Swap a supercab onto a regular cab frame?

[larrystotler]

Ok, have a few questions. But first, here's what I have:

Last fall my son bought a 95 Supercab 4x4 4.0 for $200. He wanted the axles for his 88 4x4. The only thing holding the rear frame together was the bed. However, the cab was in really good shape, so I saved it & posted it to craigslist. Never got an offer tho.

Then , in January, same son managed to roll my 95 regular cab 2x4. It rolled 1 time and landed on the wheels. Body damage is pretty extensive, but the frame doesn't look bent. Truck starts up & will move.

So, now to the questions:

1. Can I swap the Supercab onto the Regular cab frame? I know the bed length won't work, but will probably make a ghetto bed since both beds are bad anyway.

2. Other than relocating the rear cab mounts, what other issues might I run into? I have access to a 3" body lift so I can raise the cab up enough to clear the frame in the back if necessary. Or I could work the cab with a sledge.

3. I plan to keep the 2.3 since it runs good & gets great gas mileage. In order to do this I am assuming I need to swap the computer and wiring harness. What about the dash cluster? Do I need to swap them as well?

Any other issues I am missing?

And yes, the only reason I'm considering this is because I have all the stuff to do it. If it wasn't for that I would scrap the wrecked truck.

Thanx

 

[Mark_88]

I thought of doing this myself years ago...gave it up because the cab would need to be cut to fit the frame where it rises...not to mention the mounts that you did mention...

There was someone who did this years ago and posted pics...it was a very nice looking vehicle with a chopped box that was very well done...I can't remember who it was but they were on TRS back then...

The only reason I would do this myself would be in a 4x4 version that I simply didn't want to use a longer bed...but...it's your truck...if you have the time/parts and skills to make it happen...or 2 out of three...the skills you can learn as you go or have someone else do it...

Enjoy and show it off...

 

[don4331]

I too was thinking of doing this, then the wife & her twin sister talked me into selling the s/c ranger to their brother.

Mark: You were probably thinking V8 rally ranger - V8rallyranger.com

The biggest challenge IMHO is the rear cab mounts and the front spring mounts need to occupy the same space. My solution to this insurmountable issue was going to be: T-bird IRS. Then I wouldn't need the front spring mounts.

You will need to do something with the dash, specifically the tachometer, if the 4x4 didn't have an I-4 or it will read rather low. But other than that, the 4x4 dash has more functionality than the 4x2, so no real issue.

Note: Mexico quad cab Rangers have box with the exact dimensions you would want...

 

[larrystotler]

Hmmm. I haven't had time to move the wreck over to where I have the cab to start doing the measurements. I will have to keep that about the mounts into account.

As for the bed, since I'm trying to do this basically as cheap as possible, I was planning on doing a wood flat bed for now, and maybe doing something more later on.

That rally ranger is close to what I was thinking. The one pic they have of the pass side looks like they either made the door longer or welded it shut. Can't really tell.

I wonder if I could make a mount that sat across the frame rails instead of on the side....

Well, biggest thing is whether it will pass inspection or not. Still it might be a fun toy for a few months.

 

[Mark_88]

I too was thinking of doing this, then the wife & her twin sister talked me into selling the s/c ranger to their brother.

Mark: You were probably thinking V8 rally ranger - V8rallyranger.com

That wasn't the one I remember...although it is essentially the same thing. The one that I saw was a solid blue but not a dark blue...more like a light sky blue...and I'm pretty sure it had the Rebel flag (Confederate) flying off it or painted on it somewhere...

From what I remember of my measurements I would have had to put at least a 6" lift on my cab to clear the frame and avoid cutting the back out of the cab. And the lift would have cost me more than buying a new (used) truck at the time...

Instead I swapped my working 2.0 engine into the extended cab and went about removing anything that might add weight...like jump seats, power steering, A/C...these were on the original 2.9 engine and the 2.0 was just too under powered to even bother finding the ones that would fit...

Ah, well, still a nice project to keep you busy...

 

[hoosier1104]

Cab mounts and bed length are the 2 main things I would guess. I am not 100% on the cab though. I would compare the frames in the cab area and make a informed decision. Anything is possible with enough time, money and fab skills.

 

[don4331]

Is this the one you were thinking of Mark? http://www.therangerstation.com/galleries/OffroadRangers/AaronDionne2.html

Larry: it looks easier for your older Rangers; your cab mounts are riveted on (my '98s are welded, so bolting cab mounts over spring mounts might not be as challenging for you...

Don

 

[Mark_88]

Is this the one you were thinking of Mark? http://www.therangerstation.com/galleries/OffroadRangers/AaronDionne2.html

Larry: it looks easier for your older Rangers; your cab mounts are riveted on (my '98s are welded, so bolting cab mounts over spring mounts might not be as challenging for you...

Don

Doesn't look like it either Don...but that one is familiar too. Could be if there was another paint job on it later or earlier even...but I'm pretty sure I saw the Confederate flag and a light blue paint...as well, the photo I remember showed a very large section shot of the rear wheel like it was looking up from directly across from that angle...

I meant to do a search also but I got sidetracked today by a roast beef dinner...

 

[det107]

I meant to do a search also but I got sidetracked today by a roast beef dinner...

I'm sure you enjoyed the smells, the sight of roast beef, and the sounds of the Big Knife/silverware......Why I'll bet that you are a Professional Eater !!

Now I have to ask, do you wash the dishes or do you digest-

 

[larrystotler]

Ok guys, sorry bout the delay(been working a TON of overtime......)

