What's going on guys. I just bought my first crewcab I'm pretty excited about it. I've read so much my eyes are crossed, but I can't really seem to find anyone that has completed a 4x4 conversion on a 79 without cutting and splicing the front frame stub. And Ive read about the spring hangers from a highboy on the crewcab frame but I haven't seen anything on a doing that to a 79. I've built a few trucks, but I'm not a welder so that scares me. I have a 79 f150 4x4 single cab short bed I plan on using for parts. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and advice!

 

There was a guy on oldfordcrewcabs that had a 4x4 frame to sell a while back. Pretty sure his handle was PACrewcab. I think he on FTE as well.

That is your easiest method for sure but adding a front crossmember and hangers is doable. Mine is pretty much done but your not going to be able to do the 2wd to 4wd swap without welding skills....or a bunch of lift. That 2wd engine cm is a problem, it will hit the axle.

Look here...https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-a-crew-4.html

 

Thanks for the info I'll def look him up! I have a friend that owns a body shop and he has a few rat rods that he's built the frames for out of 2x4 channel,so I'll be paying him to do some welding it looks like.

I'd like to run 4-6" of lift on it, would that be enough for the front dif to clear the 2wd cm?

 

Time for ya to do some homework....

2WD to 4WD Conversion
FTE Thread: Quadrazer's F350- 2WD to 4WD Conversion...
Four Wheeler: Project Two-By Four (4WD Conversion) Shocks
Four Wheeler: Three-link Front Suspension & Coilovers

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Haha that's my kinda homework! I appreciate all of yalls input so far! I'll be sure to keep up my progress and which route I decide to go!

 

Ive heard - HEARD - that you can use the front 4x4 axle from a Superduty from the past 10 or 15 years that has coil spring frontend because the 2wd 70's trucks have coil spring frontends. I dont know about crossmember clearance though, and you'd have to do some kind suspension setup to re-use or discard the 2wd linkages, and steering would need to be addressed too, and brakes...

 

Welcome to FTE! I am actually in the middle of 4x4 swapping a 79 Crew Cab. First thing I would do is measure the frame width between the rear spring hangers. Even though mine was a 79, it still had the narrower 34in width, same as all the "highboys". This actually made it very easy to swap all the components over.

I used a 76 F250 as my drivetrain donor. Rear suspension/axle bolted right up, no modifications at all. On the front, I pretty much just made templates, and drilled new holes on the crew cab frame. This allowed me to just bolt in all the Highboy spring hangers and perches. Using Grade 8 of course.
I am still figuring out how I am going to set up the steering, probably will just use a 78/79 4x4 box, but also have a box out of a 95 dodge available. Also need to mount transfer case, but again, this is pretty much a drill, then bolt in process, as I am reusing the Highboy T-Case crossmember.

Overall it was a fairly straight forward swap. Obviously there are a lot of small things such as brake lines,T-Case lever bracket,etc... But as long as you use common sense, shouldn't be too hard.
Heck, I'm 16 and have done 95% of the work in a high school auto shop class, with the help of a few good friends. Good luck, and I'd be happy to answer any more questions.

 

Hey thanks ranger! The 34" measurement is that outside to outside on the frame rails? Looks like I need to try to find a parts worthy highboy, haven't seen too many here in charleston.

 

Yes, that is correct. Now if your frame is 37.5", A Highboys rear axle and rear springs, will not work.

 

Awesome, that's a big diffrance I can't mess that up lol! I think I'd be more comfortable doing something like this rather than a 4-link and coilovers version.

 

there is also this thread talking about suspension, with a lot of links to other threads with guys that have done or are doing the 2wd to 4wd swap: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ghest-gvw.html

 

Thanks 460, I'll def be following those links! Looks like I have a wealth of info thanks to everyone, now I just need to find a good donor. Is there a way to buy just the hangers for a highboy from LMC or any other guys like them, I would rather find a whole truck or frame but buying just the new parts may be an option as well. Keep the ideas coming I appreciate them all!!

 

Hey guys I fan ally got a day off work, was able to go around to a few junk yards today. I found a super cab campers special long bed, the truck is destroyed but the frame is all there. Hopefully it's not bent or anything I may just use the frame and shorten it a bit for the crew cab short bed. If it is bent, the leaf spring hangers were bolted on so I'll pull them along with the front dif, leafs, and steering box. The guy that owns the yard is going to get from the back for me this week.

 

Been a while since I posted, but I finally have an update for you guys. The supercab frame was the wider frame so it wouldn't work. I searched all around and finally found a 1973 4x4 crewcab shortbed frame. After multiple measurements, I bought it and had it shipped to me. Now I can finally start some progress on the pick up!

 

I just now read this post and sorry I cant be of any help with a crew frame (although I see you found one). I sold all my crew frames. Still have some other parts for 73-79 crews. Good luck with your swap!