I know this has been talked about a lot.

I am considering converting my 66 2wd short wide to a 4wd. I can't find short 77-79 wheelbase 4wd pickups around here. I have found longs and bronco's but nothing short. However, I was offered a good deal on a 1980 short 4wd roller. Question is how difficult would it be to use the '80 and put my body on it? Besides the obvious front suspension differences does anyone know the difference between the '79 and '80 frame. Other option is to lengthen the bronco or shorten the lwb trucks?

S

 

Personally, I would shorten a 70's model to make it fit. That way you get the solid front end, a 9 inch rear, a good t case ect. Are you wanting to retain your engine and tranny, or go with the donors?

 

Thanks Andrew.

I have an EFI 5.0/AOD I am putting in my 66, its actually already in it. I was building a little street truck but I have recently sold my Jeep and bought a Ram SRT10, so I want another 4x4 for hunting and fishing. Are the towers to mount the 5.0 in my 66 2x4 the same as would be used on the 79 4x4 frame?

S

 

sounds like a cool project. Do you want to keep the AOD that you have already? If so, you'll have to run a divorced transfer case. As for the towers, I would doubt that they're the same, but I've never messed with anything that old before, so I'm really not sure. On the other hand, getting a set of towers to work with 302 shouldn't be an issue with the 79.

 

Andrew,

The towers I'm using are from a 79 2wd, bolted right on to the 66 frame. I am not married to the AOD, I have found an AOD with a transfer case attached. But a c6 and married transfer case would work fine for what I want to do. Although I like the idea of a divorced case as I can use what I have already done. Any idea how difficult it would be to use my car AOD and mate it to a divorced case?

S

 

If the towers are from a 79, then I see no issue in them working on the 4wd frame.
If you had a divorced case, and a jackshaft it would just be an issue of making the crossmember/mounts. Is the aod a slip yoke or a fixed yoke? been a while since I looked at one. You might even be able to steal a crossmember/mounts out of a highboy or something that had a divorced case and make it work.

 

I agree on the towers. My AOD is from a car and therefore is a slip yoke, long shaft. My concern with running this tranny with a divorced case is the length and where the shifter for the case would end up being.

 

Your right, that thought was in the back of my head. You might have to do something interesting with the shifter, be it a cable shift or some linkages. It almost might be to your advantage just for the ease of the swap to find a c6 and t case. That way its all stock parts, so if something breaks it wont be a pain to find replacements.

 

that's right. I want to be able to go to the nearest napa or autozone for parts.

 

So I would say your ultimate find would be a 78-79 f series, with a small block c6 with a blown motor. Then you would be set. Anything done to the 302? cam or anything?

 

no, stock. Want reliability as it will be my daily driver once done. Did put on a set of mustang shorty headers and an air pump eliminator pulley so I can even use the stock length belt. Have hydro boost for the truck if I get this thing converted over. Added pwr steering and tilt also. Relocated the tank out of the cab.

 

actually, the tank is still in the cab. I am planning on using the towncar tank in the front of the bed, under the hard cover, then taking the tank out of the cab.

 

a divorced case in a short bed will make you rear shaft wicked short, a 66 body is a bolt on to a 79 chassis, except your bed will be around 1 1/2 farther back giving you a bit more room between cab and box so i would take a 79 long bed frame and shorten it, also i would go married case instead of divorced unless you want to make it a long bed

 

thanks Ozzy. Yeah that will be the best thing to do. Looks like you have some pretty cool trucks and projects. not even going to ask about the "double rubber specialist" thing. but would like to see pics on the 57 with the powerstroke.

S

 

If it was my 1966 with a 302/tranny already installed, I would buy a junker 4x4 F-250 with front leaf springs and install everything from the steering box (since your pitman arm probably faces backwards on a 2x4) forward on the 1966.

You just have to make sure your rear hangers are the correct length.