i found threads regarding putting a 92-96 front end on an 87, but i can't find much on a dash swap. has anyone done it? is it hard? i might be getting an 87, and while i don't mind the interior, i prefer the 92-96 truck all together better, but i may be getting this 87 cheap and from a buddy so i know the history on it. if it's not a TON of work, i may add a dash swap to the list of mods if i end up with this truck. im sure i can find a dash and any wires/etc pretty easily online/craigslist/junkyard, so that's not an issue.

i'd also like to do a front end swap down the road as well.


also, rather than making a second thread, ill ask here. the truck is a 4x4, but i always had planned when i got a single cab short bed f150 like this, i wanted 2wd and to either do a small drop (nothing too low that its annoying to drive), or just leave the front stock and drop the rear to level it out. this one like i said is 4x4 and on 33s, i may put smaller tires on it, i dont think its lifted, but can it be lowered? i know not many would do this, but i have a 4x4 excursion and f350 dually, this would just be for street driving, so the 4x4 will never be needed. would it need to be converted to 2wd, or just leave the 4x4 in there and lower it some how? can 4x4 be removed easily or do you need donor parts to swap in?

 

putting a 92+ dash into a 91 older truck can be done, but it will require now mounts, and some electronic work to make everything work.
and you can lower a 4X4 and still keep the 4 wheel drive

 

Steering columns are also different in the way they mount. Have to use the 92+ steering column with the 92+ dash.

Then that leads to the wiring...... either adapt existing harness to the 92+ harness at firewall connector or swap over the 92+ engine bay AND cab harnesses.

On my 89 F250 I used a 92 engine bay harness to replace a munged up engine bay harness(PO hack job). I could not find ANY firewall bulkhead connector diagrams for the 89 and 92 trucks. Took me a week to trace out each wire and adapt the 92 harness to the 89's cab harness.

 

plus, the 92 and newer uses a digital speedometer. the 91 and older uses a cable speedometer.

 

Yea ill be sticking with the stock dash. Lol

 

If it wasn't such a pain id trade you dashes and front ends

I like my tach
I like my cable speedo
I like not having a crumple zone

 

I like the 87-91 dash and interior much more than the 92-96. I will concede the front end styling, but everything else about the 92-96 looks cheap in comparison to the 92-96 to me. I've got both at my house every day (my 16 yoa son drives a 95 F150) so I have been all over both extensively. But, hey, YMMV.

 

I definitely like both interiors, but for some reason i just like the 92 better. But i still like the 87 also

 

That'd be perfect, i want a low stance but not big rims, so i could still have nice a/t tires and if ever needed, I'd still have 4x4.

 

yup. lowered 4X4's are were a big thing in california in the 90's