I have a somewhat sentimental 84 F150 Super Cab short bed This was my dad's rig new and I took my drivers test in it etc. In 99 I bought from him when he "upgraded" to a 2500 Cummins beast. Few years before he did that he ran a red light and hit another truck, smashing the he'll out of the front end. Long hours can kill you! Anyway, he put it back together himself, using aftermarket junk. I suggested a front clip from salvage yard but what do I know. Anyway, cab has never been the same, passangers side has a bow in it right at the pillar, and the aftermarket parts never fit as well. As time has gone on its starting to rust in the super cab areas, the floors, door sills etc. After market sunroof leaks along with the window in the super cab area. Add in some dents and the cab is rough. Like the truck great for hauling and I enjoy driving it, but it's getting a bit too ugly. I was thinking to switch the cab to standard, as I am not a big fan of the super cabs. Shorten the frame and have a nice short box truck.

Crazy difficult or reasonable? Stop being sentimental and just buy a similar rig in better shape?

If I don't fix it it may have to go. It usually is not in the garage, so it sits outside unprotected. 👎

 

If you feel the cab has been tweaked and not liking the super then you are talking a different cab.
If you go with a regular cab you also need to go with a regular cab frame and if you want a short bed the frame would need to be a regular cab short bed one.
At that point you dont have your truck so might a well go buy what you want.
It would be nice if you could find a good body in the truck you want and no drive train and move everything from this truck to the drive train less one so you have some of the old truck.

Now if you do keep this truck has anyone checked the frame to see if it is bent?
Cabs dont bend unless the frame is bent also. A good frame shop could pull it back into shape and that may get the cab back as it should too.
Then all the after marked parts may even fit better unless they need to be replaced also.

They other thing that could hold up this cab swap or getting the truck you want it finding anything.
Our trucks are not falling off trees so coming up with anything you could use, look at the rust yours has or has been crashed, you might not find what you want or need.

I was really lucky when I bought my 81 F100 flare side off CL there was another 81 F100 style side listed for parts that had a lot of what I needed so I bought it also.
In the last year or little more I have not see others listed and if so were crazy money so that's why I say what I do.

So its now up to you on what you can find, what shape your truck is in if you want to fix it or use it for parts to build what you want.
Dave ----

oh dont forget if cab swapping the VIN's between cabs & frames if you need to get plates or go to sell it down the road.

 

If you have a lot of good parts there, I second getting another truck with possibly a bad engine or transmission or both, and using it as a base to fix yours, using your engine and drivetrain if you need to. Make sure you get a title with any other truck or even just the cab if you go that way. A lot easier to get it registered if you have a title for it, even if it's just the cab.

 

The frame was checked and straightened by body shop following the wreck. They repainted as well, sadly the repaint is all peeling.

It's an 84 with 250k on the AOD and about 100k on the 302 following a rebuild. I went through the entire suspension when I bought it, new ball joints springs all around etc. Probly 50-60k on those parts.

I would not want to swap parts with another truck, lot of work for little reward. Swapping to Reg cab would be a way of saving it and keeping it around. I would just take a section out of the frame not swap frame rails. Looks like it longer in the straight section under the cab.

I have a line on a f250 std cab from a truck with 68k on odometer. $400.

Probably best just to Part ways and move on....but maybe my son could drive it in 7 yrs.

 

I am trying to get a little movie going in my head, picturing myself unbolting and bolting on suspension pieces and swapping engines and possibly a rebuilt transmission, versus unbolting the front clip and unplugging the wiring, unbolting the cab, shortening the frame and re-inforcing it, getting the driveshaft shortened, and installing the new cab and putting the frontend back on. I am having a debate with myself what would be easier and quicker.

 

Yes I am trying to see that movie too...neither sounds fun!

 

A friend of mine swapped a super cab for a regular cab, but it was a long wheel base bed to begin with (not that it matters in this case, just fyi). They simply cut a section of the frame out, and welded it back together. Cutting and repairing frames is pretty common where I live. Replacing the "back half" is common when the frame starts to get too rusty, or swapping a whole frame complete. You'll have to deal with a few other odds and ends...brake lines, fuel lines, driveshaft, front park brake cable, exhaust, etc. All of those things will need to be shortened as well. Those items are inexpensive, but all take time to modify.

If you have the place to do it, and the means (to lift and swap cabs, etc) then by all means swap 'em out.

 

x3

If you want a regular cab, short bed then just find one in good condition. If you want to keep ahold of your dad's truck you could always take it to a body shop and see if they can align the fender to the cab. The gaps in the pic you posted didn't seem too bad.

 

it's not the alignment of the fenders, which is ugly, it's the cab having bow in the passanger side, the sunroof cut in the roof, which leaks, the cab side windows leak, lots of rust as a result. Probably best to just let it go...