Long story short no money invested. I picked up this 03 with a bad frame but the guy had a pretty much minty one to go with it. So I can either rig stuff together at home to hold the body up and fix as I would like. Such as suspect suspension parts or bushings brake lines ect or try to do a one weekend thing at a shop. Shop would be like Friday night and out by Monday morning. Kind of pushing it for me but do-able I think. But that would not give time to fix and or replace things I find on the way.
But please just keep in mind that I have no money invested so time and parts to fix would be worth it I think.

 

It’s quite the rabbit hole to go down if you do it yourself as the temptation to replace/clean/repaint things as needed can get out of hand. A fun project for sure, but requires self discipline. Plus, you’ll need lots of room for the job.
paying a shop would be costly, have they given you an idea of the cost?

 

No shop cost I would be doing it. I worked at the shop for 17 years and have free reign. Hell I even have all the bay door keys and office keys still. I fill in when they are short hand from time to time.

 

It will take more than one weekend.....
this is a team at a shop with all the spares ready to go..

 

Yeah, I have watched that video extensively. Easy 50-60 hr job. I have considered doing it myself. I would do it at home. Pull the engine. Jack up the body and roll out the frame. Clean up the suspension bits, brake lines are crusty for sure.

 

Will the engine and trans fit out as one big unit? I swapped a motor over in my 01 last year but left the trans In. I didn't even try to pull the trans last year. Without the trans in there you wouldn't have to lift the body horribly high to clear everything.
OH and I watched that video a few times after I got my hands on this rig.

 

Engine and trans out as a unit is a bit much. Not saying it is not possible, I just think it would be easier to come out with the trans in. Once the engine is out the trans will droop down in the front and lower body coming out the front pretty easy. I would also consider getting the small harbor freight furniture dollys, pull the wheels and put the axles on the dollys, roll it out sideways. Ya gotta be careful once the body is off the truck to not turn it over, gonna be much more top heavy due to the glass once the frame is detached if you are doing it without a lift.

 

Sounds like a great opportunity to justify that lift in your garage..

 

I would love a lift but the garage has a attic space so no lift. I'm thinking doing it in multiple stages in my garage. Then pushing it outside to lift the body up.

 

Fully support your frame swap!

BTW --You might want to 100% confirm that the frame he gave you is from an 03/04... because there are differences bt the 99/02 frames and the 03/04 frames that could delay game once you get into it. I have never figured out exactly *what* the differences are, but the companies that make new frames all highlight the difference and LR has a diff part # for the facelift 03/04 models. IDK, I'd suspect maybe something different with the transmission mounts as the transmission changed slightly.

Also probably it's slightly easier if you don't have ACE or SLS.