D21 vs D22 similarities

[TWX]

Hey all...

I've been obsessed with doublecab D21 models lately, probably because they're not available in the United States generally. It's got me thinking, I know that similar to how Nissan revised the D21 to produce the D22, Dodge revised their '72-'80 full-sized trucks for '81-'93 with some new external sheet metal but left the bulk of the truck the same- the Dodge's cab sheet metal itself remains the same, only the doors and fenders were changed. Looking at the D22 doublecab versus the D21 doublecab, it looks like the door openings are the same, and the only real difference is in the C-pillar sheet metal at the back of the cab below the beltline.

That makes me wonder if one could install the hood, cowl, fenders, and front doors of a Hardbody on to a Frontier crew cab, and if a body shop could reskin Frontier rear doors and cut and replace the rearmost lower C-pillar with that from a conventional Hardbody to make a sort of D21-type cab.

It would also depend on if the regular cab Hardbody bed is the same size as the crew cab Frontier bed...

[float_6969]

When it comes to body work. Anything is possible. All it cost is money, LOL!

[Rev_D21]

D21 and D22 are very similar and share many mechanicals. The roofs are the same if you look close.

[TWX]

When it comes to body work. Anything is possible. All it cost is money, LOL!

True, but it would be a lot easier to locate a pair of D21 rear doors, even if they have to be imported, than it would be to import a whole cab. While bodywork to replace the back corners of a D22 cab with metal from a D21 cab would cost money, it wouldn't be nearly as expensive as attempting to build a whole cab from scratch like I've seen other peoples' projects for. I could easily replace fenders, front doors, cowl, hood, and the like myself, or worst, have to have someone else replace a D22 radiator core support with one from a D21.

Obviously finding a whole cab would be best, but is unfortunately impractical. I've tried looking for trucks on Craigslist in northern Mexico, but they're not easy to find.

[TWX]

D21 and D22 are very similar and share many mechanicals. The roofs are the same if you look close.

Yeah, that's why it's been interesting to me.

I had at one point considered looking for a long bed (6' bed) crew cab and retrofitting earlier Frontier fenders, front bumper, grille, and hood onto it along with the bed from an earlier frontier, but I like the Hardbody better.

Figured I'd better ask, the 6'-ish bed on the long bed crew cab D22, is it the same bed as the regular cab 6'-ish bed D22? If so then it would be analogous to the 6'-ish bed on the regular cab D22 Hardbody, as opposed to the bed on the King Cab.

[Rev_D21]

I haven't measured the long bed CC. Wheel well placement is the issue so take your measurements around that.

[akurtzer57]

I think by time you spent chasing parts plus buying d22 etc. Be better off importing crew cab d21.

[TWX]

but there were no longbed D21 crew cabs, only the weird 4' or so beds. I'd have to play mix-and-match.

[Rev_D21]

There were long bed crew cabs. I have posted a couple pics of them in the past.