Cab Swap

[DylanJ]

So I have a few questions on about a cab swap. I just recently picked up a 2001 Tahoe which has no rust but needs a paint job and my current 2003 tahoe has rusted out rockers, roof where roof racks were, rust at quarter panels, wheel arches, ac drip location, everywhere just about. I was just wonder if I could just pick up the body and swap them over and will everything work in theory? Also what do all I need to disconnect for this to work?

 

[TollKeeper]

Its a hell of a lot of work... But yes, its very doable.. The question is, the VIN is going to change, cause the VIN is attached to the cab. You OK with that? You get a title?

 

[DylanJ]

Its a hell of a lot of work... But yes, its very doable.. The question is, the VIN is going to change, cause the VIN is attached to the cab. You OK with that? You get a title?

Yeah I got the title to come with it.

 

[DylanJ]

Yeah I got the title to come with it.

Mainly want to know what all I have to disconnect to lift the cab up. Can’t really find much about it, wish there was a yt video about it tbh.

 

[TollKeeper]

Theres like 8 or 10 bolts going to the frame.. But all the AC and Heating lines, front and rear. All electrical lines at firewall, and under cab. parking Brake Cables. Steering column slip joint. Its a bunch of work.

Are you talking about doing a straight swap.. Interior, computers, wiring. Or are you just swapping cabs, and leaving all the internals in the cabs the way they are?

 

[DylanJ]

Theres like 8 or 10 bolts going to the frame.. But all the AC and Heating lines, front and rear. All electrical lines at firewall, and under cab. parking Brake Cables. Steering column slip joint. Its a bunch of work.

Are you talking about doing a straight swap.. Interior, computers, wiring. Or are you just swapping cabs, and leaving all the internals in the cabs the way they are?

I haven’t really decided what I want to do. The rust free cab has nasty interior, which I can switch over without a problem. But the frame with the rust free cab, has no engine, no trans, no transfer case, rear end taken apart, core support out, etc. My rusty tahoe works just fine with everything. Also my rusty tahoe has a built 5.3 with a 4l80e. There are both 4x4. I’ll probs keep the dash since they are both different, and the cluster. I feel like that will be the most work there. Also going to clean up the rusty frame when I get the cab off. I could always swap the rear end, engine, trans, etc over but feel like that will be more work?

 

[Rocket Man]

You might want to take a real close look at the frame on the rusty truck. They’re known to rust out as well and if it’s rotten then there’s no use swapping a good body onto it. There was a member on here a few weeks ago that had to weld plates onto the attachment areas for the rear differential because the frame there was rusted badly with holes in it. He was just going to use it on the farm after that.

 

[DylanJ]

You might want to take a real close look at the frame on the rusty truck. They’re known to rust out as well and if it’s rotten then there’s no use swapping a good body onto it. There was a member on here a few weeks ago that had to weld plates onto the attachment areas for the rear differential because the frame there was rusted badly with holes in it. He was just going to use it on the farm after that.

I’ll look at the frame again and see what’s happening. The frame doesn’t look too bad the last time I checked.

 

[TollKeeper]

It sounds like swapping an engine, tranny, transfer case, is your best option. Than you can swap over the interior as well. But its still quite a job!

 

[Teamiez]

To add pretty sure a few things were different between 00-02 and 03-06...such as cluster, interior lights (floors, glove box) and a few other things. Probably a different swap from a 01 to another 01.