Has anyone here swapped out bodies on a 3rd gen? I gently (at less then 10mph) rolled my 04.5 last fall. I bought the truck back from the insurance company, and just recently bought a 05 2wd hemi off ebay. I plan on taking the complete body off the 05 and putting it on the frame of my 04.5. I know this sounds like a lot of work, but I’m going ahead with it anyways. I bought the 05 for less then the cost of parts on my insurance estimate, and by using the body of a complete undamaged truck I won’t have to pay anyone to do any bodywork.

My 04.5 was a SLT, and the 05 is a Laramie. It has a few extra options that my 04.5, didn’t have. Such as heated seats, sunroof, and dual zone climate control. What kind of wiring nightmare am I in for? I know I will have to swap out the instrument cluster, and most of the wiring under the hood, but I am hoping the that my 04.5 computer will work on the 05 Laramie cab without many having to swap out much of the wiring within the cab. Does anyone have any insight into this?

Thanks,

Carl

 

You're probably wondering how I rolled my truck. I was driving on a gravel road when I slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road to turn around. There was a big culvert that was only about a foot from the edge of the road. The culvert collapsed and my front tire slipped off the road into the huge hole around the culvert. This caused my truck to roll onto its roof. Nobody was injured, but I'm surprised at how badly the roof caved in. It was dark when this happened, but as you can see from the pic the hole was concealed with grass.

It was a freak accident that has caused me a lot of grief. I have filed a claim with the municipality and hope to recoup some of my expenses, as that culvert is obviously not up to code. I think things will work out in the end, but it will just take a lot of time and work.

 

that is a freak deal. really sucks too to total a truck that new. good luck swapping bodies and trying to recoup some money. sounds like you have a justifiable claim.

 

You might want to obtain parts books for the two different models and start comparing part numbers. The wiring harnesses might be the same, but I doubt it. The ECMs will likely be different, too, but it would be nice to know for sure.

Good luck with the project. I don't envy you.

 

Good luck... I personally would say, gut the truck and completely swap harnesses... It may be alot of work, but lets be honest... this whole job looks to be alot of work!!!

BTW, in the pic with the culvert... just ahead on the same side of the road (looks just past the rear of the jeep) is that another culvert? If so, it looks to extend quite a few feet past the edge of the road... might help in your argument about the one that ate your truck!!!

 

Also, once your done with the swap, you could also part out the 1500 power train and axels and possibly find someone with a bent frame from an acident willing to buy it...

You could get close to what you paid for the 1500 parting out your left overs!!!

 

May get more have you seen what a hemi engine is going for on ebay lately, I would be interested toknow my self

 

Yeah that's another culvert in the backround. And yes it does extend quite a ways past the road, just like they are supposed to be installed. I'm sure it will help my case.

I plan on parting out the hemi drivetrain once I'm done, or I might keep it to repower an old musclecar or truck. Although I'm thinking once I'm done this project I'll probably have no desire to work on another vehicle for at least a few years

 

Yeah... find you an old charger or cuda and throw a new hemi drive train in it... VERY NICE!!!

 

I can't give you anything but moral support. I did that exact same job many years ago with my "Generation Zero" (1964) 3/4 ton Power Wagon. I slid at some speed into a tree and took out the passenger door, B-pillar, and front corner of the bed. That took a lot given the gauge of sheet metal Dodge used in those days.

I found a barely running half-ton with a good body for $50 and did the swap you contemplate here. It was helpful to have a shop available with a chain hoist for moving the cab and bed. The wiring in those days was no big deal. I then called a salvage yard and gave them another $50 to haul off the carcass.

I'd try to use as much of the wiring harness out of the wreck as you can. For example, look under the cover on the power center (fuse box) under the hood. Mine in the '05 says its specific to diesel.

 

Carl

I rolled my 2nd gen 3 times doing 40MPH. It was on a road much like the one you rolled on. 'cept the one I was on was paved with lots of filled pot-holes. My truck did not look as caved in as yours.

Seems like you're ok, hope you did not sustain any losses beyond personal property. Good luck with your body swap.

 

Do you tow alot? What about putting the cummins in the 1500 body. Like one of Jeff Garmon's "Ram 2000"s

 

jumper, I don't think ANYONE could have done that as inexpensively as you did...nice job.

 

Get a FSM, perhaps for both units. Try talking to a sharp electircal tech at a dealership and see if can get him intrested in consultating a little. The year perhaps is not as much problem as gas vs diesel. There is chance, most of wrongs will be in engine compartment wiring. I'm sure there are several body electrical issues also. GOOD LUCk and keep us posted.

 

We agreed on $100 for the 1/2 ton, but when he "couldn't find" the pink slip I said I'd give him the other $50 when he produced it. I think he probably had a roommate move out and wanted rid of the abandoned beast out front. Here's a picture of the finished product just after I got it painted. I need a new scanner.

So as not to completely hijack the thread, you'd better check with your DMV about how to transfer the VIN plate if you intend to use the dash out of the 1500. I just drilled out the pop rivets that held my VIN plate to the B-pillar and moved it over to the new cab. Life was much simpler in 1978.