Topic: Swap cabs 81 4x4

[81MudToy]

Need help; I have an 81 Toyota 4x4 which the cab has to much rust.
Found an 83 which is complete but it’s not 4x4 and it’s automatic. Is it possible to swap the cab, I know that the fenders are different?  And that I will need to change the floor board because of it being automatic, what other stuff will I have to change? Computer, cluster, any one done this. 

Any help

 

[jimbo74]

keep everythign form your 4x4, just swap the sheet metal, i am not 100% sure, but the tunnels should be the same, you will need to cut a couple holes for your floor shifters

[81MudToy [OP]]

On the cluster, the 81 has round connectors, and the 83 has rectangle, if I leave the 83 , I will not have a light to indicate that the 4x4 is on right.

[jimbo74]

dotn swap the clusters, jsut swap sheet metal to sheet metal, you still use the cluster from the 4x4, do not swap any of the wiring.... you will need to remove everything and jsut swap sheet metal, do not swap anything else

[81MudToy [OP]]

O.k. I plan on doing this on Saturday, see how much I can get done, since I can only work on it weekends.

Any other stuff that anybody knows I have to change. 

Thank you Jimbo74

[BLACKDOG]

If all you want is the different cab, then no, you don't need to swap anything else.  I suppose its possible, but doubtful, that you might have to move body mounts a bit, but I don't think so.

[79coyotefrg]

tranny tunnel is the same, only have to cut the holes

body mount holes are identical

On the cluster, the 81 has round connectors, and the 83 has rectangle, if I leave the 83 , I will not have a light to indicate that the 4x4 is on right.

drill a hole in the dash and mount a  small light for the 4wd indicater

[jimbo74]

drill a hole in the dash and mount a  small light for the 4wd indicater

see my idea is this, soince the cab is coming off, why not swap all the electronics and everything from the 4wd and jsut transfer everything including the dash to the new cab, then there is no mis mash of connectors as nothing was mechanically or electrically altered, just the sheet metal....

[81MudToy [OP]]

jimbo74  & 79coyotefrg

Thanks for the help, I will try to post some pictures on Monday. I will hook up the 4x4 light separate till I find a SR5 cluster from an 83. If any of you have one for sale, let me know. 

[krash81]

The front body mounts are different. The 4 mounts in the cab are the same, but the 2 in the very front will need to be modified. They are spread wider on the 2 wheel drive. You can drill out the spot welds on the body mounts on both bodies. Remove. And weld the 4wd body mounts onto the 2wd body. Hope that makes sense.