On the one hand, I have my 2000 F250 reg cab 4x4, 5.4L, 5spd, manual hubs, w/250k mi.in my driveway; bed & body mounts shot, fenders, rockers shot, too much cancer to deal with and then my 2nd engine (1st was the piston slap debacle) craps the bed.
On the other hand, I can get a 2000 F250, reg cab, 2WD, auto, same 5.4L with a good body& bed and under 100k miles,runs and looks good. CHEAP.

What do you all think of putting my front end, tranny and transfer into the 2wd truck? Would it be a bolt it up swap or will I have to weld/change mounts, cut holes for the shifters, change pedal mounts in the cab etc? I'll have to change the steering box too right? Of course all the tie rods and such.
Understand, I love my 250, want to be buried it it because I've never been in a hole it couldn't get me out of. Giving some of it a new life is attractive.
So, what does the collective think?

 

The suspension parts will swap. The computer won't like a different transmission (auto vs man). If you have manual transfer case that will be ok, but you won't have dash lights for 4x4.

Swap just transfer case along with driveshafts and both front and rear suspension.

 

swap the bodies/beds. and fix what needed on drivetrain.

 

Lift the radiator cap and drive a new truck under said cap. Problem solved. LOL

 

I wondered about the PCM, and did think about the body swap; thing is my chassis is crustier than the 2wd, mostly because of the low miles and light use on the 2wd. My 4wd has worked hard.
I would prefer the man trans also, oldschool that way- my current 2000 250 I bought new in '99, replacing an '87 , replacing a '79 all bought new, all manual trans and manual hubs, set in my ways. Didn't buy a new one because I couldn't get it set up manual like I wanted.
So, do you think I could swap the instrument cluster and PCM and expect it to work? Or will the PCM go nuts and give up? I'm talking a very basic truck in both cases- no options on either, not even A/C, manual everything.
Also, are there any recommended sites/blogs that have chronicled a swap like this?. I looked around a little but most just say don't bother, too costly but they also weren't in possession of two trucks identical but for the drivetrain.

 

if you can find an answer for the computer issues...

everything else is nuts/bolts/brackets/maybe welding...

49 years of driving.. only 2 had automatics.. my first car and this Truck. and Ford stopped offering manuals for these a few years ago.


retired auto mechanic.

 

Ha-ha.
A new truck isn't an option; even if I had the cash (I refuse to mortgage a vehicle), I wouldn't buy one. Last time I went to a dealership, I could not order a truck with a vinyl interior(easy cleaning, I get in a lot of mud and sand) no air (don't care for it, never turn it on in my Grand Cherokee), no manual trans or manual lock out hubs available, and couldn't get a sliding rear window ( I keep a cap on the bed most of the time) and got looked at like I'd grown an exxtra head when I refused to look at anything that wasn't regular cab. Or, basically, take a loaded soccer mom xtra cab shortbed cushmobile off the lot or don't bother us.
Got that from two dealers in the area. Sux. Decided to keep my 2000

I'm surprised that no one here has ever done a front end & tranny/transfer swap. And I can't find a lot of info on transferring a PCM either

 

It isn't "just" swapping the PCM. The wiring harness is different for a manual vs auto, plus the manual transfer case dash lights, both wiring and com programming.
It can all be done, but you will want ttheo find shop manuals to have the pin connections to the PCM.

 

The trans tunnel is different. There have been several that have added 4wd and went from auto to manual in the diesel community. Probably not to many with the 5.4. Honestly if you moved the wiring harness drilled some holes and rebuilt the trans tunnel it should be a fairly straightforward swap. I personally would opt for the 2005+ front axle as it is coild sprung rides better and turns tighter. Might also be easier since the 2wd already incorporates coils.

 

Good info from both, thanks!
I have been thinking about using my instrument cluster so I had all the right indicators but thought (hoped?) that the harness would have the same connectors. I was already warned that the 2WD auto PCM wouldn't "like" the manual trans & transfer.

I really need to get the other truck here to do the side by side comparison; I didn't think the body tunnel would be different, just the mounts and cross members. And that's good info about the later front end- my '87 F250 LD had the independant front axels also and it was a better ride. Now I wonder if the front driveshaft would be the same.