Turning a 1500 imto a 2500?

[Gaguero]

Im trying to see if it would be work it to stiffen up my suspension and swap a 4l80 into my 97 gmc c1500 to use it as a tow vehicle. Has a 5.7 vortec

 

[Supercharged111]

2500 had a thicker frame, leaf spring gussets, and a different front section of frame. Not sure about the latter with 2wd. I have 1 ton torsion bars, a 2500 leaf pack, a 9.5" rear end, and a 4L80 in my 1500. Did it all to make it a better tow rig. Don't forget to hydrobooost the brakes too. If you're willing to go through the asspain, you can make a stronger tow rig out of it. Just know it will (likely) never be a true 2500. Have you considered a 6 lug swap? I'm not sure if you can bolt on 8 lug stuff up front or not.

 

[stutaeng]

Worth it? Probably not unless you really enjoy wrenching and have a lot of time. How are you going to get reinforcement in there? The 2500 frames are deeper.

You're looking at swapping the frame, axle, brake components, transmissions, front suspension... I'd say swap truck instead. There's gotta be a lot of decent 2500/3500 trucks in your area, just make sure it's an 8 lug.

How much are you towing?

 

[Gaguero]

Worth it? Probably not unless you really enjoy wrenching and have a lot of time. How are you going to get reinforcement in there? The 2500 frames are deeper.

You're looking at swapping the frame, axle, brake components, transmissions, front suspension... I'd say swap truck instead. There's gotta be a lot of decent 2500/3500 trucks in your area, just make sure it's an 8 lug.

How much are you towing?

Yeah i figured its easier to just get a 2500 or 3500 but im planning on towing a car hauler with small car everyonce in a while mostly junk cars. But i got a foldaway crane bumper for super cheap and want to put it on but worried that towing with that bumper (has a built in hitch receiver) will bend the frame. Maybe j can weld some 1/4 inch plate to the side of the frame to reinforce

 

[Gaguero]

2500 had a thicker frame, leaf spring gussets, and a different front section of frame. Not sure about the latter with 2wd. I have 1 ton torsion bars, a 2500 leaf pack, a 9.5" rear end, and a 4L80 in my 1500. Did it all to make it a better tow rig. Don't forget to hydrobooost the brakes too. If you're willing to go through the asspain, you can make a stronger tow rig out of it. Just know it will (likely) never be a true 2500. Have you considered a 6 lug swap? I'm not sure if you can bolt on 8 lug stuff up front or not.

6 lug swap as in changing the hubs for 2500? Or the whole axle?

 

[RichLo]

Whole Frame

 

[Caman96]

Did the 6 lug 2500’s have the HD frame or only the 8 lug 2500’s?

 

[stutaeng]

Did the 6 lug 2500’s have the HD frame or only the 8 lug 2500’s?

Only the 8 lug 2500. But the 6 lug/2500 did have the 9.5" 14 bolt semi float rear axle with 6 lug axles. I've read here the frames were the same as the 1500, but with additional gussets and braces.

I helped my brother swap a 6 lug axle 3.73/G80 into his C1500 that had 3.08/open diff. Also did the front spindles/rotors/calipers to match the 6 lug. He found the parts from a donor 96 or 97 C2500 6 lug. So I know that swap is very easy.

 

[Caman96]

Only the 8 lug 2500. But the 6 lug/2500 did have the 9.5" 14 bolt semi float rear axle with 6 lug axles. I've read here the frames were the same as the 1500, but with additional gussets and braces.

I helped my brother swap a 6 lug axle 3.73/G80 into his C1500 that had 3.08/open diff. Also did the front spindles/rotors/calipers to match the 6 lug. He found the parts from a donor 96 or 97 C2500 6 lug. So I know that swap is very easy.

So this all got me curious. I’ve found multiple places where the 1500 and 2500 all seem to share the “same” frame. For the record, I only dug int RCLB frames. But for both the frame is
GM 15727845. When I looked up a 3500 frame, it only shows 3500’s and not 2500’s for fitment. Now, I’m not saying the 2500/3500 didn’t share the same HD frames, other than I couldn’t find that. Here’s an example, scroll down for fitment.

1992-2000 GM Frame Assembly 15727871 | OEM GM Parts

1992-2000 GM part # 15727871 - Frame Assembly

www.gmpartsoutlet.net

This shows GM 15727845 that shows the 1500/2500 relationships.

1988-1999 GM Frame Assembly 15727845 | OEM GM Parts

1988-1999 GM part # 15727845 - Frame Assembly

www.gmpartsoutlet.net

 

[yevgenievich]

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