hey guys, so the current truck i have right now is pretty rusty as far as sheet metal goes. i have found a salvage yard that will sell me any cab for around $230. i found a pretty good looking extended cab and i am thinking about making it work on the same frame. ive done this on an s10 and while it turned out nice it was a pita due to the mounts needed. i ended up making my own mounts for it. comparing the mounts on the x-cab to my standard it looks like i just need to move the rear mounts back a bit. the biggest issue i see is gonna be the gas tank. the current truck has it in the cab, obviously im gonna have to put it under the frame. i plan on making it a flat bed, so i should be able to make a tank work. has anyone else on here done this? how did it come out?

i mostly am making a truck i can tow things like my boat with, and carry heavy loads on the flat bed. i want to go with the extended cab though because it would be nice for my family to all fit in the truck when we go to the lake.

i plan to convert this to manual also.

any advise? criticism ?

 

I'm just about done doing this exact same thing. I started with a 1978 F-150 4x4 regular cab long bed manual trans, and put a 1979 4x2 supercab auto trans body on it. Radiator mounts, and front cab mounts line up. The rear cab mounts wear on the inside of the frame in the crossmember for the regular cab. The supercab rear mounts were on the outside of the frame and farther back. all i did was make new ones and bolt them to the frame. I ended up needing 3.5 inches of body lift under the front 4 mounts for the back of the cab to clear the frame rise. The rear mounts i made i just used a stock body bushing and made them to work with out the 3.5 spacer. I have 6.5 feet of frame left behind the cab was also planning on making a flat bed / utility bed for it. a short beds wheel wells wont line up. swapped steering coloum and brake, clutch peddles out along with brake booster and master cylinder from original regular cab. gonna need a new steering shaft or shaft extension as the stock one is to short with 3.5 inches of body lift. slide coloum all the way down in the adjustment slots, still wasn't enough. works to steer around the yard but not road worthy. Wiring all plugged in. if you switch to manual remember to jump neutral safety switch or install one. I just made a plug for the trans wiring harness that jumps the NSS. Starts in gear but i'm the only one who drives it. Hope this is understandable and helps.

 

well ive hit the first snag. the junk yard im gonna get it from wont forklift the cab out for me, nor will they let me get my truck close enough to do anything. they want me to use their engine lifts to get it out. we will have to see about that one.

 

Will they pull the truck out or let you pull it out to have room. You could take the bed off and slide the cab down the frame rails onto a trailer.

 

nope. im told i have to use the engine hoists to get it about 4-500 yards over to the area where they will even allow my truck. said they wont help in any way shape or form to get it out of there. they have monster engine hoists with car tires on them. maybe ill find the easiest on to roll and use it. still gonna be a pain. its worth it considering i get a cab with doors, glass, dash, seats, and everything else that belongs in the cab.

 

i plan to pull this cab next weekend. im told it doesnt come with the front clip, but i have a feeling the lady didnt know what i was talking about. my question is, if infact it doesnt come with it will my standard cab front clip fit?

 

i plan to pull it with the clip on and see if anything is said.

 

You could probly craigslist a whole truck with a blown motor for 250, pull the cab and clip, and recoup 150-200 bucks in scrap. Sounds easier, then you get anything you want off of it and all the time and comfort you need.

 

To bad I never knew about this a few months ago and you were closer. I pulled one that was dent and rust free off of my old 79 work truck and took it to the crusher. They are heavy and hard to handle even with a front end loader like I had.

 

no trucks on craigslist for that cheap just finished a side job this morning that got the last of the money i need for it. gonna start tearing mine apart tomorrow and all week long. im figuring ill be there all day saturday taking it apart and pick it up sunday morning before anyone has a chance to take any of the parts off it.

mine is a 76 and the donor is a 76 so do you guys think my front clip will fit if they try to charge me for it?

 

front clips should be the same, didnt change much sept the grills from73-79

 

got the old cab all torn apart yesterday. got the last remaining bits out of it tonight, its ready to come off.
saturday is the big day, as long as we dont get too much more rain. i stopped by the junk yard today and soaked every bolt with pb blaster at lunch time. looks like its gonna be a nice cab. i cant find a but of rust on it.