1st gen Cab Swap?

Rolled my rig pretty stupidly at moonrocks in Reno last fall and i’m really not looking to go through a body shop because it’s most likely totaled. Asking around to see if anyone has done a 1g cab swap from a spare truck. Curious on the process and if it’s worth it. Pics included are how it looked at scene and how it looks now. Any tips?

 

It's been done pretty often, except its usually someone buying a truck like yours for the frame to replace their rusted out frame. Basically same idea though. Bet you could find more existing information by looking for a frame-swap instead of a cab-swap.

I am by no means a body guy, but the cab dents don't look completely creased, you might be able to pull some of them out? Or strip the interior and grab a hammer and start swingin? Wouldn't come out perfect that's for sure. But there is value in a dented body, you don't have to care about any new scraps or dents from out on the trail
That's why I haven't fixed any of my many paint issues, if I pay to make it nice, then I have to care about keeping it nice.

 

Im with @time623 if you're ok with "better" I'd try some homemade PDR with a mallet. You could Weld some tabs and use a winch to pull most of the big damage out. Bondo the rest and call it good.

 

X2

That damage is surprisingly minor for a rollover!

 

Have you been driving it with the damage?

 

Yes, door is able to seal and got a new window put in as well as a newer fender. It's not limiting drivability, just more for the look factor. When it first happened i got up into the roof and smacked it with a hammer, crowbar, etc. Nothing was able to give me the results i want.

 

Heck your state to find out what parts define the “vehicle”
Some are the cab mounted vin, so make sure you get a title too

 

I personally wouldn't hate the idea of leaving it if it's fairly functional as is. It's a cool story and the concern for future trail damage kind of goes out the window.

 

cab swaps not a hard job. but you'll need the title to the cab that your swapping on.. which means you'll need it to be a 1998 or older too for it to be "legal" with all your accessories (IE ecu and what not). the VIN is attached to the cab. swapping vins is not legal. replacing a cab for a rollover is kind of a grey area... but its clearly defined the cab IS the vehicle.

i've been looking for a more useable cab for my 01 extended cab. id rock yours.. the 01 is.... very rolled over LOL

 

Definitely agree with you on that. Would probably be the better decision to just work with it then to deal with all the legal stuff (As i am a california resident) and i know my dmv can be pretty anal about these things. Planning on getting a new door as well which should hopefully draw less attention to that side of the truck. Thanks for all the opinions.

 

What really sux is I just gave the white 2000 cab away right before winter. But I didn't have a title.