Cab replacement compatability 2003 into 1995?

Are the cabs from a 1995 and a 2003 bolt-in interchangeable? Just the sheet metal cab shell, not the front clip. Both are extra cab shells.

My truck, Paco the Taco, currently has an unwanted low rider style chopped top modificatiom due to a large tree. I've tried a high lift jack, a come -a-long, a porta-power, a forklift, and a sledge. But I don't think the pretzel'd A piller sheet metal is ever going to hold a windshield again. Even if it did, a gallon of silicone wouldn't make it water tight. I've found a 1995 cab. Both those years are 1st gens, but are they bolt in interchangeable?

 

Perhaps I am misunderstanding your description, but the Cab is the ENTIRE front clip. You cannot separate the front of the truck from the cab. It is one whole unit.

 

Good point, sorry for using imprecise terminology. I'd like to replace the big, irreducible one piece cab (shell) sheet metal part.

But, the grill and associated front end pieces differ between the early and late first generation tacos. If I use a 1995 cab, will all of the peripheral 2003 parts bolt to it? Grill, bumper, radiator, front outer fenders, etc?

And, I guess I should ask if the interior bolts in also.

 

I would so yes. A lot of parts swap anyway but I am not 100 percent. Bump

 

Me and A friend of mine have actually looked at this because his Tacoma had been rolled and the cab was damaged. If you want to have an interesting truck, you could look at doing a full swap, and have the frame and body of a 2003, but the cab/front clip of a 1995! Not exactly a stellar combo though.

As for doing a swap over, there are enough differences between the cab units that you will be looking at some MAJOR work. The cab itself will bolt on, but the front core supports are different (That is the part that the radiator and headlights attach to, and it is spot welded. It CAN be changed, but will take a bit of skilled body work) and the interior of course is totally different. It will take some work, but the job can be done. Again, just a whole bunch of work will be needed. Lucky you for finding a cab anyway! My buddy's 95 needs a cab swap, and we can't locate one ANYWHERE. All the junk yards are refusing to sell the cabs due to the VIN plate is on the cab, and they are saying that without a clear title, they won't sell the cabs off the trucks. Sad because there would be a decent market I think for them.

 

That's disappointing to hear that the 03 and 95 would be so different. It hardly seems appealing to do that much work just to swap on a different (and older, at that) generation of front parts. At that point it might be preferable, and cheaper, to graft on a new roof.

I haven't heard of junk yards being unwilling to sell cabs. It would already be a legal problem for them to possess vehicles without legitimate titles or provenance. At that point, why not just pop off the VIN plate and sell an un-VIN'd cab?

 

When a salvage yard takes in a vehicle, it is required to take in the title and then submit that title to the state's DMV for branding. Once that is done a title cannot be reissued for said vehicle. Some states will not allow the base body to be sold after that, as the data plate is affixed to that body piece. This is not the case everywhere, just in certain states.

 

I just swapped my 95 cab for a 98 cab, I had no trouble except for the core support which Harbor Freight sales a spot weld remover drill bit ($4) which made it incredibly easy, my fenders bolted right up to the 98 cab and inner fender supports. As for switching the core supports I bolted the cab to the frame and then bolted the core support to the frame and used jacks and come-alongs to line up everything and welded it together with a mig welder. The interior was a bitch but everything had to be gutted and all my 95 parts bolted right in the 98 cab and even though very different styles it all swapped over without modifications.

 

Where did you get the cab from? Never have any luck finding an extracab 1st gen in the 95-99 year range anywhere in Alabama.

 

A small you pull it yard in Mobile. There is also a salvage yard in Pensacola Fl. that always has tacoma cabs, they are a lil pricey but usually have really good stuff. I can find their name and number again if you want it.

 

I'd love to give the number to my buddy who is looking for a possible cab.