Cab Swap???

[StevenHodgkins]

I was at the junk yard today and one of the guys pointed out a truck that is identical to mine, 4 door long bed same color. It is a gasser with a bad motor, but much cleaner than mine inside and out. The guy mentioned that I should swap cabs. For $3,500 it seemed like a great deal, seeing as mine needs HVAC box, blend doors, AC evaporator, tail gate etc...

Is this a crazy idea?

I have so much money into my truck this would really make it like a new again. I have one call out to a local diesel shop to see if they would do it. No response yet!

 

[CCiatteo]

You need to take a step back and really look at it. The work involved is substantial and then you have the whole VIN # issue which depending on the state you live in could be a major hassle. I looked into doing a cab swap on my 1997 but realized it just wasn't doable here in N.J. without lots of redtape and then potentially have a truck that would be almost impossible to sell, when the time came, eventually. Imagine trying to explain to a trooper/patrolman on the side of the road why your VIN # doesn't match your truck or come inspection time why your gasser has a diesel engine or your diesel engine has a gasser VIN? Or if you swapped VIN tags, then you need to explain the "new" rivets holding it down. Or you could end up with a reconstructed title, which some insurance companies won't go near. Buying the cab is the easy part, its the the rest of the deal that gets really sticky.

I'd really look into the logistics of the swap, the work involved and then determine (with an unbiased approach) if the dollars make sense.....It could be that you'd be better offer selling and taking the "project" money and just go but a different, slightly newer, lower mileage truck?

 

[cerberusiam]

Nope, not crazy at all. Just a lot of work to gut the gasser cab and move all the diesel stuff to it. As for the VIN tag, rub some dirt on it to age it. They can't prove anything if the VIN matches new looking rivets or not and doubtful many of them would look that close. Most are more worried about CAT and MIL lights than anything. Being the same color will make it much easier.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I’ve helped friends on a couple of these. It’s not hard, just time consuming. If you can find some helpers it’ll go a lot smoother. Just label everything as you take it apart and take pics if need be. I wouldn’t second guess the vin tag swap either, do it and move on.

 

[brods]

FYI

I recently swapped cabs on my 2006. Diesel cabs are different, at least 2006. The floors are where the difference is. The Tunnel and such are different.

from this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com...emi-gas-on-to-2004-5-ctd.260850/#post-2550193

 

[Motorhead]

I thought that the vin number was stamped on the cab underside too.