4WD Conversion

[sleepur606]

Ok, both me and one of my teachers have a problem: we have 2 wheel drive trucks and need/want 4 wheel drive.

 

I've got a 2002 2500HD and I've heard that the frames are the same between the two so if I could find a frontend and transfer it, I might be set.

 

He's got a 2000 1500 and I'm not sure about the frames or any of the other stuff.

 

Anyone have any suggestions or tried this/seend this done before? Also, does anyone know if an electronic t-case could be used behind something like a Gear Vendors overdrive?

 

Thanks

[ZZebes]

dont even try to do the conversion, you will spend more time fixin it and addin parts every week that it would be cheaper in the long run to just buy a new truck. And, the list of parts to do it is pages long, including a new transmission and front and rear driveshafts, ALL of the electronics to run it and etc etc etc. Just buy a new truck

[sleepur606]

Ok, not really lookin' for people tellin' me not to do it. I've already gone through this when I first got my truck, I talked to a parts guy and he said the same thing.

Anyway, I want to know if it's been done and if anyone's got experience. Even if it's just the solid axle conversion, what did it take to get it done and how hard was it? Done at home or did you take it somewhere?

Also, has anyone heard of a decent coilover conversion for the 3/4 ton trucks? I've seen the Rock Crawler and Fabtech pieces, the Rock Crawler honestly looks like a real bad idea. Or what about coilovers on a solid axle like the stock Ford F350s are?

Thanks

[sc4808]

I did it a few years ago and I agree with David, go and buy a new truck or the same year as yours except 4x4.

 

The only exception to this is if you plan to do a solid front axle, then its expensive even if you have a 4x4 to begin with. Keep in mind that if you go the solid front axle route, I am pretty sure the least amout of lift you can go with is around 6" to clear the crossmember. You will need a new transmission, T-case and driveshafts and of course the front axle which should be a D60 for a 3/4 ton. I'm pretty sure you need a Ford D60 to get the Diff on the correct side for the transfer case output. If you use an electric shift transfer case you will need the harness and the PCM from a 4x4 along with the dash switches, easier to use a manual shift case and cut the floorboard. On the one I did I had to put a small body lift as well because the floorpan on the 2x4's is a little different than the 4x4's and the transfer case will hit with no body lift. As far as getting the front axle under there, there are kits but require fabrication tools and experience. Most people that I have talked to about doing the SAS tell me that they ended up spending around 6K to 7K before it was completed.

[drumset5994]

Welcome to hell.

 

Grab a wrench.

 

[Combatvet0311]

Im contemplating on going this route too. That news about the ford D60 was disappointing as I have D60s off the heavy duty military pickups going through my fathers hands at a rate of about 4 a weeks.(He restores and resells them to farmers and other) so I had the axle pinned down but if I need a ford then I will have to go else where. Sleeper, perhaps it'd be better off, atleast this was the way I may go, to just purchase a rolled or crashed 4wd and do some swapping. I already have so much put into my truck that it would be a bigger loss to buy a new truck (cowl hood, 7" lift, exhaust, intake, audio) it would be different if the lot I found a truck on would let me borrow the new one for a week so i could swap the stuff off my old and onto my new before trading it in and then return the old without the add-ons but I dont think so. Anyways..you can pick up a salvage title for 3-4 grand and just take your time to swap things like engine and drivetrain....then maybe sell parts you dont need on ebay and make up some of the lost money.

[chud53]

My 1976 gmc jimmy is a 2x4 would the conversion be the same cost and difficult wise that it would just be pointless to make it a 4x4 or would it be something that is plausible??? Keep in mind the truck DOES NOT EVEN RUN, so i plan on rebuilding it COMPLETELY, so could i add turning it into a 4x4 to the list of things to do, such as a new motor, radiator, transmission, interior, exterior, i mean all it takes is money right???? lol

[Combatvet0311]

Ahh the grand ole days...1976 they didn't know what computers were!!! It will be 100x's easier, well not really, if you found a donor truck with all the stuff you want then it'd be a simple swap over, if you plan on swapping out the engine you might even find a donor engine attached to a 4x4 transmission and transfer case at a local slavage yard you can build up. Parts should be much cheaper as well, I dont see how it'd be too hard to find a rused out 76 or similar year pick-up for more then a couple hundred, maybe as much as a grand or so. No electric 4wd to give you harness trouble, just a matter of minor cutting to run the levers through the floor pan.

[chud53]

ah alright sweet, thanks for the info, sorry for thread jacking sleepur

[IDGBZ71]

My friend has a full size chevy conversion van converted to 4x4 it has a solid axle up front sitting on 33's not real sure what he's using for a transfer case