Body swap
 

Can any one tell me if a 1993
cab can be mounted on a 81-87 frame? Possible? Difficult?

Re: Body swap
 

Anything is possible w/the right talent & execution.

Why are you wanting to do the '93 cab/81-87 frame? What is your goal?

Re: Body swap
 

I would rather have the '93 frame under the square those frames are sturdy and less prone to the gearbox crack. Which square body's are notorious for.

Re: Body swap
 

AS mentioned, it isa possible, but lots of work. Also, remember the 88-98 models have a slightly longer wheel base then the squares do. If I remember right it is 1 or 2 inches. Not sure how it would effect totally, but the steering box for the 88-98 mount tyo the inside of the fram, so I am not sure how that will be for your steering column alignment.

Re: Body swap
 

and the frame gets wider as it goes to the back end . so think of it as a peice of pie /\ . makes it a lot harder . and the overall width to start with is massive if i recall its 10" wider under the cab area over our older trucks . lots of stuff went inside the frame rails on 88-up gmt-400 trucks .

Re: Body swap
 

I was asking about the possibilities of this swap as there is a rust free 93 cab available at a good price.

Re: Body swap
 

The square frame kickup (For fuel tank) will require chopping out and reworking the floor to sit on the frame, among other stuff.

Re: Body swap
 

It was just a thought. Don't need the headache if it is difficult to do.

Re: Body swap
 

I'm thinking that the 88 and up gas tanks are at the rear between the frame rails rather than the outboard of the frame tanks on the squares. Remember all of that ruckus about the tanks of the squares splitting open if you were broadsided?

Square tread is noticeably wider than 88 and up too I believe but you can get that Goat roper deep reverse wheel look without deep reverse wheels.

It doesn't matter what frame swap you do there are no free lunches in frame swaps. You are always going to have a challenge or spend an exobitant amount of money for a kit to make it easy.

Re: Body swap
 

88-98 have wider frames & wider track widths.

Re: Body swap
 

But the body is narrower.

I'm no expert but I have one of each sitting out here side by side. I have measured the body widths but not the track widths. The wheels are vastly different in back space, so if the axles are wider then that is wholly or partially offset by the difference in the wheels which sit more inboard on the 88-98.

Re: Body swap
 

Correct. Axles & front track width is wider by 1.5" on the 1/2 tons if I remember correctly. Back spacing on the wheels is different as a result.

Re: Body swap
 

They are still in the same side location, just inside the frame rail. That was the main reason for the change, all the lawsuits for socalled explosions of the tank on the outside of the side rail.

Re: Body swap
 

I learned this stuff very painfully from trying to adapt GMT400 6-hole 16" wheels to a square body 4x4 :(