Body swapping

[D150dude]

I have a 79 power wagon 4x4 I bought last year at an auction for 50$, it has 318 that runs like a Swiss watch but the cab floors are completely rotted out. I also have a 1981 d150 2wd I bought last year as well, now the question is can I swap the cab and box. From the 81 onto the 79 with minimal modifications? I would love to keep the dash from the 79 because I like that set up better, would that dash also fit the 81 cab?

 

[reek]

I put a 1992 cab on a 78 frame with 73 body panels. all went together fine.

the cab will swap no problem. mount points are exactly the same. the 81 body lines will line up perfect with the 79 doors. Interior should swap in no problems. The rear roof line differs slightly but thats all. The box will also swap but you may have to do some minor mods to the mounting points and some box support tabs.

Now, if you're swapping the entire body, why not just swap motors?

 

[D150dude]

Well I’ve always wanted a vintage truck with4x4 so that’s why I ask these trucks a hard to find in my neck of the woods. The 81 has a slant 6 with the lean burn set up

 

[reek]

if you want vintage, I'd go all 79 body panels, 81 cab and look for a 72-80 rear box. that way you get the old school look.

although the frames are almost identical, there are a few differences that make the 81 a nose ahead. they newer gen trucks had a slightly beefier rear crossmember design.

 

[maxx442]

The '81 2WD will have the lower tranny hump (unless it has a manual tranny) as opposed to the '79 4WD so you would have to either do a body lift or rework the floor pan.

 

[reek]

missed that part about the 81 being 2wd. yes, a hump manipulation would be necessary.

 

[crazzywolfie]

it will be fine. we dropped a 2wd cab on my buddies diesel. just have to cut the hole where you need it for the 4x4 shifter and maybe make a custom shifter boot to keep things out.

 

[D150dude]

Gonna refresh this subject again. I have located a free late 80s early 90s cab and bed. Now the fun/hard part, will that cab match up to the 79 front panels and I wanna ditch the the dash and keep the 79 dash they look so much better. I know some people will say why don’t you find a 72-80 cab then? Well they are very hard to find around here

 

[reek]

the fenders, doors will line up fine with the newer cab. I have a 72 fender and doors on a 92 cab. Using the 72 dash in the 92 cab as well. just keep track of your original mounting brackets.

you'll likely need to make some small mods to the 90's bed mounting points to get it to fit the 79 frame though. Nothing a grinder and mig welder won't take care of. compare the 79 and 90's bed mount points and you'll see what I mean.

 

[D150dude]

the fenders, doors will line up fine with the newer cab. I have a 72 fender and doors on a 92 cab. Using the 72 dash in the 92 cab as well. just keep track of your original mounting brackets.

you'll likely need to make some small mods to the 90's bed mounting points to get it to fit the 79 frame though. Nothing a grinder and mig welder won't take care of. compare the 79 and 90's bed mount points and you'll see what I mean.

Terrific! I now know the route I wanna go. The dashes from 72-80 trucks are so much cooler and love the glove box how it hinges down. Lots of work ahead of me but that’s what I want. A 3/4 ton 4x4 power wagon. Never had a older four wheel drive

 

[D150dude]

Oh by the way reek, could you send me a few pics of the truck you did? I need some more inspiration