4WD to 2WD conversion...is it out of the question?

[IronCoffin73]

Wondering how difficult it would be to convert my 73 4x4 into a 2wd setup fith F350 King pins. Are the coil buckets in the same location? Is the steering completely different? Is the frame the same width? Probably wont do this anytime soon but im wondering if dreaming about more wheel travel is even worth dreaming about haha

[fordman]

the steering is completely different. the easy way to do that conversion would be to remove the frotn driveshaft. and leave it at that. goign to 2wd. would be a hugh boat load of work. and welding in a crossmember. or just get a 2wd frame and use that.

[averagef250]

F100 or 250?

[IronCoffin73]

I had a feeling the steering would be the biggest issue. I know you can pull decent wheel travel with a detatched front axle on leaf springs...I dunno if it is possible on our setup. I guess some longer shocks and possibly extended radius arms and a modified trac bar.


Its an F100

[1971ford]

Are you talking about having long travel while keeping the solid axle? Or are you talking about ditching the solid axle?

You can have decent travel with a functional solid axle. You're best bet would be to extend the radius arms, build a decent engine cage and pick up some coilovers off the classifieds. Look at Don Moss's 78/79 bronco, he is the class 3 baja 100 champion and he has a functional solid axle up front. Kinda lucky that Don lives right by me

Don doesn't have the luxury of IFS in the desert but he does have the luxury of 4x4 in the silt beds and the cool factor of a solid axle up front.


I would leave the 4x4 functional, but if you want to convert the truck to 2wd then i'd ditch the solid axle completely (otherwise, why not run 4x4?) and go to I-beams. You could use coils still, but trust me, coils arn't that great in the desert... If you can afford it (would also get rid of any confusion as to re-using the 4x4 coil buckets, and mounting longer shocks)then scrap the coil buckets and run an engine cage with coilovers..

On my other computer i have pictures of a f100 4x4 with mid-travel, it's a chase truck, and looked pretty well built. It was at one of the desert races last year.

[IronCoffin73]

I was talking about ditching the axle at first. I dont have any tools tho which is the main reason throwing on some extended beams and custom radius arms would be a problem. I was aware you could pull decent travel with the solid but wasnt really aware it could be race worthy. Thats pretty sweet. Dos Moss is a familiar name to me, just never saw pics of his truck. Living in the land of trucks im pretty familiar with desert. I used to have a Camburg built Tacoma and now have a toyota mini with total chaos. I just have always loved the fullsize old school rigs since I got into this stuff waaaay back in 97. Things were different then which is why I always feel like I cant get coilovers less than like $1500. I gotta remember this is the new school where FOAs make it actually possible to build a decent truck without bein rich haha. You have more pics of Don's truck? I see C/O's, Bypasses, trussed axle(D44?), beefier panhard, Im assuming some extended heimed radius arms. Is the setup really that simple? I am schooled in IFS not solid axles haha.


BTW after spending like 5 hours reading every little bit of your build on desertrangers my love for these trucks has increased exponentially. Old school fords have now replaced ford lighting prerunners for top spot in coolness for me!

Edit* Just found the west coast broncos site!

[1971ford]

After figuring in the beefier parts, extended radius arms, bypasses, etc., it's still pretty simple. The beefier parts don't take too much thought, just a matter of replicating the part in a much beefier way. For example the panhard you would just junk that and re-make it out of .250 walled 4130 or DOM on a decent sized heim.
The bypasses arn't necessary, they just make it a little smoother.

I've never been to the west coast bronco site, just class3racing and gofastbroncos. I know Don Moss is on class3racing, not sure about gofastbroncos. but there will be pictures of his bronco on both for sure

I think your truck with a functional mid/long travel front axle would be way cool!

[1971ford]

After figuring in the beefier parts, extended radius arms, bypasses, etc., it's still pretty simple. The beefier parts don't take too much thought, just a matter of replicating the part in a much beefier way. For example the panhard you would just junk that and re-make it out of .250 walled 4130 or DOM on a decent sized heim.
The bypasses arn't necessary, they just make it a little smoother.

I've never been to the west coast bronco site, just class3racing and gofastbroncos. I know Don Moss is on class3racing, not sure about gofastbroncos. but there will be pictures of his bronco on both for sure

I think your truck with a functional mid/long travel front axle would be way cool!

[IronCoffin73]

Me too, I would love it. Im not as crazy as I was when I was younger so I dont need a ton of travel. Just enough to actually be able to have fun in ocotillo or glamis. My truck huckin days are over I think til I get a real job to support breaking my truck all the time haha. I would love to see the pics of the chase truck you were talking about when you get to your othert computer

west coast broncos is Moss's shop site.