Request for frame swap article

[Brain75]

As the 1st and 2nd gens all continue rusting away, we are seeing more and more folks wanting to swap frames between generations. From what I have read it is possible with little differences (spare tire). Even googling though I haven't found any good how to threads. Would we be interested in soliciting a frame swap article from members detailing what all is possible? (I have no need for a frame swap myself... 15% humidity in the rain shadow of the mountains). This is purely for the community, not for me.

Edit:
What I was after was a general quick interchange chart that says "This is possible with only a little fab, not a total build your bed moutns/cab mounts from scratch redesign"
A 1st gen will swap onto a 1st gen, 2nd to 2nd, etc that is paint by numbers easy, it is just turning bolts.
Can you take a 1st gen body and put it on a 2nd gen frame and how much fab is involved? (and 2nd to 3rd, etc etc)
Since I started this and I have the 'yard close by to get pictures easily I snapped some photos

The front frame horns / bumper mounts are the biggest difference.
A 1st Gen front end (specifically is a 1984):

A 2nd gen front end (specifically a 1989):

a 3rd gen front end (specifically a 1994):

I do not have any 4th gen available at this moment, if you have good pix and exact specs (year) please share with me.

 

[maddyn]

Not exactly what you are looking for, but I am in the process of swapping an extra cab body on a reg cab short box frame. If you wanted to throw that in for posterity...

 

[Brain75]

I would say absolutely, the more knowledge we add to the community the better in my opinion.

 

[JoshT]

First thing to clarify is, what are you calling first and second gens?

Different sources use different standards for Ranger generations.

I personally don't really think it is a necessary article. For frame swaps in general there too many variations to cover in detail in an article, and it's best handled on a case by case basis.

Edit: On rereading I should clarify my opinion. For a basic like for like frame swap (IE: 1st Gen 114" wheel base 2wd frame for another 114" 2wd frame) it's simple enough to not need an article if the person is experienced enough to tackle the swap in the first place. For a more involved swap like cross generational and/or 2wd to 4wd, each variation of the swap can carry its own issues and complications. Those are best handled on a case by case basis, rather than trying to incorporate all of it into an article.

 

[sgtsandman]

My understanding is that a regular cab, long box truck uses the same frame as a Supercab, short box as long as you stick with the same drivetrain (RWD vs 4X4).

The frames remained pretty much the same until 1998. From then on, the frames stayed the same until production ended in 2011. I seem to remember a few people saying that the frame horns, where the bumper mounts, changed some for the pre-1998 models.

 

[Brain75]

...I seem to remember a few people saying that the frame horns, where the bumper mounts, changed some for the pre-1998 models.....

I literally just posted pix of a '94 and a 90 frame horns in this other thread:

92 body on 97 frame?

Got kind of a weird one for everyone. I have a 92 2 wheel drive four banger five speed stick. The rear main seal blew a few years ago while I was going down the highway and I didn't notice it till it was to late for my motor. Trucks been sitting since. My brother bought a 97 parts truck for his...

www.therangerstation.com

 

[JoshT]

My understanding is that a regular cab, long box truck uses the same frame as a Supercab, short box as long as you stick with the same drivetrain (RWD vs 4X4).

84-97 super can wheel base and OAL are both approximately 1 foot longer than long wheel base. I think that rules out the frames being the same. Also the shape of the frame at the rear of the cab is different (at least longer), the hump up to the front of the bed is in a different location, and the rear cab mounts are located different.

Similar story for 98-11 except that the difference should be closer to 9" since the regular cabs gained 3" in length.

I seem to remember a few people saying that the frame horns, where the bumper mounts, changed some for the pre-1998 models.

I literally just posted pix of a '94 and a 90 frame horns in this other thread:

Also change to the frame horns for the 89 model year. There are basically 4 styles of frame horn.

1983-1988
1989-1992
1993-1997
1998-2011

I can't say for certain that those last two are actually different, but I seem to recall that changing the bumper brackets is part of face lifting the trucks with the later bumper.