Body swap 1500 to 2500

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Kenn

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Afternoon. New to the site. Have a general question. I have a 2000 yukon 1500 xl i got for free has 150k runs great. Eats tires. Took to three alignment shop same answer frames bent. 3800 dollars to strip front end and straighten frame. Neighbor bought a 2001 yukon xl 2500 from theft recovery auction and pulled motor trans transfer for his truck. Said he would sell me frame lift etc for 800. Big question will it be straight over swap body and drivetrain from 1500? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank yoi
 

camaroz1985

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No there are two body mounts that are different I believe, but it can be done. There are several people that have put Denali bodies on 2500 frames.

Also if they aren't giving you all the running gear from the 2500 you will have to source that stuff, as the 2500 has leaf spring rear suspension and 1500 has coil, brakes are different, etc. If they just took the engine and trans out then you could swap yours in and the body.
 
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Kenn

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They are taking motor trans and transfer so it will be a rolling chassis. Rear end and front end complete with 6 inch lift.

The odd mount different then the two is just an extra or would it need to be relocated?
 

BigDaddy13440

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IMO, if you have the capacity to swap the entire body over, it certainly won't be all that difficult to fab up any mounts you need.

For $800, you are waaaayyyy ahead of the game. A 6" lift is probably over $2000 installed, and you have the axles and upgraded braking for the 2500. Only question I would have is "do I want to add a 3" body lift while I have it all apart?" That, and new Energy Suspension body mount bushings.......
 
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Kenn

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They paid 2800 n change for lift installed. Plan on new bushings. Maybe 1 inch body but not to much. Unfortantly the 2500 yukon is still at his parents so im tryin to figure out if it will fit
 

BigDaddy13440

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They paid 2800 n change for lift installed. Plan on new bushings. Maybe 1 inch body but not to much. Unfortantly the 2500 yukon is still at his parents so im tryin to figure out if it will fit


In the voice of the Rock:

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK!!!!!


Hell, you could swap a VW bug body onto it if you want to!
It's going to be some work to put the 1500 on the 2500 frame, but not much more than swapping the body onto another 1500 frame.

And, after reading the thread again..... aren't you also getting the body of the 2500 too? Already mounted on the frame? If so, use your 1500 for any body panels to repair the 2500, and swap in your motor and tranny. Obviously, you'll have to swap the entire wiring harness, IF the 2500 had the 6.0 or 8.1. If it also had the 5.3, no need to even swap the harness.
 
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Kenn

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They show me pics of the body and its pretty rough. When they pulled the drivetrain they used wire cutters through out. I think im gonna pull the body complete minus drivetrain and swap drivetrain then set the body down and have a tank.
 

fiatdale

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I don't believe the bodies are different. There's no way GM would make a completely different body (body mounts) for a 1500/2500. Yes the core support may be different but the body itself should bolt right over. As far as the comment on the Denali clips, all that would require is a modification to the frame horns, nothing more.
 

camaroz1985

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There are body mount differences. Several have done Duramax swaps using Denali bodies on 2500 frames and have had to relocate body mounts. Not a big deal, but not direct swap.
 

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