Dakota cab/Durango frame

I've got a 2004 Durango Limited with a Hemi. It's hauled my car trailer (among others) all over the country, runs like a champ, plows snow in the winter, and serves as a backup for our daily drivers. But it's got 160,000 miles in Michigan and the leprosy is eating it from the bottom up. The frame is in (relatively) great condition compared to the body. I had thought of finding a Texas truck with driveline problems and swapping parts over, but today I had another thought:

Can I take a same/similar year Dakota cab and drop it on the Durango chassis? My front clip is in good shape, and I could swap the entire interior if I had a bare cab. Does anyone know if the body mounts would be anywhere near the same? what about the firewall? Maybe I'm crazy, but I AM a dodge guy...

i would say its the same---but i also wondered if the durango has less kick up over the rear wheels----recently cut apart a mexican ramcharger--putting a cummins front frame under it and leaving the ramcharger rear frame because it matched the body contour (flat)the cummins cab mounts were exactly the same as the ramcharger....

I'd probably end up with a homemade bobtail bed, so as long as I can get the front mounts to match, I can fab something for rear mounts, and then use whatever space is left.

05 and up dakota is only chance.

not sure about year model, but I remember reading some year dakota/durangos had rear suspension flipped v/s one another- 1 axle was on top of leaf springs, v/s other axle on bottom of leaf springs

2WD vs 4WD is definately the axle flip......

NO, 2004 Durango was 1st year for 2nd Gen, code HB. Dakota/1st Gen Durango were very similar in the mid and front of the frame and cab, codes AN and DN. The Dakota went to its own unique platform, ND in 2005. It was not as wide as the HB.

2004 Durango has the 4 link rear and torsion bar front suspension with same ride height for 4x2 and 4x4. Frame was identical for all Durango from 2004 up. Same for Dakota for 2005 up, same frame 4x2 and 4x4, but again completely different from the 2004+ Durango.

I see 04 Durangos on Craigslist all the time with blown up 4.7's. Wow.... imagine that, lol. You'd be better off to head south and get another good body for $400-500 and swap it.