Cab differences 99-06

96Formula6spd · December 7, 2020

Hey guys I am currently truck shopping and have found what could be a good deal on a 03 GMC 2500hd. Its an extended cab long bed truck. Anyways this one took a tree to the cab. I am not afraid of doing a cab swap. It would be my first one but I do all my own car work. I know I would need to swap the dashboard wiring harness over to the new cab to keep everything happy. Things like the cluster, steering column would be swapped as well to keep the original key happy. Ecu etc would be moved. Pretty much if its electronic swap it.

Now my question is can I use any 99-06/07classic cab. I know it would have to be an extended cab. There are loads of 1500 trucks being parted. They are rust free southern trucks. I will need everything including the four doors and the cab. The hood,fenders, headlight and grill are fine. Bed also looks fine as well. Might need some odds and ends as well from the donor cab. Can I use a 1500 cab or does it have to be from a 2500. Still have not bought the truck yet. Just getting an idea incase I would need to find a 2500 donor cab. The current truck is a GMC. Pretty sure that a Chevy cab would work. I have watched a few guys do this on Dodge and some older Ford trucks. Usually a 1500 body onto a 2500 frame.

davester · December 7, 2020

I would suggest using a body from a truck that is the same year or newer. From swapping doors/fenders/hood on my '04, I've found that parts from earlier trucks are missing some bolt holes/captured nuts/supports that parts from newer vehicles have, and that parts from newer vehicles are backwards compatible (in that, they may not use a hole/nut for whatever, but it's still there for the older vehicle).

And be careful with the various clips holding things to the cab/body parts, as many of them are NLA, and you can't readily remove them from other vehicles (like at, say, a junkyard) without cutting a hole in the part to get to the backside of the clip.

newdude · December 7, 2020

To be safe, I'd use 03-06 or 07 classic. Chevy or GMC, cab should make no difference.

Edited December 7, 2020 by newdude

96Formula6spd · December 8, 2020

Good to know that get later stuff. So 03+ if I buy this truck. Seems reading cab mounts changed some as well as the hardware. So whatever the donor cabs make sure to take its pieces. I guess the biggest thing comes down to it. Are the 1500 and 2500/3500 cabs the same. Looks like they are. But just wanting to know.

96Formula6spd · December 8, 2020

Also for clips. I have learned pretty well how to take cars apart. I have parted a few cars out here in the driveway. Sometimes things break. But others you can be good enough to get them to come apart. Good news loads of trucks here in the pick and pull that are the 99-06 body style.

davester · December 8, 2020

..oh yeah, and be really careful with pulling harnesses through sheet metal, as it really sucks finding and repairing cuts/breaks...

96Formula6spd · December 10, 2020

On 12/8/2020 at 2:42 AM, davester said:

..oh yeah, and be really careful with pulling harnesses through sheet metal, as it really sucks finding and repairing cuts/breaks...

Yeah I know that. I have parted a few cars where I have sold off a full wiring harness. So I know to take my time and feed things back threw. Same with building a race car and having to remove and reinstall wiring harnesses.

Edited December 10, 2020 by 96Formula6spd

mc4life27 · April 24, 2021

I believe the cans are the same but but on some of the hd trucks they have a body lift from the factory to fit the duramax and Alison motor and tranny. So you have to be careful there. Look on google for a guy who did a duramax swap into a 1500 single cab short bed truck. He has a very detailed post in his project and he goes through the difference in the bodies because he wanted to use the non hd 1500 body and frame and not the hd frame. There are some differences but I believe they are all things that can be made to fit. But yes stay with 03-07 classic. Since your looking at the 03 it shouldn’t matter since the newer body’s will have to hate vet updates gm did and they will work with what you have. It wouldn’t be like you having to add the factory updates.