Hey really stupid question. Im tryin to get my 88 4x4 back on the road again it runs to stinkin good to cut it up for scrap. I found a 85 f350 2wd truck with a blown engine are the cabs the same just with different dashes? My cab rotted away to the point i dont feel safe drivin it off the farm because the seats literally fallen through the floor and sits on the floor boards whats left of them atleast.

 

The dashes, the holes for the wiring harnesses in the firewall and the holes in the floor for the shifters are pretty much the only differences. If the donor cab had a 4 speed in it, I think you would only have to slightly modify the hole for your 5 speed if anything at all and then obviously cut a hole for the 4x4 shifter. I'm not sure, but the hole for the 4x4 shifter might just have a bolt on cover over it. If you can cut, weld, and don't mind the older dash(unless you swap the newer in) it'll work just fine. Good luck.

 

Yep the 85 has a 4spd in it just isnt 4x4. actually considering just taking and swapping cab and front clip onto the 88 if itll bolt up and isnt rusted bad. from the pics i see it looks in great shape. the only thing Im gonna have issuses with is the 85 dont have a title so might have to swap dashes or something. Or ya know the not so legal swapping VIN

 

Come to think of it, I think you might have to swap the front clip on too. I think where the fender meets the cab is shaped a little different. I'm not 100% sure on that so be sure to check it out. I never thought about the VIN. To be honest, I don't know what to tell ya about that one other than you might be better off trying to find one you can get a title with then.

 

vin numbers shouldn't matter as long as the ref, checks it out at DMV. and any front clip from ford from 82-97 will work on any of those cabthrew out those years. And for the trans I think traning humps are a lil differtent from the 4 spped to the 5 speed and 4x4 you just have to cut a hole threw the foor for the linkage to work right

 

where i'm from in canada we have to also swap the vin number from your registered cab to the cab you install. easy job 2 rivets on dash. You have to remove vin number from donner cab and install your vin number

 

Yeah I thought about just changin the VIN to the new cab. I dont think I would just use some regular small pop rivets and make them look rusty like the vin.

 

why would you want to make rivets look rusty? its not about trying to hide that you changed cab but to show your still driveing the same truck that you have insured here.

 

The reason is that here I honestly beleive its illegal to change vins and since mine is all rusty as are most of the older fords that i see. if you take and put brand new shiny rivets with a rusty vin it kinda looks suspicious that you changed it to the one ***** cop that wants to find anything he can to write you a ticket.

 

not here we are required by law to change vin# and also keep sheet on donner truck parts such as cab so they can check to see that parts from donner truck weren't stolen. goverment watching us at all times.