Bandaman

Well, made a huge rookie mistake this weekend.....I should have done more research before purchasing!! I picked up a 1989 2wd reg cab shortbed that appeared pretty clean...just a little surface rust around rear wheel openings, a couple holes on the rear cab corners, but overall really good shape. Its got 110,000 miles and a 2-owner. Everything mechanically is top notch......timing chain done by the local dealer a couple years ago, exhaust, brakes, front suspension, radiator, etc all replaced or gone through. Interior is very nice and the truck has power steering, power brakes and A/C. It runs and shifts like a dream, very snappy and runs straight and true at 75 on the freeway.....thought I had a great little grocery getter after I talked the guy from $1900 to $1200.....due to some frame rust I spotted.

I had no idea how bad it was until I got it home and got a good look under it....the frame is rotted!!!! not repairable in my opinon...passenger side front spring mount on rear axle is cracked away from the frame. Tranny cross member is swiss cheese....parking brake cables pulled right through the frame, a 3 foot section of the inside of the frame rail rotted out on passenger side....looks like it has been sitting in salt water for 20 years!

WOW! never seen anything like it!!! except for the rotted frame, the truck is nice...what do I do???

I found a chassis for a 1994 2wd truck that the guy started restoring....frame is blasted and painted and has all new bushings, etc...it looks great...I would tell him sold, but its for an extended cab truck.

How different are the frames? I think these model years (89 and 94) are compatible. Can I "simply" section the frame and match up the wheel base, and body mounts? Anybody ever done this?

How much work am I looking at to swap everything off the truck to the new frame? I'm a pretty good backyard mechanic and not afraid to jump in. I have done engine builds, some mild restore and customizing and also have rebuilt several ATV's from the ground up....the truck overall looks pretty simple, just gonna be alot of hrs and probabably some cussing at rusted bolts.

Any advice is greatly appreciated....I'll get some pics of the frame rot up soon if I can figure it out.

Thanks!

Bandaman

more pics

Bandaman

yikes!

Bandaman

last ones for now

894x4pickup

Wow...that is some rust...

As anyone will say, anything can be done.

The major setbacks would be the rear cab mounts are further back on the ext cab, and the frame is overall longer (i forget by how much)

Do you know how to weld??

I think if i was gonna do it id take all measurements, cut, sleeve and reweld frame...Or id get a 4wd with a blown motor and just swap the motor

Just my opinion...i think i have pictures at home of the differences...just pulled a motor off a rolled 86 ext cab. I can get them later tonight if you want.

bjslade0269

The wheel base on the extended cab frame is longer. You could mount your body on there and it would leave a large space between the cab and the bed. Or you might be able to find a longbed, i'm not sure but I think the long bed and the extended cab short bed have the same frame.

894x4pickup

You cant mount the STANDARD cab on the EXTENDED cab frame without rewelding the CAB SUPPORTS. The rear mounts are further back.

Bandaman

I know this would be a bunch of work, but looks like a fun project if i could find the time....maybe i am over simplyfying this, but here is a pic of the extended cab chassis....it sure looks to me like I could cut a section out of the center, sleeve it, plug weld it and reinforce with plates if needed and shorten it up so the rear cab mounts are back were they need to be. Everything else is in the right spot..

This would not be a rock crawler or see any off road antics or even a heavy load....just a fuel mizer to drive to work and a handy get-around town truck, so If done properly, I wouldn't worry about it breaking.

The way it is now, I do worry about it breaking on a pothole or a bumpy road!!

I could relocate the cab mounts, but I figure the chance of finding a rust free longbed would be slim to none...I don't think the long beds were very common?

oh yea, I can weld, but I would possibly have a pro do the section, just for reassurance...



More ideas anyone??

91Toyota

I say take everything off and restore that baby! Nice truck..and it would be a waste if it was crushed!!!

FleshThorn

Removed

fierohink

Either way you look at it you have to pull the cab and bed and do some welding. If you switch over to the resto frame, you will have to hack off the cab corner mounts and move them plus figure out what you're going to do with the gap between the cab and the bed. You could probably purchase a toolbox or something that fould fill the gap.

Or you can buy some stock steel and weld in plate to your current frame like I'm doing, https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...s-pics-228184/ . If you have access to a plasma cutter great otherwise lots of cut-off wheels and a welder will get you fixed up in no time. As bad as my frame looks I have maybe a days worth of fabricating involved, aside from the tear down of the cab and bed, it has been pretty staright forward. Cut the rot out, make a template of the patch, cut out the patch, and weld it back together.

peow130

find an extended cab in good condition.. and swap all your junk over into that.
Or. Section the frame. (Avoid right angles)
Or. Just go get some steel, and weld up your frame. I've seen worse.