Crazy, stupid, or both?

[TxScout]

So my scout is REALLY rusty, to the point where I'm not sure if I'm going to fall through the floor just driving down the road. Since this week is spring break for me, I was going to get new floors welded in. However, I came across what sounds like a deal too good. THere's a local scout-a-holic who has about 10 scouts sitting in his shop. He has a couple of bodies for sale. There's a really nice white one that has almost no rust except for a 4"x4" or so hole where the driver's side seat mount is. The body is bare but still attached to the frame. I was thinking of swaping bodies completely. He wants $150 for the tub, $200 for the top, and whatever else for the front clip and hood. My top is immaculate, no rust what-so-ever. If he doesnt' want to trade tops, I could at least sell it. So, what do you guys think? Is this just too much trouble to get done in a week? What should I watch out for? Anyone attempted this kind of thing before? I was thinking I'd herculine the inside while it's bare and POR-15 the bottom while I have it off. Also thinking about getting the energy suspension 1" lift body mounts. So, what do you guys think of my plan?

[Snoopy]

Originally posted by TxScout
Is this just too much trouble to get done in a week? What should I watch out for? ...[snip]...what do you guys think of my plan?
I think its a great idea. I've known a few guys who have totally changed a tub in a week (without any previous experience). The biggest thing to watch out for is the wiring. Most of the time its easier to get a painless wiring sytem instead of trying to figure out old, hacked up wiring harnesses.

[Cliffy [JD]]

I swapped my blazer tub in a week (first tub swap for me ever!) using only two friends and a cherry picker (not fun). The wiring ended up being shit, but other than that it was simple, even got a 2" body lift in at the same time.:usa:

My only concern is the hole where the seat mounts, but then if you were gonna replace that area anyway, sounds like a SWEET DEAL!!!!:beer:

[Zukster]

install a frame mounted rollcage, bolt the seats to the cage, and forget about the holes in the floor

[TERRA-IZER]

Just go into the project with an objective and you should be able to get it done in a week, my week body swap turned into a couple year Frame off, (once i had the tub off, it snow balled, might as well paint the frame will the tubs off, do a RS, Spring over, Etc.....) So paln eveything out and just do what you planned to do that week and nothing else. That sounds like a really good deal on the clean tub.

[HarleyM]

Get it and go. You should be able to get it done in a week. If you don't figure that you can do what I'm doing I have a doner body that is in excellent shape. I'm doing the body a little at a time as it sits and building the suspension on the one that I'm driving. That way when the body is ready I can jerk the old one off of the built chassis and put the new body on and go :D

[REDDMANIAC]

Cause when yer done there Im gonna need some help down here. Ive got me a body set up already with diamond plate cargo floor, new rockers, extrathick full front floors ready & waiting for me. This summer that gets swapped over. I bet you could do it all in 2-3dys, really. Just need to get the swap done first withthe help of freinds, than concentrate/focus(really) on the wiring & shiat. Id suggest you go lable them now. Go on! Git! :flipoff2: I think its a good idea but like I told told you I have a friend who will do bodywork real cheap & good, how much is doing all that work worth to you. Guess it depends on how much "rot you got" I honestly am not going to enjoy the bodyswap.

[TxScout]

Just found out that the guy's secretary misquoted the price. Everything is $950, not $150. I knew I was dreaming.

Duke, That's acctually a good idea, I just don't have the cash to get that done...I do have credit though...no...must...not...use...credit.....

Well, I think the plan is now going to be to get some cheap 18 ga. sheet metal to weld in the front floors. Then save enough to get that newer body. This isn't a trail rig yet, so I can't take for granted doors that lock and windows that roll up and down...unlike my current body.

RED, I was planning on doing the body work myself and get a buddy to do the welding, should just cost about a 12-pack o :beer: , hopefully...

Thanks for the input guys!

[tsm1mt]

Originally posted by TxScout
This isn't a trail rig yet, so I can't take for granted doors that lock and windows that roll up and down...unlike my current body.


Door locks? I don't use 'em on ANY of my rigs.. daily driver or trail rig. :D

For $950 it doesn't sound like you're swapping tubs, but..

I did most of a tub swap (well, in this case, it was a frame swap) in a day.

12 hours.

We had a lot of prep work before that.. pulled the front clip, unplugged the wiring harnesses, and had the body mount bolts unbolted.

Then started at about noon on Saturday and by midnight had the tub back on the (new) frame and everything in place.

Just needed to put the front clip back on, plug everything back together (wires and fuel) and put the body mount bolts in.

12 hours, two guys.. in the street. :D



http://walnut.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout/jpg/bens75/bodyoff/image12.jpg

[muskyman]

man your neighbors hate you!

i had to move mine hated me so much

for antics just like you have pictured there.

once had a cop come by and ask me why i was changing the clutch on my scout at 4:00 am in the street...

he did not find "because I work at 7:00" very funny

[Old Scout]

Nothing like your buddy's ( Baja Binder) axle swap in my driveway and in the street have a jack problem in the middle of the swap !

[TxScout]

tsm, yea, I didn't think the acctual swap was going to be that bad, at least nothing a case of :beer: and a few friends couldn't help with. As far as prep work, I want to POR-15 the underside and herculine the interior. So, for me, it would probably take all week. But you're right, it's not happening right now.