88-98 Ext. cab body swap

[buckmtn]

Has anyone swapped one of the later model ext. cabs and front clips 88-98 onto the 80-91 era frames. I have an 85 k30 regular cab I've built up for rocks but now I realize the family wants to go along and need room to haul the kids. Would like to swap a ext. cab body onto my frame and exo cage and pinch the front. I'm sure custom body mounts will be in order but is there something else that would keep this from going together? Any insight is appreicated...

As she sits now...

 

[toomany]

I'm interested in this also.

I'm guessing that the frame rails on the newer trucks are quite a bit wider than the older style. I think that would be the hardest thing to overcome. Which could be compensated for by the new (required) custom body mounts.

 

[MNorby]

I am building a rig with a 97 ext cab s-10 cab/front clip on a 71 k5.
Build thread:
http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=776907
As of today pic:

 

[buckmtn]

Looking for a fullsize later model body, thought about putting an s-10 body on it but the extended cab on them doesn't have any room for anyone to ride in. They did make those s-10 crew cabs for a while but they look kinda gay though. Want to keep the truggy theme so no blazer for me.

 

[MNorby]

how about a full size crew cab like MTMike?
http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=706190

Or this one:
http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=705028

 

[rob h]

ive seen it done before, they welded mounts to the ouside of frame rails, seems to work good and the frames are wider on the newer trucks. they guy who did that around here said the only part was making the mounts fo the cab it self, he used a one inch body lift... i did the bed change to the stepside, i thought about changing the cab but im not motivated enuff....

 

[MNorby]

Really its not much different than my s10 build. Make body mounts and hook up body controls. Pretty basic.

 

[buckmtn]

I've seen both of those builds on pirate and have kicked around the idea of the old style crew cab, nice and simple to work with. Always have particuarly liked the looks of the 96-98 ext cabs though. They also are probably a little shorter cab than the crew cab though I haven't measured anything. My future plans include some type of cab swap, exocage, putting propane on my 454, sm465/203/205. Starting to gather this crap up for a winter time tear down. Don't get me wrong I like my 85 k30 cab the way it is but I need a cage and no use doing that but one time, and now the wifey and kids want to go along, hince....cab swap.