1st Gen Ram Tech '93 & older Rams: This section is for TECHNICAL discussions only, that involve 1993 Rams and older. For any non-tech discussions, please direct your attention to the "General discussion/NON-tech" sub sections.

My body swap project!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 12-04-2009, 07:54 PM
aaron7's Avatar
aaron7
aaron7 is offline
Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 364
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default My body swap project!

So, my 88 D100 V6 has a nearly perfect body. No rust anywhere... not the core support, not on the inner fenders, bed... anywhere.

Somehow from the cab back the frame is WASTED! Thin in most places, rotted in the rear... just terrible.

I have NO idea what happened to it, but that's not a problem any longer.

Picked up a 84 D250 V8 camper special that had a nasty body but a solid frame and rebuilt tranny/engine.

We gutted the body off the blue one today and started on the red one. The red truck should be fully stripped by tomorrow and hopefully we'll start the reassembly.

Poly bushings all around (suspension, tranny, and body mounts) of course!

I wish my 440 was ready... now sure is the time to put it in with the body off... but taking the front end off is only an hour job so I guess it isn't the end of the world!

So here's some pics. I'll have more tomorrow of the red truck and the reassembly!

I only have one crappy pic of the 84 before we stripped it. My friend might have one of it though, I'll ask!

Name:  SSPX2463.jpg
Views: 1105
Size:  181.5 KB
Name:  DSC03584.jpg
Views: 1609
Size:  143.5 KB
Name:  SSPX2519.jpg
Views: 899
Size:  39.6 KB
Name:  SSPX2535.jpg
Views: 1502
Size:  197.0 KB
Name:  SSPX2539.jpg
Views: 1316
Size:  142.3 KB
Name:  SSPX2530.jpg
Views: 889
Size:  107.8 KB
Name:  SSPX2545.jpg
Views: 922
Size:  119.2 KB
 
  #2  
Old 12-05-2009, 12:05 AM
dreamer1uk's Avatar
dreamer1uk
dreamer1uk is offline
Amateur
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: IL
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Hi,

I love these types of projects Dont forget to sell whats salvageable from the donor truck

I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures
 
  #3  
Old 12-06-2009, 08:18 AM
aaron7's Avatar
aaron7
aaron7 is offline
Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 364
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Vid of the red truck being driven around with nothing but a cab held on by one bolt lol http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...t=SSPX2558.flv

Few pics of the red truck teardown:

Name:  SSPX2550.jpg
Views: 963
Size:  122.5 KB
Name:  SSPX2554.jpg
Views: 1732
Size:  114.5 KB
Name:  SSPX2555.jpg
Views: 859
Size:  102.7 KB
 
  #4  
Old 12-06-2009, 04:40 PM
dreamer1uk's Avatar
dreamer1uk
dreamer1uk is offline
Amateur
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: IL
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Hi,

Holy Rust! Wow, that frame is bad. I thought mine was till i saw this. Im looking forward to seeing this project progress
 
  #5  
Old 12-06-2009, 04:48 PM
rwb's Avatar
rwb
rwb is offline
Rookie
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Damn, somebody put a toyota frame under your dodge.
 
  #6  
Old 12-06-2009, 09:49 PM
aaron7's Avatar
aaron7
aaron7 is offline
Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 364
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

lol @ the Toyota comment!

Body is on!!! New body bushings and the D250 frame make this thing look much taller!

The D250 bed mounts are different than the D100. Going to have to cut the mounts off the D100 (side of the frame) as the bed on the D250 mounted right ot the frame rail itself.

Everything else lined up well. Have to swap the D250 dash into the D100 cab as the wiring harness is all different. That goes for the steering column too as that's all different.

Should be done in the next couple days!

Probably one of the only 8-lug D100's! haha

Name:  SSPX2571.jpg
Views: 832
Size:  55.2 KB
Name:  SSPX2573.jpg
Views: 843
Size:  49.9 KB
Name:  SSPX2574.jpg
Views: 853
Size:  29.3 KB
 

Last edited by aaron7; 12-06-2009 at 10:12 PM.
  #7  
Old 12-06-2009, 10:11 PM
AeSix's Avatar
AeSix
AeSix is offline
Professional
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Looks good!
Looks like the rear of the cab is sagging a bit though
 
  #8  
Old 12-06-2009, 10:15 PM
crazzywolfie's Avatar
crazzywolfie
crazzywolfie is offline
Legend
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: orangeville ontario
Posts: 8,023
Received 71 Likes on 67 Posts
Default

holy ****. you have got a lot done in a short amount of time. heck it took me 2 months to do an engine swap an to get my truck running again.
 
  #9  
Old 12-07-2009, 08:14 AM
aaron7's Avatar
aaron7
aaron7 is offline
Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 364
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

In that last pic the cab and body aren't bolted on just yet. Everything lines up perfect now!
 
  #10  
Old 12-24-2009, 10:58 AM
aaron7's Avatar
aaron7
aaron7 is offline
Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 364
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

AHHHHHHHHHHH this thing is a wiring nighmare.

So, being the same bodystyle, we figured the chassis to cab connector would connect right up. Nope. Completely different.

Had to use the 84 dash harness. Of course none of it connected up to the 88 dash things.

Had to use the 84 column as the 84 has the high beams on the floor and the wipers on the dash (unlike the 88 which was all on the column).

So we had to strip both the 84 and 88 harnesses and combine the two!

Even stupid stuff like the wiper motor have different connectors. Just going to get a new 84 one for that.

The truck is now running, has heat, lights work... still have to wire the bed light, radio, and some other stuff. Hopefully I'll be driving it this weekend... we'll see.

This project took WAY longer than it was supposed to!
 


Quick Reply: My body swap project!



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:17 AM.