Hi Im new here, but here goes, Every once in a while I get really dumb ideas
like for instance Im fixing up an 1980 f150 shortbox stepside 4x4 but would like to see if one can transpose the interior from a 1988 f150 (dash and door panals). If anybody has tried somthing this weird can you let me know how it went and if it is possible, Thanks.

 

I may b the only one.... but I don't think the ideas are dumb. I have a 69 and 83 F100, 85 F-150, 84 F-150 parts truck and an 80 F350 dually. Except for the 69 I am always thinking about what'll fit on another truck. I have some new doors in boxes typically for 80-86 , but they will fit newer models other than some adjustments for mirrors and interior panels..... SO, if the door fit the cab, maybe the cabs are the same and the dashes fit the cab.

Initially, my thought is if you buy a cheap parts truck, (I'd rather switch the whole cab than switch just the the dash), my bet is you would find other parts are needed. I guess then ... my question is.... will a '87-96 front clip fit on a 80-86?

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE. My wife is right!!! I am nuts! ( Your idea isn't dumb, you are just crazy like me.... but hey, a guy's gotta have dreams).

Let me know if you switch your dash and how it comes out. My guess is you'll never do it.... but if you do, I want to do it too!!

 

Yes, I have done this but is not a one man job or an easy task. The best way to start is to unplug all the wire connections from the cab which means lables and pulling what is left through the firewall. Unbolt the front fenders, wheelwells, steering, brakes, and transmission linkage. Swap cabs from the 1988 to the 1980. And put your harness etc... back into the newer cab. Depending on which front sheetmetal you want, either will bolt up but you need the 1988 cowl for the 1988 front fenders and hood, otherwise you can swap the cowl from the 1980 to the 1988 cab and use the old front sheetmetal. You will need parts of the harness for the 1988 as the instrument cluster, and radio plugs are different, but this is just a plug-in part swap. I got both trucks ready one weekend, got three helpers on Monday to swap cabs and spent the rest of the week (part time) hooking everything back up again. I went with the newer front end along with the newer cab.

Another alternative is to just strip the dash out of the 1980 down to the plastic base on both trucks then swap plastic bases and rebuild with the newer parts. You will need the heater/AC ducts from the newer cab.The headlight and wiper switches are exactly the same. The fuel tank transfer switch (if you have two tanks) is located differently but plugs are the same. The instrument clusters are wired compelely different and will take a schematic to get it working properly, but all the necessary wires are in the harness.

The doors and door panels are a direct swap but the locator tabs for the inside are slightly different. The speaker location for the older models is top front and newer is lower front of door panel.

It has been a while since I've done the swap but the answer to your question is yes, it can be done. Just changing the front clip is much easier than swapping cabs, but I wanted the newer cab (and interior) when I did the swap.