Hey guys, i am getting a complete rust free body for my truck. i know how to swap everything over, but what is the best way to go about putting on the cab off the gasser onto the diesel? what do you do about the diesel wiring? how hard is the swap? the parts are off an 85 d150, and my truck is a 93 w350.
thanks.

 

You can gut both cabs and swap the complete wiring harness from the '93 into the good cab, along with whatever interior stuff you want to trade. You are going to want an overhead hoist (I-beam in a shop or build a sturdy "A" frame setup) or you and several friends can lift the gutted cabs on and off with old-fashioned muscle power. Six guys can do it without getting hurt.

 

Ok, thanks. how hard is it to gut the cabs? are there a lot of grounds to disconnect? is there a way that the whole metal dash unit unbolts, and would re-bolt into the gas cab?
thanks.

 

Yes, everything will unbolt/unscrew, you just have to take your time. The windshield has to come out to get the dash out, but if you are moving the cabs with manpower you want them as light as you can get them. Removing the interior and all the glass will drop the weight by nearly 500 lbs.

 

Ok, thanks. so i will just be able to unbolt everything and rebolt it back up inside the new cab? do you know how many bolts hold the dash together? Also, is there anything on the firewall on the motor side of the diesel cab that will need to be swapped onto the gas cab?

 

The floors are different from 2wd to 4wd from what I've seen. I don't know if this will be a problem in your case. Just something to look out for.

 

Yes, everything should bolt right in. I don't know how many bolts there are, just keep taking stuff apart until you get everything out.

Good catch on the trans tunnel, Peyton. That old D150 probably has the narrow tunnel.

If the trans tunnel is an issue, cut the tunnel out of the old cab and graft it into the new one. A bunch of sheetmetal screws and body sealant would be OK if you don't have a welder.

 

Ok, thanks. that is what i will do. Is it realistic to do this cab swap in say a weekend? i am getting this truck, because i am starting to see some roof rust, and dont really want to deal with it, and besides im getting a bed, doors, fenders and cab for 300. the d150 is an 85. is this a good year to swap over? Also, when i swap my dash, do the VIN numbers go with it?

 

I would budget more time than a weekend.

The parts will all bolt up.

The VIN is riveted to the cab, I think.

 

If the D150 has a manual trans, then it has the big tunnel. 2wd auto's had the small one.

 

im pretty sure its an auto. so i just have to cut out the tunnel in my cab now and put it in the d150 cab?

 

Yeah, leave a little extra material so you can make it a bolt in trans tunnel.

 

OK, thanks. ill leave a little extra and just use self tappers and sealant. is there anything on the firewall on the motor side of my diesel cab that i need to swap over the the d150 cab?
thanks.

 

ive drilled rivets out of the vin plate on the dash, and reinstalled the vin in a different cab, similar to what you need to do. same truck, different body, same vin=legal enough for me

 

Make sure you rivet the vin tag down, don't use screws. That is something "the man" looks for.