frame swap?

andy

The frame on my 96 Dak cc 4x4 is rusting out.has anyone put the Dak body on a fullsize frame? I have a 90 w250 reg cab 8ft bed,the wheel base is the same as my dak,the frame  width is the same at the back. I just don't know if the shape of the frame,were the cab needs to sit would match up close enough to work. I don't want to have too much space between the body and frame. I can find a used stock frame and go that route if I have to,but kind of thinking of making it a street/trail toy.  Tom

.... people who ask questions about a project like this, usually never does anything. soooo just go out and look. how the hell would we know unless we were planning the same exact thing?

.Its a Dakota/Durango site, I was just asking to see IF anyone has already done this swap? My frame is shot and I'm going to have to do somthing with the truck one way or another,its still a good running truck with a solid cab.

.Ive seen S 10 blazers on full size blazer or k series truck frames so i don't see why  yours cant be  done.  I would start doing some measurements  of where the  body mounts sit  center line of the  wheel etc. i don't see why it cant be done.  But can YOU take  on the work  without faltering/discouragement or simply giving up on the project. Most  quot; projectsquot; out there do not get finished. The person simply either runs out of money or  time or interest. jst make sure you know what you  are getting into.
I would make sure you budget the money right and whatever you think it costs add another 30%. make sure you either have the tools  or are able to rent/borrow the tools if you dont have them on  a short notice  ( nothing sucks more than needing to wekd somethin and not having a welder or sawsall or  torch etc.AND that you have the actual buddy help  when the time comes to  move the body on the other frame
Also make sure you have the space. lots of projects  get thrown to the side or sold cheap cause people dont have the space to store a long term  project

Good luck

.One of our members here rebuilt his Gen II from the ground up using a new frame and cab since those two were rusting out as well. But he was using another Dak 4x4 CC frame.
I am sure it can be done with the Ram frame, but I gotta ask: why? That model frame is based on an old design(I think late 70's/early 80's) and is even worse than the Dakota's C-channel frame is stiffness, torsional rigidity, and material thickness at crucial points. If you do use the Ram frame, if you have the money for it, go ahead and box the frame up as well as the crossmembers. That way, not only will it be stronger, it will also hold up better and since it is a Ram frame, your modding options go way up for just about everything but the most important would be snow plows, if you do use yours for some winter work like plowing.

.thats something your just going to have to tear everything a part and find out by trial and error.

might also be able to get one from salvage yard.

.I've checked junkyards,300-500 price range. I'd like to go to a solid front axle,and since my frame is getting bad,and I already have a complete rolling 3/4 ton frame/parts truck. I just don't want to end up having too big of a gap between the cab and frame,that it looks stupid,or is a cop magnet. I have all the tools,parts,space,knowledge to do it. I was just wondering if someone else had already done it and maybe get a few pictures. Tom

.why not just get a new truck? ok so you have a good motor and cab, put the motor in a new truck if you want but i just dont see all of this work being worth it. what are you really going to gain from this?