1951 Suburban frame question

Hello all. I have finally decided to start building my '51 burb...mustang II, bags, powdercoat frame etc. I know myself well enough and it will be quite a few months (if not longer) before it is back on the road. I currently drive it a couple days a week and don't want it down for that long. So I was thinking I want to pick up another stock frame and build it and then just throw the body on. My question is is a truck frame the same as a suburban and will '47 - '54 all work? Thanks for any help.

 

The 1959 parts book says 47-53 half tons all use the same frame, the part number is 3694656 and it cost $121 for a new one back then.

There are probably some extension pieces on the rear of the frame that you'll have to change, as well as the body mount brackets. I know that's the case on the 55-59 frames, suburban vs. pickup truck.

It would probably be a good idea to first take a good look at your frame, and make sure the one you are planning to buy looks like yours.

 

i'm thinking of how hard it will be to get the motor and trans located right without the body on the frame.
if you can get a frame and a rusty cab, you would be able to mock up the frame, brake booster and steering
thus easing the transition to the panel
also check with squirrel on the fine art of lifting the panel body off the frame.
it's not for the weak of heart...

 

I've only done it twice.

 

thanks for the help guys. I never thought about getting a cab for mockup purposes but am going to now. i have received some pm's on some suburban frames so i guess i might be in luck there. my quest for a cab will begin now! thanks again.

 

i have access to a 3 ton hoist to move the body. i just need to make sure to support everything correctly right?

 

With the Burb body you will probably want to support it at the firewall and at the rear when you lift it.

I pulled a very rusty one of those out of the woods years ago and when I pulled the body off the frame there were body mount brackets that are special to the burb body on it but you can swap those over later.

 

I think the only difference is one bracket on those... I was talking to a friend that deals in that stuff and he said they were basically the same!

 

Frames are identical except for 4 mounts, 2 each side of the frame. The suburban does not use the shackle mount like the trucks, it uses a mount similar to what the front of the cab uses. Also, there is a mount similar to angle iron near where the frame kicks up at the axle. All the mounting holes are there for the suburban/panel brackets in a truck frame. I'm currently building a truck frame for my surburban and plan to do a body swap in the spring.

If you end up with extra suburban body mounts I would be interested. It would save me some fab time.

 

thanks guys for all the helpful info. mphudak - i will let you know about those brackets.