Anyway, I've picked up a 96 Ranger 5 speed with a bad engine to move my 2.3L & brakes over to. So now I have more options.

I got the bed off the truck that was rolled, and the back of it looks ok. The front is what concerns me. The tires are splayed out. Looks like an I-Beam may be bent(I guess it landed on it's front wheels from the way he hit the guard-rail and the weight in the front).

IF the front frame isn't taco'd, & I can replace what's bent in the suspension, I could still try to do the swap. I have the 4.0 that came out of the Supercab & that would be the easiest to use because the engine came from that. All I would need it s 4.0 2WD trans.

I have to move the cab, and I will probably just use the frame of the "rolled ranger"(as my son now calls it) to move it to my garage(bolt the front 4 cab mounts best I can and straps on the rear of the cab. Hopefully have time to move it this weekend. That will let me line it up to see what I have.

At that point I wil probably have move questions......

 

[Mark_88]

I'm sure you enjoyed the smells, the sight of roast beef, and the sounds of the Big Knife/silverware......Why I'll bet that you are a Professional Eater !!

Now I have to ask, do you wash the dishes or do you digest-

Both...I digest the dishes...

Ok guys, sorry bout the delay(been working a TON of overtime......)

At that point I wil probably have move questions......

Good to hear back from you...no rush...time waits for no man...TRS members wait for pics...

 

[larrystotler]

Good to hear back from you...no rush...time waits for no man...TRS members wait for pics...

Ok. finally had to move the cab(buddy's wife been raising hell bout it), so we lifted it up with a Cherry Picker into the cab with the chain bolted to the front of the seat mounts. Front clip held by 2 of us using a 2x4 under the inner fenders. I will say that having the inner fenders/core support tack welded to the cab is a friggin PITA!

Once we had the cab on the frame, only the front 2 bolts could be used. Wrapped a ratchet strap through the bottom of the cab around the frame.

Issues with using the SuperCab on the regular cab I see are:

1. Back of the cab is too high. Even relocating the rear mounts won't help because the frame rises too much. So, I'd have to use a 3" lift on the center mounts to even bolt them, and then the cab would sit with a lean down rear to front. Using a 3" lift on the front mounts would probably level the cab, but the middle brackets would have to be raised up.

2. Rear mounts have to be relocated to basically where the front of the leaf shackles are mounted. I think I could make it fit.

3. cut out the floor of the cab behind the seats and raise it up to lover the cab in the rear. Haven't really looked at it but probably doable. Plus, the rear cab mounts would have to be relocated up as well to clear the frame. would probably have to hack out about 3-6 inches of the back wall of the cab and move the floor up the same.

Will try to get some pics up tomorrow or weds to show what I mean.

Oh and the front I-Beam going to the driver's wheel is bent with a curve to the front and I'm pretty sure the other beam is bent(front wheels are splayed out). However, the frame looks straight so I think it is repairable with some parts.......

 

[larrystotler]

The 1st pic shows where the rear cab mount on the reg frame is in relation to the Super.
The 2nd pic shows the back of the Supercab in relation to the back tire.
The 3rd pic shows how high the supercab is over the center cab mounts now. didn't measure it but looks like 3 inches.
The 4th pic shows the bottom of the Supercab sitting on a crossmember. You can see that the cab mount has to be basically where the front leaf shackle is.

Like I said, I think my only option would be to cut the floor of the cab out and relocate it up about 4-6 inches so that the rear mounts of the supercab would level out the cab.

Or I guess I could also move the mounts forward a few inches to clear the shackle mounts as well at that point.

Or maybe I could remove that crossmember(since the bed would be custom built anyway) or relocate it down to the bottom of the frame. That might improve the height issue.

If I lowered the rear cab mounts when I relocate them after removing that crossmember it might be a better fit......dunno. What you do guys think?

Oh, and I towed it about 45 miles with just the 2 front cab mounts bolted and a ratchet strap around the center of the cab floor and frame(you can see the strap in the 1st pic in front of the tire at an angle.). Didn't budge a bit when I was towing it.

 

[Mark_88]

Well...it was like I said earlier when you first posted this...cutting the cab is probably the best route to go but it can affect the integrity of the cab unless you weld back parts that are going to firm it up...which I don't think you couldn't do without having it very wonky at the back end.

Is it me or is that cab really rusty?

It's probably doable...

I remember on the 96 frame there were cross members and body mounts sort of in the same place and the body mounts were designed to work around the placement of the cross member...it was kind of neat the way it was done and it might be needed in your case to clear the front leaf mount...

I will say that when I was doing my truck the first time I spent a crapload of money and time cleaning the rust off the frame and underside of the 88 cab. When I took it apart two years ago it was still in extremely good shape considering the age and my lack of knowledge in doing such a project...

Check out the frame cleanup that CVAR did on his truck...an excellent documentation and visual aid for that kind of project...and highly recommended for yours even if it is just a one night stand sort of deal...

 

[larrystotler]

Is it me or is that cab really rusty?

It does have some surface rust on the back of the cab, but it's not too bad(considering how badly rusted out the back of the truck was).

I haven't had time to wire brush it down to see how bad it is. I can plate over anything too bad. Honestly, the biggest reason I kept the cab is because it's in such good shape. I tried to sell it for cheap but had no bites. Then when my son rolled the other one, I started thinking about this project.

Prob won't get done any time soon do to a complete lack of time and too many other projects.....Also, I'd have to find some new suspension parts for the front since both I-Beams are bent.......