well I didn't see a general discussion area so here ur goes...is there anyone besides that Colorado based shop that can do a duramax/Allison swap on suburbans. The Colorado place charges like 80k for an 06 with the duramax/Allison combo. How hard is this to do if I bought everything myself?

Depends on body work, fabrication, welding, electrical, and any other skills to do this. Seems the way I hear they use the front portion frame and body panels and hood from a HD truck and connect the cab back frame body of a suburban. Plus body light for Allison clearance I understand. Using a 4L85E transmission may clear stock tunnel wise since 3/4 suburbans have used both versions of 4L85E. Both the same just slightly different output tail piece. The ones in 8.1 vortecs and slightly stronger and a bit more noiser in first gear than the one used with the 6.0L vortec engines. Know one needs to adapt all things like ECM, TCM, cluster, BCM to work with each other plus the other host of modules that the vechicle uses. Many require programming from a TechII to work and all have the same VIN info. So say you find a used suburban and a donor truck say in junk yard trashed from the cab back but still has good engine and tranny plus its ECM, TCM, cluster and so fore I would say you could do it for 50,000 to 60,000 if all goes well.

Brian

Well it really depends on what you have such as tools, welders, time etc

Oh forgot, welcome to DP

my father in law can help, he's got every tool known to man.

it would be a fun project to do. So I say do it and have fun. Defiantly search on it and see what others have done to make it work. I just wrote from what I have seen. Always thought a Duramax Avalanche would be sweet myself.

Do it good, document and take lots and lots of pictures. Would make for a good read to someone.

Brian

Contact member "theTDIguy"

He has done two so far.

look up duramax escalade in (any other vehicles) section.