2wd to 4wd conversion

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:10 am

Yes, tons of threads are about just this, converting 2wd to 4wd. However they always end with people saying it is way too much work and fabrication and no one ever seems to follow through with the conversion. I realize it would be way easier to swap your body onto a 4x4 chassis, however I want to see the fabrication way.
Who here or who has pictures of a truck that has actually been converted from 2wd to 4x4? I'd like to see the work that it takes.

CO684X4 · Post by **CO684X4** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:19 am

I say go for it. I heard it plenty of times while I was gathering parts for my 96 f150 4x4 swap. It was way worth it for me. Wish I had some info for ya.

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:16 am

CO684X4 wrote:I say go for it. I heard it plenty of times while I was gathering parts for my 96 f150 4x4 swap. It was way worth it for me. Wish I had some info for ya.

I'm not sure i'm understanding you're reply.. you have done a 2wd to 4wd conversion on a '96 f150?
It seems there really wouldn't be a tremendous amount of fabrication like i've heard. I work at a welding shop with every tool/machine you could want (well, almost

)for fabrication. And i've got the basics in the garage (welder, cutters, etc.).
Now i'm not saying i am going to convert my '69 f100 or '71 f250 to 4x4, I'm mainly just interested in seeing the fabrication method of doing the conversion.
The '71 will always be 2wd, it's a off-road racer, not crawler.
But ive always tossed around the idea of making the '69 a 4x4. It would be very useful, in extracting my '71 off the side of a course, and towing it back to the pits on the rough course, and, I just want a 4x4! But it would also decrease millage (my DD), more weight making it even worse as a tow rig.

Redcap · Post by **Redcap** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:42 pm

Converting a 2WD to a 4WD is a royal pain in the butt and really not worth it considering you live in the PNW, where bumpside parts and carcasses are widely available.

zakt · Post by **zakt** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:01 pm

doing a conversion on my 72' F350 crew (worth it being a crew). I found a donor 68 F250 4x4 frame and took all the brackets off it to put on my 72'. The crew cab is actually pre-drilled for the leaf spring crossmember on the bottom. The first problem I have is the front frame horns are bent so have to take it to a shop first to get that fixed to get the crossmember to fit. I also will be cutting out the 2wd crossmember out of the 68 and welding in the 72 (so it will clear the differential in the front, although if the lift is high enough it could) I will be putting a custom D70 in the front as I will be running the 37" tires and want the bigger ring gear. Then the steering, 2wd is near the firewall and 4x4 is out by the core support... I want to do crossover with a 93-97 F350 steering box (have to see front axle in first). Then of course the transfer case, I have NP205 I will be marring to the C6... and bet there will be other stuff...fun fun..

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:35 pm

zakt wrote:doing a conversion on my 72' F350 crew (worth it being a crew). I found a donor 68 F250 4x4 frame and took all the brackets off it to put on my 72'. The crew cab is actually pre-drilled for the leaf spring crossmember on the bottom. The first problem I have is the front frame horns are bent so have to take it to a shop first to get that fixed to get the crossmember to fit. I also will be cutting out the 2wd crossmember out of the 68 and welding in the 72 (so it will clear the differential in the front, although if the lift is high enough it could) I will be putting a custom D70 in the front as I will be running the 37" tires and want the bigger ring gear. Then the steering, 2wd is near the firewall and 4x4 is out by the core support... I want to do crossover with a 93-97 F350 steering box (have to see front axle in first). Then of course the transfer case, I have NP205 I will be marring to the C6... and bet there will be other stuff...fun fun..

I was waiting for you to pop in

Please do a project thread with plenty of pictures when you start cutting and welding! That would be great, no one else has done this and posted the progress.

fordman · Post by **fordman** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:40 pm

basically the front axle needs clearance. so the front engine crossmember has to be removed. that means you will need another crossmember put further forward of the front axle. then you will also have to box the frame from that crossmember back to the radius arm brackets. then you will need motor mounts. as well as the coil and spring buckets. or if you are doing a f250 spring buckets only.

zakt · Post by **zakt** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:31 pm

leaf spring hangers on the 250,350... are the 1/2 ton 4x4 coil spring then 67-72?

fordman · Post by **fordman** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:17 am

yes the f100 d44 on mine is coil springs.

Thunderfoot · Post by **Thunderfoot** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:04 pm

On the show "Truck U" they did this to a 71 or 72 crew cab... I looked at their website but they don't have that episode listed...

It showed how they added the front cross member for the springs, cut the cross member under the engine a bit to clear the diff, mounted the steering, etc... It wasn't to bad but as shows go there were a few blanks here and there...

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:59 pm

Thunderfoot wrote:On the show "Truck U" they did this to a 71 or 72 crew cab... I looked at their website but they don't have that episode listed... It showed how they added the front cross member for the springs, cut the cross member under the engine a bit to clear the diff, mounted the steering, etc... It wasn't to bad but as shows go there were a few blanks here and there...

Was that episode qiute a while ago? I think i remember hearing about it several months ago. I'd love to see pics of the progress of someone who has done this but it seems only a few people have ever done it.
I think I'd rather run coil springs up front as well.

71fordkid · Post by **71fordkid** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:20 pm

so all that has to be done is

cut the engine crossmember out
add a crossmember on the front by the rad
all the steering, t case, and front axle
and box the frame in?

well crap, if its that easy screw doin a body swap.

Redcap · Post by **Redcap** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 5:43 am

71fordkid wrote:so all that has to be done is

cut the engine crossmember out
add a crossmember on the front by the rad
all the steering, t case, and front axle
and box the frame in?

well crap, if its that easy screw doin a body swap.

See how that works out for you.

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:12 am

71fordkid wrote:so all that has to be done is

cut the engine crossmember out
add a crossmember on the front by the rad
all the steering, t case, and front axle
and box the frame in?

well crap, if its that easy screw doin a body swap.

Piece by piece and it shouldn't be too bad, do you have a welder? what kind? Other fab tools?

cep62 · Post by **cep62** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:34 am

71fordkid wrote:if its that easy screw doin a body swap.

But you can do a body swap in a weekend with basic hand tools.

71fordkid wrote:cut the engine crossmember out
add a crossmember on the front by the rad
all the steering, t case, and front axle
and box the frame in?

That sounds like more work to me.

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