Steve Addy
Newbie
Hey all
My 94 K1500 6.5TD frame is rotting out and I have an opportunity to get a K3500 frame that's in decent shape. I understand there are some differences between the two in the front but I can't find a list of those beyond 1) upper control arms / bj's are different, mounting points for the front diff may be different and mounts for the upper control arms might be different. These are both SRW trucks and if I use 'HD' in this context I don't mean the 3500HD (completely different beast) I mean Heavy Duty vs Light Duty (8 bolt wheels vs 6 bolt).
I am wanting to keep the K1500 LD front / rear diffs but use the K3500 HD rear springs, front suspension and frame. I'd think about keeping front / rear diffs but it's a 4.10 and I like the 3.73 and I don't pull much over 2-2.5 ton so I really don't need the 4.10. However, the K3500 rear axle is the 14 bolt full floater with the gigantic drum brakes, which are awesome.
I'd consider keeping the K3500 diffs but I have no history for this vehicle and it was apparently a service truck of some sort because there's an hour meter under the hood.
Anyone know any other differences that are really show stoppers on this please post up, I'm curious to hear what people have to say about this. Around here you don't see K3500 SRW trucks very often. Oh and both are reg cab long bed SRW trucks too.
I'm sure in the end this is going to be a labor intensive horrible project but before the K3500 goes away I thought I'd check to see what others thought about it.
Thanks
Steve
My 94 K1500 6.5TD frame is rotting out and I have an opportunity to get a K3500 frame that's in decent shape. I understand there are some differences between the two in the front but I can't find a list of those beyond 1) upper control arms / bj's are different, mounting points for the front diff may be different and mounts for the upper control arms might be different. These are both SRW trucks and if I use 'HD' in this context I don't mean the 3500HD (completely different beast) I mean Heavy Duty vs Light Duty (8 bolt wheels vs 6 bolt).
I am wanting to keep the K1500 LD front / rear diffs but use the K3500 HD rear springs, front suspension and frame. I'd think about keeping front / rear diffs but it's a 4.10 and I like the 3.73 and I don't pull much over 2-2.5 ton so I really don't need the 4.10. However, the K3500 rear axle is the 14 bolt full floater with the gigantic drum brakes, which are awesome.
I'd consider keeping the K3500 diffs but I have no history for this vehicle and it was apparently a service truck of some sort because there's an hour meter under the hood.
Anyone know any other differences that are really show stoppers on this please post up, I'm curious to hear what people have to say about this. Around here you don't see K3500 SRW trucks very often. Oh and both are reg cab long bed SRW trucks too.
I'm sure in the end this is going to be a labor intensive horrible project but before the K3500 goes away I thought I'd check to see what others thought about it.
Thanks
Steve
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