Guys and Gals,
I am an active duty soldier new to the forum and about to head to Korea for a year and I need some help planning and aquiring. I'm hoping that someone can help me plan the 4x2 to 4x4 conversion while I'm gone and find sources for all materials needed. I have a '94 F150 with an Inline 6, 120,000 miles, and manual 5 speed tranny. rear axle is 2.73 (12 code). It runs like a dream except for the throwout bearing going. I just put in a heavy duty radiator and new water pump. I have pulled the transmission twice to replace the concentric clutch cylinder so I don't have a problem replacing the bearing. I would like to convert and put a 2" or so lift with heavier suspension. I don't plan on doing serious off roading but need something for the sands of South Carolina hunting grounds. I also may be hauling a sizable camper in the future. What do I have to do to make it F250 like? I'd like to do everything at once so I don't buy OEM parts now and have to replace them with aftermarket later. I am mechanically inclined but not vehicularly inclined. I am pretty good with a wrench and worked alongside a few family projects growing up. My dad and I took a rusted out '76 Scottsdale Chevy and switched out the cab and replaced the stake rack bed with a diamond plate flatbed. A farmer then totaled it when he ran a red light with a horse trailer. Other plans include a front and rear Ruenel bumper with winch and Rhinlined interior and bed. I'd also like to give it a good sounding exhaust and slight engine mods. There isn't a single spot of body rust on it but I need to realign the drivers side body work because the fender and hood don't quite line up right since my ex wrecked it a month after I got it. I will be living in Columbia, SC when I get back from Korea if there are any members in that area. Please help guys I am really excited about this and have a renewed love for my truck. Thanks in advance.

 

you may want to search the 4x4 forum there has been alot of discussion there about this topic.

Chris

 

There is an article in the tech section of our website on how to do it, and a search of "4wd conversion" or "4x4 conversion" etc etc will net you a lot of results/info on how to perform the swap.

 

One of my main concerns are should I or do I need to get a new tranny? I haven't looked under a 4 wheel drive one yet to see how different it is. Since mine is manual is that much less of a headache than auto? I haven't searched a whole lot for conversion yet though I have read the tech article on this site.

 

Read about the conversion, talk about the conversion, plan the conversion, but don't do the conversion.

You are young and have too much misguided energy. If you want a 4X4, buy a 4X4. Have fun, if you want to cut-up a vehicle, build a racecar or a rockcrawler. Don't molest a perfectly good truck.

 

It's really not that hard, do some research about it and then decide for yourself. Pickup a haynes manual and learn how the suspension is designed and how it comes apart.

 

Find a cheap donor vehicle. Late 70's full size bronco. Use a solid axle.

 

I stopped by the junk yard and what came out of it was that I need a new transmission and transfer case but since I wanted to lift it and put heavier suspension under it I should go with aftermarket stuff for axles, suspension and drive shafts. All I'd need that was OEM was transfer case and transmission. I don't want to buy things twice so my question is how much aftermarket stuff and how much OEM stuff should I buy? I want to go at least 4.10 I think and a 4" lift.