles, transmission and transfer case to the original frame. I have done that to a 1956 GMC suburban. I just sold a 1960 GMC 4x4 original.


It's ALWAYS much better to use an original frame. The 4x4's do not use torsion bar or coil suspension. No matter what you do, you are in for a lot of work and fab. You can't do it in an apartment parking space.

Consider no. 3 as your best option

@bartamos: well I do live in a house not an apartment, I have space for 2 vehicles and some space for body panel storage. I do see what you mean, either way the body has to come off the frame. after looking through the assembly manual I have fount that the crossmember the trans is perched on is not from this truck. It also has 6 or 7 holes about 3 1/2 inches wide blown through the frame in various spots.

a combo of 3 and 4 would be nice but the other cross member that the motor sits on top of would interfere with the axle in front, even with more modern suspension it would need at least a 5 inch lift to get just a little bit of clearance.

I also must face the fact that the 235 in this truck never belonged and doesn't fit well, what i previously thought was a bad clutch turned out to be the whole motor/trans rolling around in there.


[EDIT] I suppose the truck already is an ill fitting ugly mess :P

Exactly what I did with my 65, was an ugly mess when I got it. After I decided I wanted 4 wheel drive I got with ed at EZ Chassis Swap, got a running driving 85 suburban 4x4, 350, 700r4 for cheap, not easy to come by here, most are rusted beyond use. Took my time and now have a easy driving truck, power steering, disc brakes. It's the way to go. Ed is a joy to work with. I am not a fabricator by any means but I think it came out well.

I saw your truck on here before, it came out beautifully. that's basically what I'm hoping to achieve with mine.

That guy does look like an option. About $1100 plus the price of the donor. Minus the sale of the original chassis/axles, etc.
$100 for that 91 suburban seems really cheap. Can't hardly go wrong. Having SNOYL as a go-to testimonial/advisor is golden. You guys should establish email/text communication. When you get gong on the truck, we would like to see progress pics and your opinion of the process.

SNOYL......Good Job!!!!! Looks like you had a great helper.

Thank you! Really I had no clue what I was in for, but three years of Sunday's puttering, 15 minutes a day, lol. I read that here and it's the truth. Honestly my biggest problem was finding the doner truck. You would be surprised how everything fits, 65 to 85. I would be happy to help in any way I can. It's not a show truck but that's not what I wanted. It earns its keep.

I'm in no rush to complete this project, it can take 10 years and that's ok with me. now the guy with the suburban isn't responding to me >.< but the search for the "right" chassis continues, luckily out here that stuff pops up all the time. I just have to wait for someone to roll one over on it's side and I'm golden I have about $1000 budget for a donor vehicle. so it shouldn't do too hard to dig one up, it's just a waiting game.

and I'm definitely not going for show truck, I'm only removing the dents I put there and I'm not sure if I'm even going to paint it or do some oil treatment or seal it or something.

The guy got back to me, It's 2wd but I will settle for that price

The only issue is it's a 93

E-Z says 91 was the newest they went to

is it still a candidate?

He will hold it for me for a couple days if I do $150