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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Swaping Cabs

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Old Feb 1, 2020 | 04:49 AM
  #1  
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Swaping Cabs

Swapping Cabs
I would like to know what may be needed to put a 1996 Ford F350 Cab that had a 7.3 L 460 in it. I would like replace the existing cab on my 1989 Ford F150 with a 5.0 302 And place the 1996 Ford F350 Cab onto the 1989 frame leaving the entire drive train including the 302 engine. And just do a body swap. What all would need to be changed. Would I have to find a new main wireing harness that runs under the hood or could I use the existing one cost of the 1996 Ford F350 with a 460 7.3 liter engine. Or would I have to put a new wiring harness in there for the 302 5.0 engine I do know the translation for most likely have to be changed. Basically what will I need to change. My 1989 cab is not in good shape and I just found someone who has a 1996 Ford F350. They're taking to the scrap yard. In the description he does say that the front nose clip is off of a Ford 1996 F150. I can buy the whole cab and nose clip wiring. The whole complete set up for next to nothing.

This is what i cam buy cheap the 1996 Forf F350
If I had to change any of the wiring harnesses which ones would I have to change what I have to change the ones under the hood and change ones and Dash as well or just the ones under the hood?

Any advise would help greatly...
 
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Old Feb 1, 2020 | 05:03 AM
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Swapping cabs

I own a 1989 Ford F150 with a 5.0 302 engine and manual transmission. I have an availability to buy a hold of a 1996 Ford F350 nose clip on a 1996 Ford F350 is a 1998 Ford F150 I am curious about the wiring harnesses for 1996 Ford F-350 with a 7.3 liter engine for mine has a 302 5.0 0 liter engine wiring harness under the hood and or under the dash. The cab that I can buy the owner is taking it to the scrap yard so I can buy it for an extremely cheap price and it may be well worth it to buy The Cat Empire on my 1989 frame. I would just like to know how hard it would be to what's the 1996 Ford F-350 cab on to the 1989 Ford F150 frame. What all might need to be changed.

Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated.




These are pics of the 1996 Ford F 350. I'm thinking of buying.
 
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Old Feb 1, 2020 | 09:56 PM
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The folks that know about this kind of thing don't usually frequent the "New Member Introductions" forum. You might might want to post in the "1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks" forum to get some answers flowing.

Welcome aboard!
 
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Old Feb 1, 2020 | 10:00 PM
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It looks pretty good.

The folks that know about this kind of thing don't usually frequent the "New Member Introductions" forum. You might might want to post in the "
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks" forum to get some answers flowing.

Welcome aboard!
 
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Old Feb 2, 2020 | 08:53 PM
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Combined 2 similar threads and moved to appropriate forum. - Donjamer
 
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Old Feb 3, 2020 | 07:53 AM
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I haven't done this myself, so if someone with personal experience chimes in I'd value their input higher. But the advice I generally hear is to not mix harnesses. If you were swapping an engine from a '96 into your '89 you could either replace all of the '89 wiring with '96 wiring, or you could keep all of the '89 wiring, including everything that connects to the engine. The letter is usually much easier, but doesn't work so well when the engines are very different. In your case the 460 and 302 are pretty different, so I think I'd swap all of the wiring over from the '89.

I don't know for sure, but I could see that leading to issues with the instrument panel. And I don't know if you can put an '89 IP in a '96 cab.

The other thing you might have issues with is attaching the front clip to the cab. I know the front fenders of an '80 - '86 truck won't just bolt onto a '92 - '96/'97 cab. It's not a horribly involved bit of fabrication, but it's not just a bolt-on. But I don't know where the '87 - '91s fit in. Your fenders might bolt right on, but maybe they won't. Of course getting a front clip from a '92 - '96/'97 would solve this too,
 
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Old Feb 4, 2020 | 04:53 PM
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I have not done it, either.

Do the two motors have carbs or EFI?
Are both trucks 4-speed OD auto transmissions?

I agree: a rust-free cab would be hard to pass up. Your F150 frame is solid?

Roy
 
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Old Feb 5, 2020 | 06:23 AM
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my opinion on this is it is A LOT of work, and nothing will interchange. you would be much better looking for a 87 to 91 cab.
completely different wiring harness. so you will have to fabricate the 89 dash and complete electrical into the 96 cab.
 
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Old Feb 5, 2020 | 07:18 AM
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I agree with Tom. If the OP has the time and skills it could be done, but it's a lot of work. I cannot tell if that donor cab and front clip includes the radiator support...which you will need.
 
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Old Feb 6, 2020 | 12:42 PM
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You really want a 87-91 cab. Then just use the bare shell, everything from you old cab will bolt right in/on
 
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