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I skim through the latest threads every couple days and see a few really dumb ideas over and over and over again. Not to be a hater (to each their own) but I thought a thread depicting all the stupid mods might be fun. Pictures or text is fine but give a reason why you think something you have seen is stupid and maybe what someone should do instead.
And if you think this thread is a stupid idea, you are entitled to that. I will go first.
Mod:
4x2 to 4x4 conversion. Or vise versa.
Reason it’s stupid:
Merely asking the question of whether or not this should be done implies one does not have the technical expertise required to fully appreciate the complexities involved in such a task or do the job properly. Hacking something like this together puts yourself, loved ones & everyone else on the road at risk. This isn’t the job to learn how to fabricate on and economically it’s really just not feasible. If you really love the truck your grandfather bought new, appreciate it for what it is and leave it alone.
What to do instead:
Purchase the truck you want. Maybe trade away the one you don’t. These are a dime a dozen. This is going to be cheaper and quicker; not to mention safer. If you can’t afford to do this, you can’t afford to do the aforementioned modification.
I think it's stupid to be calling other people's ideas of modifications stupid. Just because someone asks a question doesn't mean they have zero ability to do things. And just because YOU think it's a stupid idea, that don't mean the guy wanting to do the modification thinks it's stupid.
Instead of buying a truck that's built exactly how one wants it, some guys love the challenge of doing different things, trying to accomplish the stuff that other guys would pay someone else to do.
Everyone has to start somewhere, and if you don't care for someone else's "stupid" idea, contribute your concerns respectfully in their thread, or do everyone a favour and just move on to the next thread that interests you.
I must have touched on a nerve with this one. Lol.
No different than you getting your nerves touched on by someone wanting to do a 4x4 swap or anything else you think is "stupid" lol.
What do you think these forums are here for?! So guys can tell other guys to go buy a truck rather than work on it themselves, or maybe guys can say what they want and others can go look for the truck that suits their needs?! Lol
Over the years I've come across many things that I thought were stupid ideas...over the years I've had and done many, many things that other people would consider stupid ideas. I like to think of them as "learning experiences".
Quite often "stupid idea" equates to a matter of taste. You can't fault someone's taste, it is what it is. The two examples below are what I would consider bad taste, especially the steering wheel. But, obviously, someone thought they were good ideas.
When an "idea" is dangerous, then you can safely say it's stupid. An example: I had a buddy years ago, he had a '73 hiboy that his dad bought new, he inherited it. He jacked it way, way up. He needed a dropped steering arm. didn't want to spend the money to buy one so he cut the arm in half, welded a chunk of steel between the two pieces (he was at best a hack welder) and put it back on. I told him that was a stupid idea and called him a moron. Fortunately for everybody it broke the first time he turned the wheel. If that had gotten out on the road, it could've killed someone. Now that WAS a really stupid idea.
I can do stupid stuff! Im a high school mechanics shop teacher, I've seen some stupid stuff as well!
What I'm saying is, everything is stupid to someone. To some people, changing their own oil is a stupid idea. To some changing a flat tire is a stupid idea. To some, building a frame from scratch is a no brainer. And for your example, the 4x2 to 4x4 swap, to me it's stupid that someone would suggest to not give that a shot. Of course there are gonna be stupid ideas, every idea is stupid to someone, do we really need a thread dedicated to that? Specially when lots of people are bored at home right now haha.
Purchase the truck you want. Maybe trade away the one you don’t. These are a dime a dozen. This is going to be cheaper and quicker; not to mention safer. If you can’t afford to do this, you can’t afford to do the aforementioned modification.
I have a 1979 F-350 4x4 and I will be selling it this year. I will not take less than $3500 for this truck in very good (but not perfect) condition. I'm guessing it would cost more for someone to do a conversion from a two wheel drive to a 4 wheel drive.
Here is some input on the subject. I figured I better post it before this thread gets closed/locked. lol
"So you want a make a 2wd into a 4wd.... There is nothing nuts and bolts about a 4wd conversion, 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. Well the frames are similar, with a few exceptions. The frame horns are slightly different, and the frame widths aft of the cab are 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.
Now 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.
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 tail shaft 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 from the t-case. If you do not, the speedo will read twice as fast when you put the case in low range. But you will be in 4 low so who cares how fast you are going.
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."
Over the years I've come across many things that I thought were stupid ideas...over the years I've had and done many, many things that other people would consider stupid ideas. I like to think of them as "learning experiences".
Quite often "stupid idea" equates to a matter of taste. You can't fault someone's taste, it is what it is. The two examples below are what I would consider bad taste, especially the steering wheel. But, obviously, someone thought they were good ideas.
When an "idea" is dangerous, then you can safely say it's stupid. An example: I had a buddy years ago, he had a '73 hiboy that his dad bought new, he inherited it. He jacked it way, way up. He needed a dropped steering arm. didn't want to spend the money to buy one so he cut the arm in half, welded a chunk of steel between the two pieces (he was at best a hack welder) and put it back on. I told him that was a stupid idea and called him a moron. Fortunately for everybody it broke the first time he turned the wheel. If that had gotten out on the road, it could've killed someone. Now that WAS a really stupid idea.
very well said. I am an extremely experienced mechanic. I am currently doing a frame off on my 75 f100. Not exactly an easy job in and of itself. It’s the project aspects of it that are a pain to deal with; not so much the mechanical parts.
anyway the point being people need to be honest with themselves and their limits. Both with technical expertise and the financial aspects. vast majority aren’t.
It is truly a rare breed that can properly splice a frame. And even there it doesn’t make sense In most cases economically unless you have another angle you are working beyond sentiment. Finding another truck to clean up is way cheaper.
For what it’s worth I didn’t make this thread to start a fight but I guess I should have known better.
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