80 Series Body Swap? Anyone done this?

[tacosupreme]

Why not? Even Toyota corporate does body swaps from time to time.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/toyota-builds-the-worlds-most-bad-ass-minivan-from-a-sienna/

 

[Bravo1782]

@tacosupreme I.....I'm not sure how to feel about that. It's....confusing....to say the least

@strictlyRUM I really like how you did that....perhaps i'm overthinking my plan here. How did you go about getting the body up that hi? Did you Just lift the boards one side at a time and add blocks as necessary? That's a genius setup you got there. And I'm with you, I have no problem spending time on my rig...I don't have overland cash...no National Luna and fancy Icon suspension here!

 

[txgringo]

I know I'm resurrecting an old thread here, but thought this might be the best place to ask. I'm preparing to swap a 94 body onto my 97 rolling chassis and using the interior and dash from my 97. @strictlyRUM mentioned some incompatibility in the dash from a 92 to a 96. Does anyone expect a similar issue with a 94 to 97 swap with the dash or any other components?

 

[jfz80]

I would expect some changes between those two but have no direct experience. But the dashes and layouts are a bit different. The best resource i could recomend would be searching for and reading the swap thread by @bloc. He encountered these and made it work.... also said it would be wiser to seek matching donors.

I know I'm resurrecting an old thread here, but thought this might be the best place to ask. I'm preparing to swap a 94 body onto my 97 rolling chassis and using the interior and dash from my 97. @strictlyRUM mentioned some incompatibility in the dash from a 92 to a 96. Does anyone expect a similar issue with a 94 to 97 swap with the dash or any other components?

 

[txgringo]

@jfz80 thanks for the pointer. I spoke to @bloc and his challenge was slightly different than mine in that I am planning to swap over EVERYTHING from my 97 (my dash, interior, headliner, engine, wiring, etc. etc.) into a 94 body. His advice was that this MIGHT work so long as the mounting for all of the interior components are the same from 94 to 97. He suggested that it would be best to try to find a body of the same year as mine just to be safe.

Our local club meeting is tonight so I'll see if anyone has a spare 97 dash laying around that I can check fit in the 94 body once I strip it. Worst case scenario I will wait until I get my 97 back and then pull the dash before doing too much work on the 94 body (since I have to pull the dash anyway).

I will share the results here in case others face a similar question in the future.

 

[4DOORFJ]

Sounds like you have the time and energy to tackle it.

@jfz80 thanks for the pointer. I spoke to @bloc and his challenge was slightly different than mine in that I am planning to swap over EVERYTHING from my 97 (my dash, interior, headliner, engine, wiring, etc. etc.) into a 94 body. His advice was that this MIGHT work so long as the mounting for all of the interior components are the same from 94 to 97. He suggested that it would be best to try to find a body of the same year as mine just to be safe.

Our local club meeting is tonight so I'll see if anyone has a spare 97 dash laying around that I can check fit in the 94 body once I strip it. Worst case scenario I will wait until I get my 97 back and then pull the dash before doing too much work on the 94 body (since I have to pull the dash anyway).

I will share the results here in case others face a similar question in the future.

How did this turn out? Looking at very similar project...

 

[dsmud4u]

Someone on here did me a huge solid and hooked me up with a FSM...what a game-changer! I wish I had a shop lift in my garage...not quite sure how I'm going to do it without one. thinking about renting some heavy equipment of some sort to do it....and a bunch of heavy lifting straps....

I was able to pull the 60 body off with the use a cherry picker and tow strap with enough room in my garage. Not sure how tall your 80s are. Mind you, I pulled the motor and trans out first.

 

[dsmud4u]

I am with you bugs, 62 body/80 frame and suspension/Vortec swap my personal dream rig.

Doing the same myself. 60 body on 80 chassis.

 

[dsmud4u]

You mean like this?





Its a 92 going on a 96 frame. I picked up the flopped 96 with a low mile babied drive train after I drove the 92 for about 50 miles after buying it and the motor took a dump. A lot of guys here just throw money around like its nothing. I am back in school full time at the age of 39 and dont have that money anymore. I bought the 92 for 1200 bucks and it went poop soon after. I found the 96 at a wrecker and got it delivered to my house for 1500. Yes its a lot of work but I am richer on skill and time than I am with money right now. I can also go through and pick and choose the best parts from each. I also found the dash wont work but you can just switch out the center box with the climate controls into the older dash. In my case I have to switch wiring harness and all the heating and air too, so you need to do the dash section too. I have the best of both vehicles. I am just about ready to do the monstaliner to the underside and firewall and inside. Then I will do FatMat and install the interior out of the 96. It too was spotless. Then I will be doing paint. I have parted out alot of parts and just found I am into the donor about 200 bucks at this point. I just have to sell a few more parts and I will be in the black. Again..... alot of work, but I dont have the money to just buy a different one.

Jason

Go


Gosh that single stack of cinder blocks looks shady.

 

[YMT]

Go


Gosh that single stack of cinder blocks looks shady.

I used the cinder block method. Single stacked also. I put 4x4 posts inside the blocks, with a 2x8 screwed to the posts, to add stability. However, it wasn't necessary, since the blocks are incredibly stable. I have a 2-3* slope for my driveway, so I added a couple scrap blocks to keep the pipes from rolling.
I wanted to do this in the garage, however, my garage ceiling height is a shade too short.
The bottom picture is how it sits now.