2X4 to 4X4 Conversion, Help?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,147
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From: East Coast
You said it's an 80 F100. I think those may be the years that they did use the 'lightened" frame in the 2wd trucks, in that case it probably wouldn't be a good idea to add the 4X4 stuff to it. If it has one of the good frames, your best bet would be to find a junk 4X4 or bronco and pull the front and rear suspension. If it's a bronco donor you'll probably need different drive shafts. But you won't have to worry about vin's.
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New User
Joined: Oct 2003
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I've decided i'm going to try and get an 80-86 F-150, with a 302, automatic and 4x4, this combination exists and will make my life easier if i understand eveything thus far. My next question is this, when i'm getting the front axle ready to mount in my truck, are there any area's i should look at replacing? and since i'm going to be in the area are there anythings i should fix in my truck as well? maybe things more prone to breaking since its an older truck.
thanks guys,
sorry about the stupid questions.
thanks guys,
sorry about the stupid questions.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Bothell WA
In my opinon, which doesn't mean much,
i would look around for a f-anything 4x4 with a blown motor, and put your motor in that truck, i helped a buddy do a SAS (soild axle swap) from his IFS and it took him sevreal weeks to do it, and if you don't find a right part you end up modifing a frame for the truck, and from what i hear, every bit of welding that you do to the frame only weekens the frame itself, if you do end up doing it, make sure you become good friends with 4wheelparts !! or www.4wheelparts.com even if you don't go wheeling, you don't want some thing falling apart from some thing you messed up on.
i would look around for a f-anything 4x4 with a blown motor, and put your motor in that truck, i helped a buddy do a SAS (soild axle swap) from his IFS and it took him sevreal weeks to do it, and if you don't find a right part you end up modifing a frame for the truck, and from what i hear, every bit of welding that you do to the frame only weekens the frame itself, if you do end up doing it, make sure you become good friends with 4wheelparts !! or www.4wheelparts.com even if you don't go wheeling, you don't want some thing falling apart from some thing you messed up on.
Last edited by tweaker; Jan 28, 2004 at 11:06 AM.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,439
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From: Spokane WA
I'm concidering a frame swap myself I have a 81 f150 4x4 with a swisscheese or lightened frame. at some point i'm going to look for a 82-86 frame and it looks like 2wd parts trucks are a lot cheaper
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New User
Joined: Oct 2003
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I'm in the middle of swaping the 4X4 goodies out of an '81 bronco into my '83 ext. cab 2wd F-150. So far it's been fairly easy. The hardest part is I'm doing it alone. There is a tech artical on this site about the swap that really convinced me to give it a whirl. I'm also swapping out the 302 and tranny for the 351M and C-6 from the Bronco. Hopefully I'll have the suspension all done this weekend. I'm playing hooky from work tomorrow to give me a few more hours.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Rome, Italy
The swap isn't hard.
I just did exactly that, I took my 2WD body, engine, tranny, and rear end off my 84' F250 2WD and put it on the frame of an 83' F250 4WD. I'm in the military so I took some leave and did the swap at a shop on post. I stripped the 83' to the frame after hours over the course of about a week. Working by myself, with only some occasional muscle help for lifiting I took all my stuff off the frame, rolled the 2WD frame out, rolled the 4WD frame in and put it together in just under 3 days. It isn't terribly hard, it's only turning bolts, but I was tired after those 3 days.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
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horton, you'll have to about the samething here in Texas. you'll need bill of sale or title from your donnor cab. then have your title changed to a rebuild title. they'll check VIN on your frame to see if matches your title and bill of sale or title of donner, give it another VIN #. no major cost though. I was in the same boat as you a few years ago a friend gave me a cheby 4x4 he rolled. Noone could answer my swap questions so I went to the Texas web-site and emailed them and got what i told you. Since blown up chebys are a dime a dozen. I bought another shortbed 4x4 with a bad motor 4" lift for $100 with title to swap the motor and 6" lift from rolled truck i had into it. but before i got around to doing the swap i got offered $1200 for em so i let em go. I can pick em up most all day long running and not for under $500. I usually pick em up and resale for a few $100 more which adds free $$ to add to my fords. now only if i could run across more deals like this on pre79 ford 4x4's i'd be good to go.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Mission BC
80s frame
I was there when these came out and they were terrible. I seen one pushed out of the snow bank by another and the doors wouldn't close. It was 2 or 3 months old and they had to put it on the frame straightener under warranty.If I were you I would flind a newer frame
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