Swapping 98+ Body to 96 Truck

[DoggerCDN]

Hello everybody, first post here.
I have a 1996 Ram 2500 SLT Laramie 4WD. It is an extended cab with 8' box, 5spd standard, and Cummins. Everything on this truck works beautifully, interior great, and is as dependable as the day it was bought new.
BUT!!! The body is completely gone. Both fenders, rockers, cab corners, doors, and box sides rusted out. Body shops all say past saving.

What I would like to do is buy a truck with a rust free body to put on my on 96 chassis. A 95-97 would be best, but not as easy to find as 98-01's. Seeing as how 98-01 has much different interior, etc. I own and run an automotive repair shop, have all the tools and hoists, etc to do the job, and electrical work is a specialty with me.
I have a few questions.

1/ As far as I can see, all 95-01 extended cabs and their boxes will bolt on my chassis. Correct?

2/ Will 98-01 interior components work with my 96 diesel. My 96 Cummins with a standard trans is completely electronics free. Am I going to be SOL when it comes to such things as gauges, cruise, speedo, tach, etc?

3/ If 98+ dash and electronics won't mesh with my 96, will my 96 COMPLETE dash assembly/heater core/etc bolt into 98+ body? Have done many heater cores and evaporators in these trucks, so not a huge job in my eyes.

Any help or info on this job greatly appreciated. This was my pride and joy when purchased new that unfortunately was turned into a work truck while building a business. Now have another work truck and want old faithful back in pristine condition. It gets great mileage, hasn't found a load it couldn't tow, has never let me down, and has no computers telling my engine how to run.
Thank you in advance

 

[Redtruck-VA]

I can't help you with your questions but I did a similar swap on a 70/72 chevy pickup truck/Carryall. This sounds like a great project and with your expertise should be very doable. Maybe customize it a little and use a short bed. Keep posting..

 

[DoggerCDN]

Hi Red!
Naw, it has to retain a long box. I haul a gooseneck trailer, and a 5th wheel float. I carry snowmobiles, and atv's in the back on many weekends also. So long box is a must.
My son has a nice 01 shortbox and is forever borrowing my rusty old 96 to haul his toys LOL

 

[Redtruck-VA]

I hear you, I'm not always practical.. I saw a 2g diesel a year or so ago that really caught my eye. It was for sale, it was a regular cab and had a short bed put on it. Single wheels with street tires. It hadn't been lowered but didn't sit any higher than a gas truck so something had been done. It had a real sport truck look, totally bada$$. Good luck with your project..

 

[moparman]

As far as body panels and bed go, theyre all the same for that generation and itll all bolt to your existing frame. Electrical is going to be a totally different story unless the donor truck is a diesel as well. If you use the body from a gas truck you will most likely need all of your orginal harnesses for everything to work properly. With most dodges a lot of the harnesses interchange between most of the gas trucks but diesels were different. You could try and find a factory repair manual with the wiring diagrams and try to find similarities and differences in gas vs diesel harness or if you already have the donor you could compare harness plugs at the computer for all the body items. Not sure if that helps but i figured id give it a shot

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[DoggerCDN]

Yeah, I already planned on gutting donor truck, and using my 96 harnesses. Dodge has the easiest wiring harnesses in the industry to swap out, so had already planned on using all my own electronics as much as possible.

I have ShopKey Pro, and AllData on my shop computers so wiring diagrams and info like that is readily available to me. Dash, heater box, and gauge set were my main concern.