How tough is to substitute my cab and box from a 1996 with a 2001 ?

I have a newer truck wrecked, I would like to have the quad cab of the newer models, can I just swap whole cab and box ? I will keep all the electrical parts needed.

How tough of a job this can be ?

 

The job, in and of itself is not that difficult. Time consuming, but that is about all. If you intend to keep the 96 harnesses and so on, I don't really see there being too much of an issue, other than the basics of VIN plates and so on.
I know of an outfit in BC that does stuff like this all the time, they mix and match doing rebuilds, and it doesn't take them long at all to build a truck from the ground up.
One of the guys I do work for, bought one of their trucks, which is a 98.5 cab on an 02 frame and running gear, everything bolted up in that case. Being a 96 to an 01, some of the electronics will be different, but you will quickly figure it out.

Good Luck with it.

 

You will probably end up with a salvage title if they do that in MN