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.

 

[Rocket Man]

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.

I didn’t catch the swap was between 01-03. The ENTIRE electrical system changed in 03. It went from a non-LAN system to a LAN one. Nothing in an 01 including computers, cluster, etc will work in an 03. I know this from harsh reality when looking for things like instrument clusters, folding mirrors, door switches etc, Everything for an 03 has to come from 03-06 and everything for an 01 has to come from an 00-02. Even stuff like the headlight switch is different. I recently forgot and bought a headlight switch that had the indicator light telling you when the low beams are on. The plug in the back is completely different because it’s an 04 and mine is an 02.

This means that you would need to swap over every single electrical item including harnesses, modules, switches etc. I don’t even know if it’s possible.

 

[drdave81]

I think you'd be better off swapping the driveline into the rust free vehicle. You could swap the carpet/door panels and any manual seats, but any power seats would have to be sourced from an 03-06 vehicle. You'd also have to use the 03-06 wiring when you swap the engine, so another tune on the 03 PCM. You've got some work ahead of you no matter which way you look at it. I'd think the driveline swap would be the better way to go due to the wiring on the vehicle though.

 

[Rocket Man]

I think you'd be better off swapping the driveline into the rust free vehicle. You could swap the carpet/door panels and any manual seats, but any power seats would have to be sourced from an 03-06 vehicle. You'd also have to use the 03-06 wiring when you swap the engine, so another tune on the 03 PCM. You've got some work ahead of you no matter which way you look at it. I'd think the driveline swap would be the better way to go due to the wiring on the vehicle though.

You must mean drivetrain?

 

[drdave81]

Nope, I should have said powertrain lol. Engine, trans, axles, the whole shebang. He said everything was built, so he'd want it all to go.

 

[DylanJ]

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!

I know it’s a job, but will be worth it when it’s rust free.

 

[Fjs0001]

My friend did this between two full size Broncos and it was a PITA.

I think you'd be miles ahead buying another used Tahoe and selling your old one, or saving it for parts. But if you have a lot of free time on your hands then I'd say go for it.

 

[EvergreenZ71]

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.

X2
It’s my understanding that there were significant electrical differences between ‘02 and ‘03 so if you go that route I believe you’re going to want to commit to swapping nearly everything electrical due to both the differences and the anti-theft communications in the system.

 

[DIsney]

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?

My Yukon is body swapped. The body is a 2001 Yukon SLT 4x4 and the frame is a 2003 Tahoe 2WD.

 

[Rocket Man]

My Yukon is body swapped. The body is a 2001 Yukon SLT 4x4 and the frame is a 2003 Tahoe 2WD.

I wish I could get a body swap. Mines getting old and creaky. My mind is still sharp though.

 

[DIsney]

I wish I could get a body swap. Mines getting old and creaky. My mind is still sharp though.

Tell me about it. This 45th trip around the sun has caused all sorts of calamity.