350SS

iTrader: (36)

wondering if a 2wd gmt800 tahoe can be converted to 4wd if it has the front suspension with torsion bars rather than coil springs.

seems like they share control arms, spindles, etc.

are the frames the same where the engine crossmember is?

silentbravo

iTrader: (1)

The front part of the frame may be missing some mounting points for the front differential to bolt to, that's the case with the truck frames anyway. I don't know for sure if that's how SUV are.

350SS

iTrader: (36)

as far as i know the half ton trucks don't have a 2wd with torsion bar front suspension...i could be wrong

from what i've seen they have a crossmember that ties the frame rails together whereas the 4wd half ton trucks do this with the front axle assembly

i guess another way to pose the question is whether the frames are the same on the 2wd and 4wd tahoes with torsion bar suspension

i should probably take a trip to the junkyard and look around

shakenfake

In 05 or something they did come out with half tons that had torsion bars. I think they are kinda rare though

Atomic

iTrader: (42)

All GMT800 SUVs have torsion bars, 2wd or 4wd. Most torsion bar trucks are 4wd, however there are some 2wd torsion bar trucks like the VHO ones from ~2005.

350SS

iTrader: (36)

you guys are right of course...i stand corrected.

guess it would be worth a shot to crawl under some suv's and see if this is possible.

shakenfake

They have different frames

350SS

iTrader: (36)

well that's not what i wanted to hear haha

1FastBrick

iTrader: (17)

These 2wd torsion bar frames Started in 2004.
VHO, VortecMAX, SS, Denali, and the Spring Special trucks, and the Extended Cab with short CrewCab Bed all had 2wd versions with torsion bar suspension.

The conversion can be done on the 2wd torsion frame if you get an AWD or 4x4 for the doner. This guy documented it on the SS forums RWD to AWD Conversion Process - AWD, Differential, & Transmission Tech - SilveradoSS.com

I recently had some one that lives near me do this conversion on an Extended Cab Crew cab Bed truck. We consulted the gentleman in that thread and learned a few things along the way. He was able to restore most but not all of the pictures in the thread for us.

350SS

iTrader: (36)

wow, thanks for posting that. really interesting thread. the amount of ingenuity and work guys put in to figure out this stuff never ceases to amaze me.

when i see stuff like this it makes me wonder what the thought process is at GM to do things like this. seems like it would be such a money losing proposition to make such small changes to frames and platforms that are already sorted out. anyone have an idea of why GM thought there was a benefit of going to a 2wd torsion bar setup would be if you already have a coil spring frame setup? is it just overall frame stiffness with the higher output motors?