switching engines between 2 suburbans

[ben-mtl]

Hi, sorry if this subject has already been discussed many times but I´m french and with my poor english level I was not able to find the answer here...

I've got 2 suburbans, 1 from 1987 (6.2L diesel, body really rusted but frame seems not to be so bad) and the other one from 1989 (250 gaz on 2500 frame, body in perfect shape, no rust)
The thing is I'm sure about my diesel engine, I run this truck everyday so it's OK but at the price I bought the gaz one (900 CAN$) I'm not really confident about the engine.
What I'd like to do is switching the engines between the 2 trucks (or the body, depends what's the easier...)
What do you think about that ? is it possible ? is it a big job ?
Any advice will be apprecied.

Thanks a lot.
Benoit

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by ben-mtl

Hi, sorry if this subject has already been discussed many times but I´m french and with my poor english level I was not able to find the answer here...

I've got 2 suburbans, 1 from 1987 (6.2L diesel, body really rusted but frame seems not to be so bad) and the other one from 1989 (250 gaz on 2500 frame, body in perfect shape, no rust)
The thing is I'm sure about my diesel engine, I run this truck everyday so it's OK but at the price I bought the gaz one (900 CAN$) I'm not really confident about the engine.
What I'd like to do is switching the engines between the 2 trucks (or the body, depends what's the easier...)
What do you think about that ? is it possible ? is it a big job ?
Any advice will be apprecied.

Thanks a lot.
Benoit

Welcome to AF on your first post.
It can be done but.
You are looking at a lot of work.
To switch engines everything will need changed like computer and wiring and exhaust and radiator and transmission may have to stay with the engine.
Good luck
MT

[ben-mtl]

Alright, thank you for this answer.
When you you say it's a lot of job do you mean it's hard to do (i'm not an "pro" with engines) or does it just need a lot of time.
The main difficult point for me is to move the engine, I mean I'm not able to assemble an engine from scratch but I'm sure I can plug all wiring from engine to the dashboard for example (by noting the way it's plugged on the original truck).
I feel confident for uninstaling wires, fuel lines, exhaust lines, computer because I'll only need to unplug being careful of remembering the way to plug it back on the other truck.
Are the fixation points for the fuel and exhaust lines, radiator...etc.. the same for diesel and gaz ? (the size for the clamps will be different of course).

Thank you again

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by ben-mtl

Alright, thank you for this answer.
When you you say it's a lot of job do you mean it's hard to do (i'm not an "pro" with engines) or does it just need a lot of time.
The main difficult point for me is to move the engine, I mean I'm not able to assemble an engine from scratch but I'm sure I can plug all wiring from engine to the dashboard for example (by noting the way it's plugged on the original truck).
I feel confident for uninstaling wires, fuel lines, exhaust lines, computer because I'll only need to unplug being careful of remembering the way to plug it back on the other truck.
Are the fixation points for the fuel and exhaust lines, radiator...etc.. the same for diesel and gaz ? (the size for the clamps will be different of course).

Thank you again

Just about everyting is different. And I forgot the fuel tanks are different to.
Yes a lot of work and time.
Good luck
MT

[sub006]

The cool thing is, diesels are exempt from smog inspections (at least they are in California, the strictest state)!

The thing to do is drop a gas engine into a truck already registered as a diesel. You can add a blower, run withour cats, do all the stuff you ususally have to buy a much older car to get away with!

[GMMerlin]

You are going to have to swap all the fuel system components including the filler neck from the diesel truck to the gas truck..
Don't forget that the electrics for the diesel is different than the gas truck.
On a scale of 1-10, I would give this one an 8 or 9 due to all the time and work involved
If you were swapping a diesel to a gas I would say this would be a 3-4 on the scale

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by sub006

The cool thing is, diesels are exempt from smog inspections (at least they are in California, the strictest state)!

The thing to do is drop a gas engine into a truck already registered as a diesel. You can add a blower, run withour cats, do all the stuff you ususally have to buy a much older car to get away with!

But if you want to stay legal you need to change the truck regestration/title and call your insurance company. And check all laws and rules and regulations pertaining to a change over.
Which is more work and problems and legal red tape on a change over.
Good Luck
MT

[ben-mtl]

OK that really seems to be a huge job...
Would it be easier to "just" switch the bodies ? I mean I know some poeple who already did that between 2 gas suburbans and they did it in 1 day, for a diesel I know that I'll have more work but it will be less job than transfering gaz line, exhaust, tank, etc, as all that stuff is fixed on the frame.
I can have a place where I can lift the body so this is not the main problem for me (I have a place with a big winch on the ceiling).
What would I have to change ? all the wiring to the dashboard, the computer, some hoses stuff like filler neck for the diesel... but what else ?

Thank you