gordr
New member
My long-time favorite driver '96 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel 'burb got rear-ended in Utah by a Hyundai, of all things. Frame rails are kinked, and the body is racked to the point that one rear door won't open, and the other only closes on half-latch. Even the driver's door is sprung. The barn doors weren't touched, and work fine. The trailer hitch and rear bumper took the hit.
Body shop estimate is for $7600 (Can.), or close to $6000 USD. I'm pretty sure that puts it in write-off country. I drove the truck some 800 miles home from the scene of the crash, and it goes down the road fine, albeit with some new noises. But the engine and transmission are definitely getting tired, so I think the best course for me is to take a cash settlement from the insurer, and retain the vehicle to part out.
But the body damage is not that bad. If it were to be released from the kinked frame, I think a lot of it would spring back, and a good pull would fix most of the door issues.
I am wondering if anyone here knows if a '90's-era Suburban body could be fitted onto the chassis of a later GM truck with the Duramax engine and Allison tranny? I wouldn't expect it to be a direct bolt-on swap, as long as the wheelbase were correct and the firewall location relative to the engine and front axle was right.
Body shop estimate is for $7600 (Can.), or close to $6000 USD. I'm pretty sure that puts it in write-off country. I drove the truck some 800 miles home from the scene of the crash, and it goes down the road fine, albeit with some new noises. But the engine and transmission are definitely getting tired, so I think the best course for me is to take a cash settlement from the insurer, and retain the vehicle to part out.
But the body damage is not that bad. If it were to be released from the kinked frame, I think a lot of it would spring back, and a good pull would fix most of the door issues.
I am wondering if anyone here knows if a '90's-era Suburban body could be fitted onto the chassis of a later GM truck with the Duramax engine and Allison tranny? I wouldn't expect it to be a direct bolt-on swap, as long as the wheelbase were correct and the firewall location relative to the engine and front axle was right.
