I'm looking to take my cab and box off and replace them with much better condition ones and upgrade to a lariat cab... and possibly a duel tank just for ****s lol.

I was wondering if I should add in those extra few bucks, while I've got everything off the truck except the engine and tranny, if I should change to a 4x4 Chasis and add in a transfer case.

Just wondering If I could add in a few things while the body is completely off the frame to save myself some time in the future if I ever want to come back and do a 4x4 conversion.

Anyone have any insight into a 4x4 conversion? I've got no idea where I'd start except by asking questions on what has to be done....

Here's what I'm working with... Don't know if any of this stuff can work with 4x4 setup...

72-76 Mercury Cougar 351 Windsor (Stock)
72-76 Mercury Cougar Automatic FMX 3-Speed transmission (Stock & needs rebuild)
2WD Chasis (Currently)
No idea what my axels are... five bolt... lol (no other info atm)
No 4x4 in the truck right now (would need to cut holes in the cab)

I have access to a 4x4 frame and I could easily find a good transfer case (NP205).

This truck won't be used for mudding or climbing steep hills, but a good 4x4 is always needed for those muddy occasions and the 6 months of 2-foot-deep-winter-snow I get around in my parts.

Any advice?

 

What has to be done? ALOT. I'll try and answer your question:.....Axles, front and rear drive shafts, steering gear,steering shaft, tie rods, drag link, track bar and mount, and pitman arm, coil springs, coil spring buckets, shock mounts. Brake lines and hoses, radius arms, radius arm brackets. T-case, shifters, crossmembers, rear sump oil pan and pick-up... plus re-route the exhaust.

Given the cost of these rigs, it's generally not worth the time and effort in my opinion to do a 4WD conversion. Better to start off with a 4x4 and go from there.

 

Wow.. That's a big friggen "HELLZ NO!" from my end of the line... Thanks for all the info.. It's definitely not worth it lol... I don't even know what half of those parts look like, let alone their names and what they do lol!

So yeah... if I got my hands on a decent 4x4 truck, and popped my engine and tranny into it, would that be enough? Or is there more to it than that?

I'm guessing there is because of my tranny (FMX) and what not...

 

Yeah man.. that's a ton of work, re-engineering, and stuff for very little gain. You'll spend 5x the time configuring to a 4x4 than simply addressing the same things with a new-to-you 4x4.

The engine yes but the FMX no. It'd still take some mods to the FMX mated to a New Process T-case. That'd be a really weird configuration. The FMX is generally unloved and there's little if any aftermarket support for it. Even basic rebuild kits cost more than the C4 or C6 kits.

If you're thinking about going to a 351W in a 4x4, then better to let you know now that you'll likely be using stock manifolds or 351W shorties cuz the 351W was never offered in Dentside 4x4s.

I'd spend this winter in the Great White North (BRRRR!) learning how to weld... That's what I did a couple of winters ago... watch, learn, do. A world of possibilities really open up and it's a skill that will last you a lifetime.

 

Well, if you want to learn what fits what and what does not. Make 1000 trips to the part store and return more than half of what you thought would fit. I say go for it.

After you run into more having to "make it fit" than you can stand...you and I will be best friends and live next door to each other in the local nut hut.

You know, I love puzzles...my wife gets me a new one every Xmas and now I have the granddaddy of them all. A frame up 4x4 conversion and lets throw in a 460 and dana 60 front axle just for added fun.

No, really I'm having a blast most days but my project is going to be a 2 year project.

 

Maybe it's just best off if I stay with a 2WD instead of a 4x4 anyways then... I mean... I like the stuff I've got in my truck, and I'm not looking to get into a different engine or transmission unless I literally have to cause i cracked or tore it out of the vehicle cause I drove it too hard...

So thanks for the advice guys, but 2WD it is I guess... and it's not like I'm going to be mudding with this truck, and it most likely won't see too much snow in the winter anyways (city driving).

Guess I'll just do a frame-off with what I have and be happy. Like Sheryl Crow says "It's not having what you want... It's wanting what you've got"

Thanks again for the advice.

 

I look at it this whole thing a little bit differently... If you are looking to convert to 4x4 your best bet is to find a body rotted donor truck somewhere and start your resto there. You can get the frame and running gear put together and up to par at your own pace without having your truck sit around completely tore down. Finding an auto and t-case for your Windsor is simple. When you are done with the frame, start swapping your body over. You'll have to cut your floor for the t-case shifter obviously but that is no big deal.

If you want 4x4, then I say go for it... The 4 wheel systems in these trucks is as simple as it gets. You will love the results. If I was closer to you I would be more than willing to help you out. I have LOTS of parts that would work great for you.

 

Well, thanks for the vote of confidence. That sort of chances my ideas of having 4x4. And it would be great to get an extra set of hands every now and then to help me out with my 4x4 woes.

There is only one little problem with that plan, although I do love it. I only have room for one vehicle right now. Having 2 vehicles is like shovelling **** without the shovel on my side of the idea.

However, I'm sure I could figure things out on my own with a little guidance from FTE and everyone else in my community.

I'd also like to add that if I need parts, since you have some that you're willing to get rid of, free or not, I wouldn't mind getting them off of you if I need them. If I need parts in my neck of the woods, I have to buy whole T-cases.

Paying for shipping or not, I'd like to take parts off your hands if I can get them for a decent price and shipping won't cost me my first born child (as long as you're willing to ship them to me).

It'd be appreciated if I could keep my confidence level up by FTEer's like yourself so that I can struggle through having my first 4x4 truck that I made my own.

And 4x4 does sound great (cause I know it works wonders in the snow and on ice). It wouldn't hurt to have a 4x4 around for when I start hauling things like trailers and various other pull-type objects in my near future.

Any pointers on what kind of rust-bucket I should look for? NP203, NP205, Gear Ratio? Model of truck? Year? Mileage?

I'm sure all of this matters in some shape or form, but as I already said... I'm a little lost.