OK, I just got a '93 extended cab LE to replace my '90 reg. cab. I had planned on using the '90 for parts, but.........every time I go to take parts off I can't bring myself to do it.
Here's the thing, I got my '90 about 5 years ago. At the time I was into dodge trucks but knew nothing about CTD's. I never dreamed a truck could do sooooo much work. A couple of years ago the engine went south . After much contemplation I decided to have the engine replaced with a '93 intercooled...love it.
Now for the sad part. The day I got it out of the shop a semi coming off a dirt road cut me off. My baby got rolled once over and landed on her wheels, high centered on the shoulder of the road. That was the day I truly fell in love with that truck. Both me and my pasenger walked out without a scratch!! Not only that she fired right up locked into 4 low got back on the road, and with some minor sledge hammer work, drove the 300 miles back home. And still runs to this day......Just really ugly.
Now back to my question. The '93 I just purchaced needs some, ALOT, of TLC. Should I rebuilt the engine,tranny,transfer case from my '90 and then swap into my '93 and start off with 1 new truck. Or should I rebuild the '93 without donor parts, and keep the '90 as a mudd bog/crawler toy.
I should add that the electric system is literaly fried in the '90.
Sorry for the length of the post, I just thought a little back story might help to illistrate my delema. Any ideas/comments welcome. Thanks

 

So you have a '93 that needs alot of TLC and a '90 that has been rolled, also needs TLC, and has a good '93 engine in it.

Pick the one with the best body and put the best driveline in it? Or pick up a mechanically destroyed gasser truck with a decent body for dirt cheap and put the Diesel driveline in it.

 

I think I'd gut the '90 and use the pieces to fix the '93 - unless they both need bodywork. Then I'd go with Begle's idea of a gasser donor with a good body - body swap is the easiest way to go there.