Cab Swap
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Cab Swap
i am thinking about swapping out the cab on my 1985 F-350 dump truck since it is completely rusted out. Its been a plow truck most of its life. Anyway, a friend has a 1989 F-250 complete with doors that i can have for free with no rust. It has a blown motor. I know the newer cab/front clip will bolt on my truck, but what about the newer dash? Does anyone know what needs to be done to make it work?
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From: Virginia
What engine and what type of fuel system do both trucks have?
If you put the whole frontend and cab on your truck, then you can keep the newer dash with the newer wiring harness, and the front lighting will plug right in. You could also rob the rear lighting harness off the newer truck, and either it will plug right in, or it would be easy to adapt. That will take care of the front and rear lighting.
But, what type of trannies and what engines are in each truck? If your truck is pretty simple, you could find the couple of hot wires you need for the ignition in the newer harness. You might have to figure out some temp and oil sensor wiring, unless you do not use them anyway.
The fuel system might be a problem, unless you swap tanks and switching valves too. If you do that, then you are guarenteed the wiring for them will fit.
After all is said and done, you will have a newer truck, so make sure you get a good title with the truck, so you can get a new title in your name for it, and pay your taxes to the gov for your newer truck you just bought
Some of this stuff might plug right in, someone may know more about it, but if you swap a lot of that stuff over, it's got to work.
If you put the whole frontend and cab on your truck, then you can keep the newer dash with the newer wiring harness, and the front lighting will plug right in. You could also rob the rear lighting harness off the newer truck, and either it will plug right in, or it would be easy to adapt. That will take care of the front and rear lighting.
But, what type of trannies and what engines are in each truck? If your truck is pretty simple, you could find the couple of hot wires you need for the ignition in the newer harness. You might have to figure out some temp and oil sensor wiring, unless you do not use them anyway.
The fuel system might be a problem, unless you swap tanks and switching valves too. If you do that, then you are guarenteed the wiring for them will fit.
After all is said and done, you will have a newer truck, so make sure you get a good title with the truck, so you can get a new title in your name for it, and pay your taxes to the gov for your newer truck you just bought
Some of this stuff might plug right in, someone may know more about it, but if you swap a lot of that stuff over, it's got to work.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Kingston, Pa.
Originally Posted by Franklin2
After all is said and done, you will have a newer truck, so make sure you get a good title with the truck, so you can get a new title in your name for it, and pay your taxes to the gov for your newer truck you just bought
That's what I'm doing right now. Same body style though. My truck is an 84 and the "donor" is an 86 but mint with no dents or rust. I got a complete cab from down south for $300. I couldn't buy the patch panels and do all the labor for that kind of money......
Just an idea.
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I actually planned on swapping the vin tags. my truck is a 460 (carb) with a 4 speed. no ac or emissions as it is a 1 ton truck. no electronic ignition, vacuum advance distributor...very simple. the truck that i want to take the body off of is a diesel and automatic.
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From: Kuna ID
The gas cluster and diesel cluster are different. Im sure there will be other wiring differences too. You can just swap the tranny hump pan from your old cab into the new cab to avoid wasting time cutting a shifter hole. If you are interested, I happen to have a fully functioning gauge cluster from a 1990 F-250 that had a 460/5spd.
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From: Virginia
Yes, being a diesel might throw a monkey wrench in the swap. A lot more head scratching involved, since the diesel truck is so much different.
Maybe someone knows about a dash swap. I always though of them being welded in place and part of the cab, but some vehicle's dashes do unbolt.
That cluster that Sycostang offered would be a start, but there is no guarentee any of the later diesel wiring would work, and probably none of your older wiring would work either.
I know you guys are swapping vin tags around for upright, noble reasons, but there are lots of criminals around doing they same thing for not so noble reasons. The gov and the law are not concerned about your intent, just that it was done, so be careful.
Some day, someone might use the vin off the cab of a truck, and sell the frame, and whoever got the frame might use the frame vin to register their truck. If the computers put two and two together, there may be a problem on one end or the other.
Maybe someone knows about a dash swap. I always though of them being welded in place and part of the cab, but some vehicle's dashes do unbolt.
That cluster that Sycostang offered would be a start, but there is no guarentee any of the later diesel wiring would work, and probably none of your older wiring would work either.
I know you guys are swapping vin tags around for upright, noble reasons, but there are lots of criminals around doing they same thing for not so noble reasons. The gov and the law are not concerned about your intent, just that it was done, so be careful.
Some day, someone might use the vin off the cab of a truck, and sell the frame, and whoever got the frame might use the frame vin to register their truck. If the computers put two and two together, there may be a problem on one end or the other.
Last edited by Franklin2; Oct 26, 2007 at 06:33 PM.
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From: Kingston, Pa.
You are right about the VIN tags. I'll bet the "man" would frown upon changing them. 
I was not aware that the frame had a VIN. But in any case, nobody else would be able to register the frame if you had possesion of the title anyway.
I was not aware that the frame had a VIN. But in any case, nobody else would be able to register the frame if you had possesion of the title anyway.
