The SUV poll makes me share this brain fart here. The big draw to the Excursion is the diesel. One of the problems with putting the Dmax in the GM SUV is everyone wants the Allison which doesn't fit so well.
But GM puts the Dmax in vans with the 4L8x transmission. I'm sure it's derated from the truck motor, and you don't get the Allison features, but would there be interest in that? I wonder how similar the 8.1L and Dmax engine mount setups are? I'd have to think it would be an easy swap...from a fabrication perspective. And the 85E with some mild upgrades could probably handle 500+lbs of torque no problem.
And then there's the newer 6spd trans; I wonder what they'd hold?
I'm torn between trying that swap, or finding a crew cab with quadrasteer and dropping the Dmax in one of those.
Thanks,
Michael

very simple solution is 2 " body lift on the suburban and the allison trans fits then. it is all a issue with clearence in the trans tunnel area

http://www.duramaxsuburban.com/

From all the understanding the trans tunnel isn’t the issue it’s a tapered body lift to accommodate the cooling stack the builders don’t use a body lift all the way back

A stock 80/85E will hold 500 ft-lb with a trans-go shift kit. I've done it many times with turbo LS street car stuff. For something heavier that you're planning to tow with, a built 4L8X-E would be the ticket. I'm putting 900+ hp and 700+ ft-lb to the tires through a Jakes Performance Stage IV 4L80E. Never a hiccup from the trans in beating on it every time I drive it for several years now.

4L80E ? Jake?s Performance

So what's the point of joining OSO to resurrect an 18 year old thread? Yes, it's well known that the evaporator/cooling system one of the issues. I have a friend who built his own Duramax Suburban.