Lazy Man's Frame Thread

[SPDMETL]

Morning, Y'all! One of these days I need to decide what to do about the rotten frame on this guy...

If I could trouble those of you who have swapped out rusty or damaged frames for info and\or links, I would be grateful.

Has anyone swapped a 2011+ fully boxed frame under a GMT400?

How close is the 2500HD from 2001+ ?

I'm in awe of how this guy does his trucks https://www.plowsite.com/threads/16...zed-frame-fisher-xv2-and-hiway-sander.165214/

Mine is a 1999 K2500 RCLB with low miles and both blades-too good to part!

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[SPDMETL]

Some random pix...

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[454cid]

Has anyone swapped a 2011+ fully boxed frame under a GMT400?

How close is the 2500HD from 2001+ ?

I've never done a frame swao but I doubt it approaches anything close to easy. It would be far easier/better to get a southern GMT-400 frame.

I'm in awe of how this guy does his trucks https://www.plowsite.com/threads/16...zed-frame-fisher-xv2-and-hiway-sander.165214/

Wow! I've wanted to do that, but up until know I've only seen Landrover guys do it, and on new firetrucks.

Mine is a 1999 K2500 RCLB

Your truck looks almost exactly like mine. My frame rust isn't quite that bad, but with the exception of mine being a 3500 Chevy, instead of being a 2500 GMC they're pretty much the same truck from the outside.

 

[Hipster]

Not sure on the fitment of the newer frame. Small difference can lead to major fitment issues and the need for fabrication.

If you have access to a lift, frame swaps go quickly. Approach it as unitized construction. Ie, Four leaf spring bolts, 4 driveshaft bolts, brake cables and lines, roll it out and roll it under the new, Same in the front, pull torsion bars, drop the steering box, diff , and control arms, and steering linkage in one piece and slide it under the new. Engine, trans , transfer case in one piece, etc.

They used to take me 12-14 hours to do one solo in a collision shop, but also had access to a forklift to move the engine/trans combo and move the frames around. They were also new then so wasn't combating rusted fasteners.