drive it. 
Cab swap
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 225
Likes: 1
Cab swap
Hi all.
just got my baby in the shop last night.
will be tearing out engine and tranny to reseal them, they work well but leak.i am also going to swap my cab from my doner truck to my project truck. now i have never done this before and do not know were i should start. should i try to take front clip off in one piece? then engine and tranny? then cab?
any words of wisdome from pepole who have done this would be appreciated
thanks to all that reply
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...?&albumid=7406
just got my baby in the shop last night.
will be tearing out engine and tranny to reseal them, they work well but leak.i am also going to swap my cab from my doner truck to my project truck. now i have never done this before and do not know were i should start. should i try to take front clip off in one piece? then engine and tranny? then cab?
any words of wisdome from pepole who have done this would be appreciated
thanks to all that reply
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...?&albumid=7406
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland, WI USA
You could try to take the clip off in one piece, but I don't think it'll be easy.
I took mine off to make a tilting clip and documented the disassembly process bolt by bolt. If you're interested, I can send you the Word doc on it.
I didn't take the cab off, but I did put a body lift on it. I ended up disconnecting everything as if to do a cab swap, but never actually moved it off the frame.
The whole precess isn't bad. The bolts that hold the radiator support on and the ones that hold the cab to the frame are the toughest part of the whole job.
It'a aslo a good idea to MARK EVERYTHING you take apart so you know how it goes back together. It seems like a lot of work, but I can tell you from experience, it's well worth the time.
Kevin K.
I took mine off to make a tilting clip and documented the disassembly process bolt by bolt. If you're interested, I can send you the Word doc on it.
I didn't take the cab off, but I did put a body lift on it. I ended up disconnecting everything as if to do a cab swap, but never actually moved it off the frame.
The whole precess isn't bad. The bolts that hold the radiator support on and the ones that hold the cab to the frame are the toughest part of the whole job.
It'a aslo a good idea to MARK EVERYTHING you take apart so you know how it goes back together. It seems like a lot of work, but I can tell you from experience, it's well worth the time.
Kevin K.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,238
Likes: 21
From: Northern Illinois
why do you need the title from the donor truck?? the vin # is on a plate on the driver door. now if you are using the donor's door's you might want the title, or just swap out your vin plate from your old door
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 136
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taking the front clip of is not that hard, just unhook the hoses and wiring, you can leave the hood on or take it off, i would take it off if you are lifting it with manpower, two guys should be strong enough, take the bolts off the fire wall, there are rubber tabs on the insde of the fender on the firewall, a bolt on the bottom of each fender by the door, and bolts between the door hinges that are "tricky" to get to, i used a ratcheting box end to get them off with the door half opened, or take the door off since you are changing cabs, as far as the cab i unbolt the cab mounts and the steering, the bolts may be rusted in and you may need a torch, angle grinder or sawzall to get them off, if you dont have a tractor or cherry picker or something the cab is heavy so you will need alot of help with it. i have switched a couple of bodies and it is not that hard i did it in a weekend, dont be surprised if the holes in the frame where the cab mounts to are rusted out, i welded in some big washers to fix this
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland, WI USA
Scoarch,
I can't e-mail you due to server problems on my end, so I'm posting here.
Follow this link to the disassembly instructions.
As for the tilting front clip, I don't have any written details or drawings. There is, however, a lengthy post in this forum titled "Possible to make a tilting front end". I have a link in there to 30-some pictures I took a few weeks ago showing most of the detail.
There's also tons of great ideas from others that have, or are in the process of making one.
Hope this helps.
Kevin K.
I can't e-mail you due to server problems on my end, so I'm posting here.
Follow this link to the disassembly instructions.
As for the tilting front clip, I don't have any written details or drawings. There is, however, a lengthy post in this forum titled "Possible to make a tilting front end". I have a link in there to 30-some pictures I took a few weeks ago showing most of the detail.
There's also tons of great ideas from others that have, or are in the process of making one.
Hope this helps.
Kevin K.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 851
Likes: 15
From: Elkton, MD
what if you take the bed off, and put the cab on from the back, seems alot easier then removing the engine and tranney if you don't want them out anyway. I am planning on doing a cab swap on my 78 4x4, gonna pull the bed and do it from the rear.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 851
Likes: 15
From: Elkton, MD
yeah, I missed that part, thanks for clearing me up. how do ya'll think it would work from the back though. Taking the front clip apart is real easy, I've done it a few times. and most of the bolts are the same, makes it real easy.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 225
Likes: 1
I want to thank you all for your input. it was a great help in steering me the right way.
kjkozak2 i would really like to thank you for the dissasembly doc. i am sure it would be a big help.
will be starting the cab swap tonight . have 2 weeks to do it . this is going to be fun
cya all
kjkozak2 i would really like to thank you for the dissasembly doc. i am sure it would be a big help.
will be starting the cab swap tonight . have 2 weeks to do it . this is going to be fun
cya all