Has anyone tried to install the 4wd system from an 80's F150 on to a 73-79 2wd frame? I'm guessing it would work considering they are basically the same.

 

anythings possible..but i would rather spend the time and find the 70's 4x4 parts..there more durable but thats just me

 

well i agree, the 1973-1979 F-series 4x4's are more durable, but the OP has a 4x2 truck, and is more than willing to do the work, so i also wonder if its possible,

i know the other option is not a great one, and its been discussed here millions of times, it would require someone taking a 4x4 truck and cutting the front section, than splicing it onto the 4x2 frame, but then one has to ask why anyone would do that, and secondly, i really don't like frame splicing, it might be fine for a "off-road" only vehicle, but if its driving on the road, then i say never frame splice,

so hopefully someone has some knowledge on this, as i am interested, i guess its one of those "i wonder" things for me, so hopefully someone has some info,

i know when i found out there was no F-series 4x4's in the 1973-1979 generation with a 302w or a 351w, so i had to do some research to get my truck together, but i love it, the truck is unique and mine,

so i see no problem if a custom job is done right, also Frankly78, you might have to boldly go where no one has gone before, i kinda had to do that with my truck, only one other person has a similar setup like mine on here, and i didn't discover him till after i finished the research for mine, also eventually i discovered a local older fellow who did what i did, except i didn't know him till after i did mine!, his is similar, except he went with a old 3-speed C6 setup and a EFI 5.0, and he didn't have a good short box, so he used a 1980s Flareside bed, and blended styleside taillights from a '73-'79 into the stock 80s taillights,

-Brent

 

Not worth it in my opinion because the 80 and up are Twin Trac Beam(IFS) trucks. The 80-up frames are different. A lot of people with 80's trucks install 70's Dana 44's to get rid of the IFS. I would certainly use 76-79 parts (disc brake Dana 44).

 

Got any pics of that one by any chance?
its an option I've looked at doing if i can find the 80s bed..

G.

 

I know the 70's parts are stronger but what I'm lookin to do is for ride quality and to be different. The TTb from the 80's is very similar to the 2wd drive twin beam that was used from the 60's to 96.

 

There was one guy one here that posted some pictures of the exact same thing you are thinking about, https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...na-44-ttb.html

I personally really like the idea, it would take some fabrication but as long as your running stock size tires the TTB will be plenty strong. It just might be a future project on my rig, I've always wanted to plow with it and a 2wd truck just doesn't do real good with that.

Sam

 

Thanks Rusty, I checked out that thread and it was very informative and I think I'm going to do that to my truck. My next question is how dissimilar are the frames between the 80s 4x4 and 70s 2wd? Couldn't I just swap my body onto one and gain the fuel injection and OD trans depending on the year? And weren't the F250s leaf sprung with TTB or was that just the F350s?

 

the f250s should be leaf sprung..and dont get me wrong im not saying its a bad idea..i got the stock ifs in my 86 bronco still and its held up so far..and as far as the ride quality good shocks and tires did the trick for me...but it would be really cool to see this conversion be shure to post pics

the only thing is the ifs housing bolts to the engine crossmember in a couple spots so you may have to fab something up there as the 70's trucks wont have holes for it

 

I've heard of people swapping frames to get fuel injection, od trans etc, but it seems pretty involved, all the front body mounts would have to be re-worked. Besides, the 70s and earlier frames are much stronger. I'm not saying it isn't do-able (several guys on here are either doing it or have done it) but it would be a lot of work.

Sam

 

Looks like Ill be heading to the salvage yard to do some measuring. My best bet maybe to just buy an 80s truck and strip out what I want and keep my stronger frame. Ill post pics as soon as I start working on it.

 

The early 80's frames were very prone to cracking up front, especially around the steering box area. The F250 4X4's were TTB leaf sprung through '97. I would use a 91 and up F250 which has the Dana 50 TTB setup, The earlier ones we're Dana 44's.

 

Thanks ill keep an eye out for one of those.

 

Anyone have a suggestion on which engine? I'm leanin towards a 351w but I love the 300 six. The truck going to be driven on the road mostly but get mudded occasionally.

 

I have had both engines. The 300six is a superior engine offroad on a farm or driving around town. Out on the farm it is a joy to drive, it seems to find traction when my V-8 truck won't. It reminds me of a tractor, it pulls like the devil at low RPM but does so at it's own pace, about 750 to 2000 RPMs is where it likes to work. On the open road at higher speeds it is just adequate. I doesn't like the high RPMs, no passing cars at 70mph.

If your not into tractors you are probably going to like the 351w much better for the highway. It's a lot more flexible overall. It won't pull down low like the six but will do most every thing else pretty well. A good all around engine easy to hop-up.
Of course I am talking about stock engines with factory wheel sizes.