i could use some help .
when i swap cabs how much of the wiring haress do i need from the diesel cab to go into the gas cab ? it is a 88 to a 89 the 89 is a gas truck

 

everything from the diesel has to be swapped into the gas cab, including the instrument cluster.

 

Thanks . I'm thinking this is gonna be a big project . I'm giving myself 5 months to do it

 

Is their any other stuff I should look to in a cab swap ?
My idi has been sitting for 2 years is their any thing I should before I start it ?
Sorry for all the questions I have never done a project like this .

 

not really. maybe new body bushings and bolts, new heater hoses, and maybe a new heater core.
5 months is a long time.
when i ran the body shop, we used to do a cab swap from drive in to delivery back to the customer in less than a weeks time. and that was with 1 guy working on it 8 hours a day, and others helping when needed.
we could do a cab swap in 2 days with 3 guys working on it.
i can still do it here at the house in about 3 weeks time, and i am 58 and disabled.

 

Sweet it may not be so bad then thanks

 

to be truthful with you, the hardest part is getting the old cab off, and the new one on. everything else is easy. i leave the fenders off until all the wires are swapped. it gives you more room to access the plug in the engine bay, and makes it easier to trouble shoot if there are any wires crossed so you can access the sensors on the engine or heater box.

 

From what I see the wiring in the dash is going to suck . the idi has been sitting for 2 years anything I need to do before I start it

 

not really.
mine has been sitting for around 5 years now after the driver side rocker panel and floor board fell off.
i started on it after i got the 87 F150 cab, then it got cold. so i put everything on hold until spring.

i also have a 2004 cab to put on a 2000 F350 4X4 that caught on fire to do in the spring.
luckily that will not need rewiring.

 

One thing to note, depending on the state you're in, you might need to do some legwork to legally swap the cabs. There might be some snafu's using a gas vin number with a diesel engine. Or you may find you'll need to get the state to issue you a new vin number for the vehicle after the swap.
This may not seem to be a big deal, but when you go to sell the truck, it could be a huge nightmare.

 

almost all salvage yards sell a cab without vin plate, so i just put the vin plate from the truck on the new cab. even if i buy a complete truck to take the cab off of, i still just swap the vin plate. it is just easier than dealing with 5-6 months of DMV bs and inspections.

 

that is good info thanks

 

I consider a cab swap myself, and found the info about swapping the vin-number interesting. Had to go out and check. And yes, it looks like the vin-number is attached to the dash-frame with two nails. If so this makes it a lot easier. Still, is it legal?
Anyone here who have done the cab-swap to tell us more of what it takes and may have pictures from the job?

 

I just had shoulder surgery does 3 .I'm going to try to get it in the shop mid January then I'll start photos

 

They aren't nails, they are special rivets that aren't available to the general public.
Not in Massachusetts. The first thing they check when doing the yearly "safety" inspection is the vin number.
Actually it may be some sort of federal offense to tamper with vin numbers.

However, it only matters if you get caught. I have heard of people doing it, and have contemplated it for one of my vehicles. But you have to be careful. I would say this is a do at your own risk activity.