making a regular cab out of an ext cab, or cab swap

[Boggin]

so since my 94 is now gonna be the wheelin truck. i am going for a very short wheelbase, like bronco 2 length. maybe shorter, depending on the size of tire ill be running. so i was thinking what if i chopped out a full section of the extended cab, an re welded the back part up behind the seats to make it to a standard cab. like i said it will be a wheelin truck so perfection aint no big deal and i dont care if it ends up fugly lol
its either that, or throw on a spare gen 1 cab. which i would really like to do. but with the 94 being automatic and the 88 cab being set up for standard, i dunno how i would get the shifter to work. unless i used the factory auto shifter from a 1st gen. or if there would be a way to get the a4ld to shift with a 5spd shifter. that would be sweet lol
and in Johnnys words; What would TRS do?

 

[khast2010]

i say you cut that mother****** up, since the mounting points arent behind the seats you shouldnt lose any strength... might be sketch if a body lift is in store

 

[Boggin]

nah screw the body lift. and i know this is a terrible idea and has fail written all over it but as you all see i dont give a damn about it lol

 

[gwaii]

it can be done,but if you have a spare reg cab that would be a lot easier.if swapping the shifter is your big worry,the cab-cut is too big a job for you,because swapping shifters is way easier to do.why not go for a short wheelbase extra cab...the rear axle could be right behind the cab,with a real shorty box.

 

[Boggin]

im not real worried just trying to beat around the bush that id like to leave the 88 in one piece lol.. maybe though i will see how far i can push the rear axle ahead with the ext cab.

 

[Tony Raine]

you can cut half a wheel well into the ext cab. theres a few pics on this site somewhere of that.

heck of a lot simpler than swapping a cab

 

[gwaii]

ok,you see in the first post you referred to it as....

or throw on a spare gen 1 cab

so if id known that.....

id like to leave the 88 in one piece.

i would have suggested differently.

you can cut half a wheel well into the ext cab. theres a few pics on this site somewhere of that.

this is also a good option.

i think you'll like the bit of extra room from having the extra cab....that was my biggest problem with my ranger in it's first version....no room at all inside.

 

[Boggin]

well the gen 1 just has the cab sitting on the frame its all unhooked ready to come off but i never did take it off yet.
i might end up cutting out part of a wheel well in the ext cab. but i dont think i would really dig the look of it

 

[rockin86ranger]

if you do it right it could be a gen 3 bii

but my vote is to cut the cab at the firewall and the floor behind the back body mounts and then bring the bed up on top of it so the front fenders touch the back fenders, throw in a roll cage and have fun.

not sure how well thats explained but it would basically be a bed and front end with convertible top and if you needed to enclose it just get a camper shell.

 

[CHKNFKR]

if you do it right it could be a gen 3 bii

but my vote is to cut the cab at the firewall and the floor behind the back body mounts and then bring the bed up on top of it so the front fenders touch the back fenders, throw in a roll cage and have fun.

not sure how well thats explained but it would basically be a bed and front end with convertible top and if you needed to enclose it just get a camper shell.

As much as i love this idea with one exception. Being that under square would create a tendency to face plant.