Needing Some Cab Swap Information

TheStug · February 4, 2020

I have a 2012 Silverado LT 5.3, 4X4, Extended cab with 100k miles that was wrecked (not by me). The damage to the truck is essentially a Tbone on the drivers side, right smack in the middle where the cab meets the bed. Frame may have a small dent/scratches, and some brackets bent, but otherwise not bad at all. Surprisingly, the title is still clean and was not salvaged/junked.

I bought this truck at auction. My original plan was to take the engine/trans and stick it in my 96 chevy and part the rest out. However, the truck drives like nothing happened to it, and I have had a change of heart and want to re-body it and put a donor cab/bed on it.

So, I've got basically 2 questions.

1. Can I convert to a Crew Cab? I haven't confirmed body mount locations at the back of the cab are the same, but I'm hoping someone here can confirm one way or the other. Obviously, will need to go with the 5'9" (or whatever the measurement is) box bed if I switch to crew cab.

2. Are 2500 cabs (either crew or ext) the same as 1500 cabs? Basically, are they interchangeable? Body mounts, AC lines, Brake master location, wiring harness plug location at firewall, etc, etc. The reason I ask, there are a couple 2500 cabs available right now, but no 1500 cabs. Plus 2500 cabs are more likely to be white, which is the color of my truck. It obviously expands my pool if 2500 cabs can also be used.

My friend has a crew cab 2013 ltz, and I'm going to measure body mounts whenever he can get his butt over here to my house. I would think GM would want same frame, same cab mounts for either Ext or Crew just for cost cutting reasons alone. but we'll see.

CamGTP · February 4, 2020

Yeah, the GMT-900's used the same cab for 1500's and 25/3500's. Even the boxes are the same and front fenders. The main changes are just the hoods, grilles and bumpers.

swathdiver · February 4, 2020

11 hours ago, TheStug said:

I have a 2012 Silverado LT 5.3, 4X4, Extended cab with 100k miles that was wrecked (not by me). The damage to the truck is essentially a Tbone on the drivers side, right smack in the middle where the cab meets the bed. Frame may have a small dent/scratches, and some brackets bent, but otherwise not bad at all. Surprisingly, the title is still clean and was not salvaged/junked.

I bought this truck at auction. My original plan was to take the engine/trans and stick it in my 96 chevy and part the rest out. However, the truck drives like nothing happened to it, and I have had a change of heart and want to re-body it and put a donor cab/bed on it.

So, I've got basically 2 questions.

1. Can I convert to a Crew Cab? I haven't confirmed body mount locations at the back of the cab are the same, but I'm hoping someone here can confirm one way or the other. Obviously, will need to go with the 5'9" (or whatever the measurement is) box bed if I switch to crew cab.

2. Are 2500 cabs (either crew or ext) the same as 1500 cabs? Basically, are they interchangeable? Body mounts, AC lines, Brake master location, wiring harness plug location at firewall, etc, etc. The reason I ask, there are a couple 2500 cabs available right now, but no 1500 cabs. Plus 2500 cabs are more likely to be white, which is the color of my truck. It obviously expands my pool if 2500 cabs can also be used.

My friend has a crew cab 2013 ltz, and I'm going to measure body mounts whenever he can get his butt over here to my house. I would think GM would want same frame, same cab mounts for either Ext or Crew just for cost cutting reasons alone. but we'll see.

Go to GMs site and download the Upfitter's manuals which will give you all the details on the frames and cabs and such. A body man on youtube recently did a cab swap on a CC, look up VEHCOR.

https://www.gmupfitter.com/pdflists/view/6

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgk1R0_ZbEQrEhQWRYkVIA/videos