Body Swap

[Duster]

I have a 92 2wd LE extended cab, 5 speed with 103000 miles (I'm 2nd owner) California truck until 1 year ago. I bought from original owner (85 yrs old), and he gave me reciept from Gale Banks shop in San Bernadino Calif, where he had Banks turbo, Banks exhaust, Banks injector pump, and a huge Banks intercooler installed. The truck is perfect inside and out. I want to change it to 4 wheel drive truck. I'm looking at a 93 ext cab LE, 4wd to buy with 318000 miles. It has auto and some rust on rocker and cab corners, but other wise looks good, drives good, no front end wobble. Looking for input as to how hard to do and is it worth it. I gave way to much for 2wd drive, but I knew the truck and wanted it, I paid what I had to too get it. Need some direction from you guys.

 

[Duster]

Sorry about that I posted in 3rd gen thread and mean't for it to be in 1st gen. How do I move it.

 

[Simplysmn]

Hey Duster you in Southern Ca. if so send me a PM there Easy to convert over I am in the process of doing a crewcab .

 

[Duster]

I did live in Bakersfield, but now live in Southeast Missouri.

 

[Simplysmn]

well if you look at both truck's you will see there easy to swap are you keeping the auto or 5 sp?

 

[Duster]

haven't decided yet, but leaning to 5spd.

 

[Simplysmn]

well if you go 5 sp your t case won't work the way it is input shaft is different on 5 sp then they are auto's

 

[Duster]

Yes thats right , but you can get another input shaft and some other mods. I'm not exactly sure what all is involved.

 

[Simplysmn]

you have to machine the case out bigger also not that it can't be done just cost more

 

[Duster]

Do you have any pictures of your crew cab. Thats what I would love to have, but finding a donor crew cab body is virtually impossible. Here in missouri I haven't been able to find any that are workable. We don't have any fabrication shops that I'm aware of that could do that kind of work. Also is it different when you are going from and auto to 5 speed.

 

[Cosmo]

The easiest thing to do would be to track down a 4wd truck that you can get for dirt cheap and then swap the parts over - front axle, steering setup, springs if they're different, trans, transfer case, driveshaft...

If you can't find a 5-speed 4x4 cheap enough, you can always have your trans modified to bolt up to a transfer case - or even go with a divorced transfer case setup.