Ok guys, my truck is bringing up some things that all relate to the fact that my truck is a cab and chassis truck. I'm going to have to convert it to 4x4 eventually without burning a hole in my pocket. To convert it to 4x4, I'll have to get a tail piece and different output shaft for the tranny so I can mount the transfer case. $$$$$$ If I do that, I'll have to either get a new custom drive shaft made, or slide the rear axle forward and than find a standard drive shaft.(The axle on Cab and Chassis trucks is on dead center of the leaf springs unlike the standard f350 pickups)This would involve modifying the leaf springs. I could find a used tranny with all the 4x4 parts. I also don't know if my tranny will last much longer. I have to at least get a transfer case on the truck before I can drive it. The speedometer won't work without a transfer case. Where can I find 4x4 components? I'm open to any advice.

 

Did you forget you need a front axle and front driveshaft to be 4x4???

Different front axle means different front suspension....

Have you actually done your homework on this swap? Its NOT AS EASY AS YOU THINK!!! This is speaking from experience btw.

I have no idea what the wheelbase on cab and chassis trucks are compared to pickups (obviously could be much longer on cab and chassis...) but I'm guessing you'll need a custom driveshaft made anyways.

Why do you "have" to convert to 4x4?

Also what transmission do you have? Its not always as easy as swapping a tail piece and output shaft.

4x4 components can be found all over the place. Dealership can get most of them, for a big price... junkyard is a better bet.

My advice? Look for a 4x4 truck that will suit your needs and buy that truck and then sell yours.

 

No, I ain't forgot about the front. Me and my brother are working together to plan how we are going to do this. Yes, I have done my homework. The wheelbase on the cab and chassis is longer than a normal pickup. It has a ZF5 in it. There is no port for the speedometer. The speedometer is mechanical. The only way to make it work is to find the right transfer case that has a speedometer port. That is why I HAVE to have 4x4. No, I ain't selling my truck. Got it for $1700 and don't have enough money to get any other truck. I'm sticking with this truck.

 

Theres a few ways to do this, if all you are after is speedometer... i know there are easier ways to do it. If you want a 4x4 buy a transmission and t-case, find a D60 and start puttin stuff together. The typical front driveshaft "should" work. Your current rear will work just needs shortened and balaced, lots cheaper than re-tubing.

 

For $100 put a dash mount gps in it that tells you your speed instead.

 

If you are going to convert, easy way to install front axle might be to buy a shackle reversal kit.
From another topic

"You can ONLY use the RSK if using a D60.

There is NO DIFFERENCE from 80-91 on the 4wd F250/F250 frame horns. But if you can do some MILD fabercation. you can save about $125 by buying SKY manufacturing's RSK and just supply some metal to box the frame. 92-97 F-250/F-350 front shackle reversal - Sky's Off-road Design They only list one for 92-97 but are the same thing, you just need to box the frame where it bolts in. ORUs is the same thing but they give you the material to box the frame on the 80-91 trucks "<!-- / message -->

You would just need to add rear brackets for the shackles to hook to. Sky also carries them.

 

Thanks guys. Yeah, I was leaning towards the RSK. I didn't want a D44 IFS. I'd rather have a D60. I can weld and have an AC/DC welder, but I'm not ready to trust my welds on something like this. I'm just trying to decide what route to go for the tranny and back to the rear wheels. The tranny isn't right. It sounds terrible. The truck had a 4spd tranny in it before. I'm thinking on trying to find another tranny that has all the components to mount the transfer case. Better yet get one that comes with a transfer case.

 

I get two things out of this. You want a 4x4 so you won't get stuck, or can push the truck harder.
You need a speedometer hookup.

Does the truck have a driveline parking brake? aka the little drum brake mounted behind the transmission? If so, the speedometer should hook up there. The 2wd ZF should have the port for the speedometer, if it doesn't, someone swapped in a later year transmission from when they went to the electronic speedometer.

If you have a 4x4 ZF, then it doesn't have the port. The port would be found on the transfer case, or the driveline parking brake. F450 / F-Superduty trucks of this time period came with driveline parking brakes behind 4x4 transmissions even though its a 2wd truck.

As far as the right transfer case, any Borg-Warner 1356 will bolt up to a 4x4 transmission. It can come from any Ford with a mechanical speedometer, F-150,250,350, gas or diesel, auto or manual. The linkage may vary some, but the case it self is the same. These aren't hard to find at all.

What do you currently have for a front axle? rolape's idea for a shackle reversal an easy way to put a Dana 60 under there. Thats what I did when I converted mine, but you'd need to have the rear spring mounts, which won't be there if you have coils in the front right now.

 

Yep. I don't think it has a drive line brake. I know it has the typical P brake on the rear wheels. Yes, someone swapped it for a ZF5 from a 7.3. It is a 93 tranny. It don't have a port anywhere to put the speedometer cable. I have the coil over front end. Another plus is the RSK will add some lift to the truck.

 

Ok, things are starting to make some more sense to me.

I'm guessing someone swapped in the ZF5 with a Single Mass flywheel, instead of the Dual-Mass flywheel they come with from the factory. Often this causes an excessive gear rollover noise. That might be the noise you're hearing.

Make sure when you're finding a transmission that its from a diesel, the gas ones won't fit. This might be hard to find.
On the other hand, most people are looking for single wheel Dana 60's, duallies are usually easer and cheaper to get. (this is the truck in your signature right?)

 

Yep. it is. Is the high compression spikes that the diesel makes when a single mass flywheel is mounted cause the noise?

 

Thats what i was getting at with the "easier way to do it" but couldnt remember what they were called lol. My step brother has one of the gps speedos in his 75, works great, bitch to calibrate, but works great.

 

Yes, it tends to rattle the gears back and forth when at idle. Some people over-fill the tranny and that helps to quiet the noise. Depending on who you talk to, those high pressure spikes are damaging to the tranny. Hence why engineers came up with the dual-mass setup.

 

Ok. I'm going to a complete oil and fluid change today. Maybe the tranny will shut up than.