Hey guys I'm lookin for some advice from all you gurus out there. I need to do something about my cab. The cab mounts have or are rusting completely through, there is now a popping through the floor and I can feel it in my feet. The rust is taking everything from the cab mounts to the back and from the rocker panel in about 8-10 inches. I knew it was there just didn't know how bad it was. It also has rust in the front fenders and a bad dent in the passenger side of the club cab. If I am gonna keep it I want it to look good, but I don't want to sell it because of all the money I put in the drivetrain. So I need some options. This is what I have come up with.

1. Fix it. Replace the cab mounts and patch whats needed in the floor. Fix all the dents and replace the front fenders.

2.Replace the cab with another club cab. There is an 89 3/4 ton 2wd gasser at a lot that he has been sitting on for about a year. I will go look at it tommorrow to get a better idea on that.

3. Find a Crew Cab and do the conversion. This I have already been looking into but cannot find one close to home anywhere and anything I find online is over priced or rotted out.

So what do you guys think. How hard would a cab swap be. How long would that take ruffly. Anyone ever do something similiar, share stories photos anything. I really need some advice......

 

here is a crew cab gsa auction in missouri wish it were closer. GSA auction. try this then click on vehicals then missouri the dodge 4x4
http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/gsaauctions/

 

Unless your a body man your best bet is swap a newer cab. Its not really hard to fix, its just time consuming. The body mounts are fairly easy to rebuild, mainly because theres no worry of the end result needing to look pretty like the outside.

I replaced some for a friend, i built new ones out of 14 gauge steel and used polyurathene glue and rivots to secure it, after removing the old ones and cleaning. Then we sprayed bed liner inside, the strengh is greater than new and no floor mats needed.

 

farmer, i can't find the page you posted... got a link to the main site? do you have to pay for lisitings?

 

Cab swap is the best way. You can pick up gassers for a song. My truck would be worth about $2k as a gasser around here, a 1/2 ton would go for even less. If you can find one with a blown motor you can probably do it for $500.

 

In KY, and probably many other states, back when the government was trying to keep Chrysler afloat, the highway department maintenance crews bought many four-door Dodge pickups, both 1/2 and 3/4 ton.

Around here, it is rare to see one that isn't four-door.

Most are kept inside at night and weekends.

The salvage dealers are getting the older body style ones now.

They are bright yellow; but, they go for cheap.

 

For some reason w/ these trucks, 4x4+Cummins=Tons of rust. My truck is in the same boat, as are most of the Dodges I've ever looked at that are Diesel and 4x4. Every gas Dodge I find is completely solid, go figure.

 

Bookshelf,

You don't list a location; but, around here, it could have something to do with dragging gooseneck cattle trailers through silage pits and manure ponds.

Not many farmers buy a gas-burner Dodge.

 

Thanks for the replies and keep em comin. I look at what I thought was an 89 but was actually a 90. Its 2wd. and is mostly soild, it has minor rust at the back of the cab drivers side and drivers side bed. He said he wanted 2700 . It came with a warranty but he said he would accept offers. So I'm thinkin drop the warranty and the price will fall. I still don't think I would want to give anything more than 1500 for this. I am gonna go talk to him Sat.

I will check out that site for missouri because I would rather have a crew cab. It seems to me that a cummins converted crew will go for a lot more money.

 

It's to bad your way up north Hotrod, There are tons of deals on trucks down here in Florida. Right around the corner from me is a 89' 1 ton crew cab in great shape for $1100 bucks (Ex military truck)After they closed the bases down here there were tons of them on the market cheap.