CC Cab swap
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CC Cab swap
Anyone ever swapped a crew cab? How did you lift it?
I am debating on wether or not to swap my 78 CC cab onto the 1996 Dodge 3/4T 4x4 rolling frame. I like the way the Dodge rides and would like to attempt it if I could figure out a way lift the stupid thing.
The HD 3/4T suspension is already there and it has the heavy goose neck and reciever hitches already installed.
Regardless of the frame decision I plan on swapping the Dana 80 rear and try to swap the Dana 60 F(after I strip the suspension brackets of course). I want the added strength of the rear and the HD front end with the shift on the fly 4x4 capability.
Just curious on differant opinions. I didn' want to reinvent the wheel if I don't have to. thanks!
I am debating on wether or not to swap my 78 CC cab onto the 1996 Dodge 3/4T 4x4 rolling frame. I like the way the Dodge rides and would like to attempt it if I could figure out a way lift the stupid thing.
The HD 3/4T suspension is already there and it has the heavy goose neck and reciever hitches already installed.
Regardless of the frame decision I plan on swapping the Dana 80 rear and try to swap the Dana 60 F(after I strip the suspension brackets of course). I want the added strength of the rear and the HD front end with the shift on the fly 4x4 capability.
Just curious on differant opinions. I didn' want to reinvent the wheel if I don't have to. thanks!
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This guy has
The link below will take you to Yahoo Crew Cab group which you will have to join to get access. The link is a photo album for the guy that put his Ford cab on a Dodge frame. As I rememmber it went pretty well. He used to have a lot of pics but I cant find them now. You might email him for info.
http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/gro...os/browse/3367
http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/gro...os/browse/3367
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I want a CC with a dump flatbed. Since the Dodge was an ext cab LB it has all the length I need. I plan on building a dump flatbed for it after the cab swap.
I may have figured out how to lift it. I saw some pics last night of a guy lifting a cab with a cherry picker. What do you think about building a bracket and bolting it through the floor and lifting it from inside with a cherry picker? Only issue I can see is getting it balanced.
I'll look around for the pics. Thanks.
I may have figured out how to lift it. I saw some pics last night of a guy lifting a cab with a cherry picker. What do you think about building a bracket and bolting it through the floor and lifting it from inside with a cherry picker? Only issue I can see is getting it balanced.
I'll look around for the pics. Thanks.
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From: Across from the neighbors
Just a quick question. Are you using the engine and tranny from the dodge? If not then using the ford runninggear might give you problems. Ford front differential is on the drivers side and i believe the dodge is on the passenger side. Just thought id point that out but im sure you probably know it.
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From: Costa Mesa, CA
If it's just a straight body swap onto the Dodge frame then he wouldn't have to worry about what side the driveshaft, etc. is on.
Look at the pics on the bottom of this thread.
http://www.desertrides.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8385
That is a crew cab on a 2001 dodge 4x4 frame. He used the dodge body mounts which I would not have done. In order to make it "work" he had to lengthen the nose a bit, and obviously the bed is shortened. It looks odd with the nose being about as long as the bed - very symetrical.
Cherry picker can work to pick it up but it needs to be a TALLLL picker. Plus you have to run a sling or something (I'd go through the windows both front and rear) that can support the body well enough
Look at the pics on the bottom of this thread.
http://www.desertrides.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8385
That is a crew cab on a 2001 dodge 4x4 frame. He used the dodge body mounts which I would not have done. In order to make it "work" he had to lengthen the nose a bit, and obviously the bed is shortened. It looks odd with the nose being about as long as the bed - very symetrical.
Cherry picker can work to pick it up but it needs to be a TALLLL picker. Plus you have to run a sling or something (I'd go through the windows both front and rear) that can support the body well enough
Last edited by ChaseTruck754; Sep 13, 2007 at 11:14 AM.
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Looking @ one of my fleet Dodges right now and the diff is on the D side. They switched over with the auto-hub front end in 94 I believe.
The CC pics you provided look a little tall for me. I'm just looking to build something unique that will haul my camper, boat/Jeep, and anything else I want and still get good milage.
I'm too cheap to buy a new truck, besides I spend my days working on both newer Fords and Dodges and they are both crap. I'm much better off building my own truck with the best of both worlds, the 78 CC with real metal cabs and the newer style suspension with a better ride. Only drawback I can see is the sealed unitized wheel bearings on the front end.
Lots of work, but I hope to have a nice ride my kids can grow up in and remember going all over the place camping when I am done. Now all I need is to win the lottery!
The CC pics you provided look a little tall for me. I'm just looking to build something unique that will haul my camper, boat/Jeep, and anything else I want and still get good milage.
I'm too cheap to buy a new truck, besides I spend my days working on both newer Fords and Dodges and they are both crap. I'm much better off building my own truck with the best of both worlds, the 78 CC with real metal cabs and the newer style suspension with a better ride. Only drawback I can see is the sealed unitized wheel bearings on the front end.
Lots of work, but I hope to have a nice ride my kids can grow up in and remember going all over the place camping when I am done. Now all I need is to win the lottery!
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My thought on lifting the cab was to build a plate off the cab floor to lift it from either the cab mounts or seat mounts (or both). That way I should be able to put the cherry picker through the door opening and lift it that way.
I want the ability to lift and lower the cab more than once since I am sure I'll have to make all my own mounts for the frame.
I want the ability to lift and lower the cab more than once since I am sure I'll have to make all my own mounts for the frame.
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We've used:
Floor jacks and some type of rigged extensions.
The post type lifts with arms.
A chain attacted to certain parts of the cab.
If you are doing it yourself, and your cab is strong... weld yourself up an A-frame with a chain type hoist. Balance the cab out with straps and lift... roll the frame underneath and lower back down. Use new straps if possible.
Floor jacks and some type of rigged extensions.
The post type lifts with arms.
A chain attacted to certain parts of the cab.
If you are doing it yourself, and your cab is strong... weld yourself up an A-frame with a chain type hoist. Balance the cab out with straps and lift... roll the frame underneath and lower back down. Use new straps if possible.
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Here's how I took my cab and bed off. I went to harbor freight and bought a chain hoist, then I put my 3/8" mud chain between 2 trees about 14 feet up. I used 2, 25k straps, one on the driver side and one on the passenger side and went underneath the cab floors, because I was worried if I went through the doors, it might tweek it somehow. The pics are in my gallery. Most of the setup is hid by branches, but man, that thing works awesome!
