converting a 2x4 into a 4x4
Thread Starter
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VT Chapter Ldr
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 96,116
Likes: 294
From: Orange, Vermont
converting a 2x4 into a 4x4
How hard is it to convert a 2 wheel drive into a 4 wheel drive. If I had a donor 4x4 are all the holes for mounting already in the frame of the 2 wheel drive? Thanks for any help or tips.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 237
Likes: 2
From: ipswich USA
This topic has been covered many times in this and the other forums 67-72 trucks etc. Try the search function. It basically boils down to this, it is much easier to get a 4x4 chassis and put your body on it. I have looked into this seriously also and I have even contemplated welding the front half of a 4x4 frame to the back half of a F350 Dump. In any event the big problem is the coil spring 2x4 front suspension vs the leaf spring 4x4 suspension. The front crossmembers on the frames are completely different. I wont say it is impossible to convert the 2x4 frame as people have done it, it is just more complicated. Check other posts on the subject to get the full story.
JWR
78 F250 4x4 400 T-18 D60's
76 F350 Dump 360 NP-435
JWR
78 F250 4x4 400 T-18 D60's
76 F350 Dump 360 NP-435
Thread Starter
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VT Chapter Ldr
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 96,116
Likes: 294
From: Orange, Vermont
I thought it would of been covered but I have tried a few different searches in the 73 -79 forum and have not turned up anything. If you could give me some help on what phrase to put in for the search I would appreciate it, and thanks for the info.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: tacoma
if you have a 4x4 frame with all the parts, swapping the cab and body is really just a good days work and a few beers. it would be way easier than trying to make a 2 wheel drive 4 wheel drive. in some cases the frames are different widths on the two, meaning spring perches would have to be moved, and steering issues adressed. but that is just my opinion
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Yeah but I think the search feature got goofed when we switched formats Mil. If I understood Ken correctly the search will work very nicely for posts from the format switch forward but not for posts made before the switch. I was trying to find fenderwll header info for someone and I KNOW it's there but nothing shows up. 
Not to get completely off the subject though, it is a LOT of work requiring some major fabrication. Having the 4x4 frame to go off of would make it much easier but I agree you'd be much better off to switch the body to the 4x4 frame, even if this requires cutting the frame to change the wheel base. If I remember right the 80's trucks are pretty easy to do but ours are a bit more complex.
Not to get completely off the subject though, it is a LOT of work requiring some major fabrication. Having the 4x4 frame to go off of would make it much easier but I agree you'd be much better off to switch the body to the 4x4 frame, even if this requires cutting the frame to change the wheel base. If I remember right the 80's trucks are pretty easy to do but ours are a bit more complex.
