G'day folks,

I was probing around my truck and found some more serious rust in my 77 F100 cab.

I have found a few cabs available which need comparatively little work. Can any cab from any dent fit?

Could me and a few buddies do it in a weekend?, not including body and paint.

Whats the easiest way to get around wiring?

Any input is good input folks

 

Getting it done on one weekend probably depends on how well you have the cooler stocked with go juice ,he he. You don't want to loose you crew part way threw getting the job done. I don't believe there will be any problems making any dent fit. The 4/4 cabs may have to have the mount holes relocated,somebody that's done it will be able to tell you. You have a good day now. Jim

 

Thanks for the reply Jim,
Having enough brewskis around my joint is never a problem lol.
I have heard that the chassis rails on the 4x2 trucks are wider than the ones on my 4x4 but I think at least one of these cabs is off a 4x4.

Im actually in a pretty fortunate position as one of the only F series and Bronco wrecking yards is going out of business (sadly) and are putting all their stuff to auction so HOPEFULLY I end up with a whole load of sweet parts... Including a cab.

 

Fyi, I heard once before some modifications will have to be made to swap highboy and lowboy cabs, i would do some studying on that.

 

Ive changed a dozen cabs 76 to 79 range . 4x4 and 2x4 are the same. I take cabs off 2wd trucks and put them on 4x4 as the cabs are usually better shape. I think they are the same 73 to 79 however you may run into some wiring differences. 77 was kind a breed of its own in that area. I put a 77 2wd cab on a 79 4x4 and it fit fine but I had trouble with the steering column wiring harness. It plugged in the same but was wired a little different. 78 and 79 are just alike . If I were doing a 77 and could find a 77 cab I would go that way.

 

Like its been said, if its a 78-79 its easy and can be done in a weekend. With the right amount of prep on the removal cab mount hdwr. They are usually rusted and hard to get loose, the front rad core support hdwr is almost the same way.

As far as wiring just unplug the eng compartment connections from the fire wall connections, pull the complete front clip (12 main bolts), might as well pull the bed or slide it back a few feet, to make it real easy.

Mark the door hinge points with a scribe and remove to lighten the cab. Pull seat and disconnect the steering wheel where it comes out of the firewall.

Disconnect emergency brake cable, engine to fire wall ground, right behind motor. If you are crew limited and or the old cab is junk slide it off the frame with some 2x12 (frame to ground) the longer they are the less slope.

Lots of hands, just get them on each corner and he ho off ya go. And yes if its a 73 to mid 77.5 there is a little steering column wiring differences.

Not to sure what your country laws as far a titling it, you might have to take off the the old vin tag (2 rivets) off the dvrs door. And or have the new cab title?? DMV can answer all the for you I'm sure.

BTW it was cool to walk across the TOP of the Sydney harbor bridge.

 

Thanks heaps for your help,
As far as the law goes in terms of trucks like mine in these parts, im surprised it hasnt been ordered off the road yet, but yeah I was.thinking along the lines of just swapping VIN tags.

All the cabs I got my eye on are just about completely bare, so wiring harnesses aren't a massive issue, im more concerned about all my existing wiring in my cab through the firewall, as in whats the best way to keep track of it all?



A couple of my friends are walking the top of Sydney harbour bridge today, I live in Perth on the other side of the country lol... I like to think of the Western Australian border as the downunder version of the Mason-Dixon line lol

 

Take good digital pics, and tape tag and mark each connector. Just use the # system to make it easy. Head light and dash cluster connections should be easy to figure.

If you do not know what it goes to just mark it with a #1 and then in a note book write #1 and explain in terms you understand what it was connected to.

Or do a #1 and #1 on each elec connection before you disconnect. then #2 and #2 ect....

Or use this as some help, thanks to someone else for posting this pic a while back.

 

Ok, gotcha, thanks again.
Seems like a simple enough excersise.

 

Also a great time while you are in the middle of the cab swap to fix any rust issues, especially the front cab mount areas.

And put in a new heater core and install intermittent wipers, if you can find the switch and module.

 

Thanks 77&79 for the diagram, and the original poster if he/she is out there. I'll need that here soon.

 

Im a "he" lol.
Going to look at a cab tomorrow, he wants $250 for it. I havent seen it in daylight yet, so fingers crossed!

Also picked up my 6" superlift kit today and decided I'll fit that up while the trucks in pieces... and a custom tailgate, and front bumper... I think I'm gonna need a build thread once I fix up my 81 bronco