Ok so I have been doing alot of studing on this over the winter and I have come to the conclusion I want to make my truck into a fourwheel drive. Right now I have a 1978 f250 super cab with a 400m and Borg Warner 4 speed.
I guess what I would like to know is would a transfer case out of a 1978 F250 automatic with a 351m bolt to my standard
Its probably a dumb question but it doesnt hurt to ask
Thanks for any input

 

I'm pretty sure you have to change the tailshaft to the 4x4 one to make it work.

 

Here are some words on your chore ahead to consider from F350.....

There is nothing nuts and bolts about a 4wd conversion. Having preformed several myself, there is not a thing that is bolt on or swappable.
The engine cross members are entirely different, and this means that if an un molested truck is what you are after, it will be impossible to create one with a 2wd platform.
The 2wd will have to be lifted quite a way to clear the front diff.
2wd trucks are coil sprung and most F250 4wd's are leaf sprung. None of the suspension items are even close to the same, so you will be fabricating or modifying some original 4wd stuff to work.
Steering systems are entirely different as well, so you will be upgrading that too.
My last conversion with leafs ran me several thousand dollars, and that was with the work that I performed for free.
The difference in sale values between a 4wd and 2wd are minimal, and the 4wd conversion is hardly justifiable.
How far away are you looking? I pick up F250 4x4's for reasonable money. Consider the cost of shipping, and then consider buying a west coast truck with no rust, and I can guarantee that you will be time and money ahead.
Well the frames are similar, with a few exceptions. The frame horns are slightly different, and the frame widths aft of the cab ar different from 73 to 77 trucks. The frame rise is also slightly different, but this is not a show stopper and does not make much difference one the fabrication begins.
Not that the important question is whether or not you will be using a coils springs or a leaf spring. It is possible to install a 78/9 radius arm and suspension. Not a big deal really, and with a standard cab this is reasonable. Not quite as easy with a super cab and or crew cab.
The 2wd frames are not cut for the shackle pivot, and they do not have the provisions for a spring hanger, but again, this is not a deal breaker. Installing a pivot is just a tedious process. Accuracy is key, but I am not telling you anything that you do not already know.
Ok, so next is the transfer case. You have two choices, install a married case, and this requires the proper transmission. Might find some difficulty making or modifying an output shaft to accommodate the early C6 and a married transfer case. So then the next option is to find a divorced transfer case, and install this. You will have to make up a cross member, but then you will have to get creative with the shifter linkage. See the 4wd trans will have an adapter or tailshaft with a pivot for a typical 205 shifter.
Fabrication is the only limiting factor here.
Next and final factor will be the speedo. See your speedo works from the trans, so that being the case, you will have to get a speed reference form the t-case. If you do not, the speedo will read twice as fast when you put the case in low range.

As mentioned the steering box will have to be relocated, and the truck will require some lift. That engine crossmember has limited clearance so you will be looking at some lift to even clear it. The other option would be to remove it and replace it with a tubular unit.

This is a heck of a project. Not unreasonable, but a project none the less.
2500 bucks for a 2wd might get expensive. I paid 1300 bucks for a 4wd 75 last year, and it was already 4wd with 38" tires, and a strong 460, A/c, and plenty of goodies. I have made these conversions, and can tell you that it is a chore.

 

Dagg gone you made a pretty extensive list... I did know about most of what you said because i do try and read up on as much of it as possible before asking or bothering any of you guys.
And as far as the conversion goes my neighbor is really big into these trucks and I have been talking to him and he siad when he does a conversion he simply cuts the two wheel drive frame and 4wd drive frames then rewelds the the 4wd front to the two wheel drive frame and really that seems some what simpler than fabricating all the parts like hangers and making a ton of small welds.....too me two or three big welds seems like an easier course of action.
I know his method is different than probably most of your guys and i wouldn't even consider it if he hadnt done it on several truck with great sucess.

 

OK. I'm not even going to comment on this one.

 

What? Afraid to cut the frame in half? It happens everyday in the street rod world. When done properly, there's no problem. I went the other way. I just used the WHOLE frame under my truck. Actually, I'm curious why that other guy didn't do that. The vin is on the front half of the frame, so you don't gain anything by trying to keep the rear half of the frame. (unless the donor was hit really hard in the rear)

 

I agree. I have done several cab swaps, and they have been to resurect a 4x4 with a 2wd cab and sheet metal. I think that a cab and sheet metal would be way faster to swap than cutting and rewelding and fish plating. I did the last one 7 or 8 months ago in a weekend, pull the old cab, put back window in new cab, put cab on frame, bolt on, bolt on front clip and fenders, and off and away It is more involved than that, but I didn't even pull the doors or the front clip, I unbolted the frt clip from the firewall and leaned it foreward out of the way then bolted it back to the new cab.

 

I buy mine already 4x4 or swap the complete good 2wd body onto a 4x4 running gear, alot easier IMO.

You agree Alan? No taking about what you are doing as we speak....lol.

 

If done properly, grafting a front 4x4 frame section onto a 2wd frame works just fine, is faster, and with a he** of a lot less fab work and mix-n-match parts.
On the older trucks, nobody gives a rat's anus about vin numbers as long as you have some kind of clear title. I've got 5 dentsides and 5 titles.....it's eenie, meeenie, minee, mo as to which one(s) I will use.....