Here's the 2 trucks and what I'm struggling with, my truck is a 98 2500 5spd transmission, engines meh, PO didn't take very much care of it, needs plenium done, but the main issue is the rust mine is rusted through in multiple spots..

the other truck is a 97 2500 with a blown auto trans in it, essentially the trucks are identical other than the transmissions and this one is the sport package also the body is in great condition condition, no rust except a little on the tailgate, and I like the interior better.

I've had some people tell me a cab swap would be easier some that say the trans swap would be easier, idk, what to do, and im not even sure what id need to do to switch the transmissions, im knoledgeable enough to do it, but i do t know what all i need to do if that makes sense...

Any ideas on what I should do would be much appreciated thanks!

Quite a bit changed between 97 and 98. There was a 'mid cycle refresh', and the way things worked changed dramatically. Mechanically, the trucks are pretty much identical, electronically though, FAR too many differences to list. The cab floor also changed, so the 98 seats mount differently than the 97. Along with a bunch of other little changes. (shape of the dash.... etc.) You can swap the engine/trans either way, just use the external accessories/manifolds from the truck that you are dropping it into. Tranmission might be an issue as well, depending on if you are 4wd or not. The mount location for the t-case shifter also moved.... 97 and older, it was on the trans, 98 and newer, mounts to the body. Your trans might still have the provisions for the t-case shifter. I don't think those went away immediately.

Both trucks are 5.9l 4x4 and have the same axel and same t case I believe, would you think maybe just taking some of the body panels off the 97 and putting them on the 98 and taking what I can engine wise and moving to the 98...

I guess I'm just not sure which truck would be the better to be the base

Also I guess I should add that my goal overall is to completely rebuild whichever one I go with to exactly what I want and something that will last, lol 2nd gen dodges have always been my favorite trucks ever, and so I plan to keep this truck for the long run

Then it just depends on what kind of work you want to do the most of. Mechanical, or Body work. I would be tempted to use the truck with the least problems as the base, and then shuffle whatever parts you need off the other one.

Use the one with less rust as the base, Rust is time consuming to repair. The transmission choice seems what you are having problems choosing. I'm lazy and like autos, And there is way to much traffic here for a manual. If it was a Viper that's another story.

Right and it has power windows, locks, sunroof, everythings tinted, and its the color im looking for lol, so i am planning to put the manual trans from my 98 into the 97, now ive just got to figure out what all I'll need to swap, should I take the case, driveline and granny out of my 98 and put it all in the 97?

Having both trucks, you have all the parts you need.