Long time listener, first time caller.

Ok. Gonna buy a 72 crew cab long bed today super excited...
My question is an easy question for all you Ford gewrews on here.

How easy is it to convert this pickup form 2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive.... Is it as simple as finding a 4x4 frame and using the spring perches ect.... And weldind/riviting them onto the existing 2 wheel frame.... Or are they different to the point it can't be done. Tell me what you know boys, IDE sure appreciate it.

Got a 78 HP 60 for the front.... Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank u ....

 

This comes up a lot. Probably the easiest way is to find a 4X4 donor, either rolling chassis or complete truck, and swap the body over. Doing it this way allows you to use a Dentside ('73-'79) as your donor and get the benefits of power steering without having to swap it in as well as other upgrades from the later model trucks. Cab is a direct bolt-on swap, bed fits with relatively easy modifications.

If you want to convert your existing 2WD chassis, it's considerably more difficult and requires a lot of fabrication up front...removing all the suspension components, installing leaf springs in place of the coils, removing the crossmember and fabbing a new one and relocating it further forward (diff will hit the 2WD crossmember unless you go for about 6" or more of lift) fabbing engine mounts since the engine perches bolt to the corssmember on a 2WD and to the frame on a 4X4, relocating the steering box since it bolts to the inside of the frame behind the axle on a 2WD and to the outside of the frame (generally) ahead of the axle on a 4X4...the list goes on. Good fabrication and welding skills are generally needed to convert a 2WD frame to 4X4. I believe there are quite a few threads in this forum on this very same subject...perhaps I need to make a sticky about it as I did for the power steering conversion.

 

Thank u for the input.... And a sticky couldnt hurt. I have been directed to a few threads from a cupple guys already. And it has helpped a lot. Welding fab ect.... Is not an issue. But I will take it into consideration for sue. So my next question while I have ya here is. Is any 4 wheel drive 73-79 the same. So let's say I find a reg cab long bed in that era. Would I be able to cut the front portion of the frame and weld it on the two wheel drive frame with gusets, support ect... That would work correct???

 

here is the cummins conversion i just finished in my toyota





hers the truck i picked up yesterday





this truck is super clean there is a fist size rust spot in both front fenders and a dent in the door you can see..... everything else is flawless... doors cab corners bed floor everything spotless... ill take better ones tonight. the truck came out of calliforina.. been in utah for a few years..

 

Damn that thing barely fits on that trailer lol. Oh and since you already did one cummins swap pull off another but add two more cylinders.

 

My thoughts exactly. I have all the goodies already. Storm block 215 pump no turbo yet nv4500 np 241 78 HP kp 60. And a 14 bolt rear. Now I got the truck. It's on like donkey Kong. But I have never been a Ford guy. This is my first.