Alright, so i eventually want to swap my 77 f100 2wd to 4x4 and lift it, i know i know, ive thought about it a ton and im not selling to get a 4x4 and im not swapping bodies, im sentimental to it, so qucik question, if i buy a d44 out of a 79 f150 4x4, could i just swap it onto my truck, and put a lift kit on, before i switch out transmissions, get a t-case, all that gumbo mumbo to get the 4x4 working?

 

well i realize it isnt such a quick question, but the reason i ask is because its my dd and since im in high school i cant have much downtime, so i would get the 4x4 going part by part as i had freetime, just wondering if the swap in would be fairly easy or not, and if i could lift it before worrying about the 4x4 components

 

Plan on a lot of downtime. Save yourself a lot of time, money and frustration and buy a factory 4x4 and drive both

 

X2, the frame is different from the firewall forward on 4WD. The D44 isn't going to just "bolt in" in a weekend. There's a lot of welding and fab work involved in the swap.
It also uses a different steering system.
Plan on a lot of down time.

 

how much fab would be needed to hook up the axle alone, not all the 4x4 components

 

if i got the d44 hooked up and in, how much trouble would i be in, putting in a t-case, i know id have to swap transmission, but would putting in the t-case include tons of fab as well?

 

The crossmember under the engine needs to be cut out, spring mounts need to be fabricated, a new front crossmember needs to be installed, new engine mount towers.
The steering on a 4WD mounts ahead of the axle outboard of the frame rail.
This is NOT a simple swap, it can and has been done many, many times BUT it is not for the novice fabricator. It's a swap best left to someone with a lot of experience in welding and fabrication.
I'm not trying to "rain on your parade", I just want you to realize what's involved. It would be a shame to start and get in over your head then let the project sit and eventually get hauled away for scrap or sold for parts or for next to nothing.

 

And don't forget, the front and rear axle ratios must match.

What type of rear axle does the 1977 F100 2WD have now, Ford 9" or Dana 44?

What is its axle ratio?

Mike: There are no towers (stands/perches) or front crossmember on 4WD's of this vintage. The R/L engine supports bolt to the inner frame rails.

 

well i wouldn't do it mysself, i have a family friend that owns a 4x4 shop in town, i could take it to, he has worked on these trucks for forever, i was just wondering if it was something i could do on my own (I reckon not) i guess if its going to take so much fab, i could just take it to hiom while im on christmas break (two weeks) you think this is enough time for him to do this, i just want to have a little background knowledge, before i bring the subject up to him

oh and i don't know what the ratios are

 

Yeah Bill, bad choice of terms on my part. When you remove the crossmember, you remove the mounting points for the 2WD engine mounts so you have to fabricate mounting points for the 4WD mounts.

 

"Quick question" will have multiple answers, will run several pages.

Some people that get involved in a swap like this quickly loose interest when they realize what the cost factors are, plus all the labor involved.

The parts are piled in the bed, the truck sits and sooner or later is hauled away to Valhalla.

OP lives in FL. Mike, how many people in FL want or have any use for 4WD?

 

dang, so the odds don't seem very good for me, would my best bet just go consult the guy i'm talking about that i would take my truck to? then decide wether i think itd be a good idea??

 

If your friend is experienced in this type of conversion then yes it can be done in two weeks but it is a lot of work (read $$$). If he only works on run of the mill 4X4's and hasn't done this type of conversion I would hesitate to say it can be done in your two week time frame.
Here is what a 4WD frame looks like. Note, in the picture this frame has a modified power steering system. Stock, from the factory, the steering box is about the same for/aft location but is outside the frame rail.

 

Read this: 1979 Ford F-150 4x4 & Off Road Project Truck - 4Wheel & Off-Road

 

thanks for the help!! will keep ya guys posted