4-wheel conversion
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4-wheel conversion
Just wondering how hard it would be to take a 2-wheel drive 76 ford truck and make a 4-wheel drive using 74 front axle, 1980 bronco 6-inch lift, np435 and transfer case along with a 6-cylinder to 351 windsor conversion. Will any of this bolt up??? I need help. I have all of these parts lying around.
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I'm not sure how to word the search for what I am looking for. I was wondering also why didn't you just flip the shackle on the rear and not do all the bracketry and welding on your 74. The reason I ask is because thats what I was thinking of doing to mine.
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That's actually quite the nice conversion you did, i'm actually inthe same boat with my 79 f-100 Custom 2wd. I'm converting it to 4wd to use inthe wonderful winters around here (and possibly if my plans of moving down under work out a little bush driving) so i did some reasearch my self.
Nothing is really bolt up. The front with it's ibeams either has to be replaced with hangers and springs, or it needs a radius arms and new springs like Ted did (which i really like BTW).
Does the truck already have the 351 and np435 in it? Because then it's just a matter of installing the transfer case and fabricating a crossmember to support the transfer case.
Then you just need a front axle on there, some drive shafts and make sure everything is even. Althrough a 6" lift is a mighty big lift.
Nothing is really bolt up. The front with it's ibeams either has to be replaced with hangers and springs, or it needs a radius arms and new springs like Ted did (which i really like BTW).
Does the truck already have the 351 and np435 in it? Because then it's just a matter of installing the transfer case and fabricating a crossmember to support the transfer case.
Then you just need a front axle on there, some drive shafts and make sure everything is even. Althrough a 6" lift is a mighty big lift.
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The search function is in a toolbar just above the forum pages. As far as wording, you just have to guess, and then preview the posts that come up. I only mentioned it because people seem to get cranky here if a seemingly repetitious question comes up. Anyway, I decided to build brop brackets because I did make a shackle flip bracket, but was then reading in the "offroad" forum, and the general concensus is that the flips lose their carrying capacity, and the shackle angle can be tricky. So, after I made the bracket, I decided to build drop brackets to eliminate my stacked blocks 
and retain my ride and weight capacity.
Terran, thanks for the compliments. I used mostly F150 parts because I could keep the coil spring ride, like when it was 2wd. I used 4wd coil buckets, and a 3" rancho lift. From 2wd to 4x4 with the coils was about an 8" lift, so with 6" coils would be about 10" overall. Unfortunately, the 80-up suspension is different, and isn't even close to bolt up.
and retain my ride and weight capacity. Terran, thanks for the compliments. I used mostly F150 parts because I could keep the coil spring ride, like when it was 2wd. I used 4wd coil buckets, and a 3" rancho lift. From 2wd to 4x4 with the coils was about an 8" lift, so with 6" coils would be about 10" overall. Unfortunately, the 80-up suspension is different, and isn't even close to bolt up.
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I keep looking at my truck outside going, "Damn that would look hot" after looking at your coversion photos, since it seems that' i'm coming into a new house with a full garage soon i think i may try this conversion (after all my engine work is done). Do you have power steering on this? If i do this conversion i want to do it with power steering.
Last edited by Terran; Jan 20, 2006 at 03:01 PM.
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Yeah. Again, I stole it from my 77 parts truck. If you are going to do this, a parts truck is much cheaper than buying parts.
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Yeah except i don't live in an area that i can keep a parts truck, i know it's slightly cheaper, but not by much, and junkyards are pretty helpful. How do you like the PS? I really hate trying to park my truck without PS. And once it's on bigger tires and such that'll suck even more. What's the total lift on your truck?
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PS sure is nice. I only had a couple cars that didn't have it. I can't imagine a heavy truck. I understand the space thing. I live in a subdivision that supposedly doesn't allow it, but I did it anyway 
I only paid $500 for the truck, and when I was hunting at junkyards, they wanted $250 for a t-case alone. Hey, I understand.
As far as lift, I estimate it is about 6-8" taller than 2wd. I have the 6" drop brackets, and taller tires. I don't know why I thought it was a good idea at the time, but I wanted it to be about stock highboy height. Now I want it taller. If you do it, just go for the tires you really want and build it around that.
Also, if you want to see more about 4x4 conversions, do a search for posts in the "offroad" forum by a guy named ramboss429. He has started a few threads lately detailing his trials and tribulations with lots of pics.
I only paid $500 for the truck, and when I was hunting at junkyards, they wanted $250 for a t-case alone. Hey, I understand. As far as lift, I estimate it is about 6-8" taller than 2wd. I have the 6" drop brackets, and taller tires. I don't know why I thought it was a good idea at the time, but I wanted it to be about stock highboy height. Now I want it taller.
If you do it, just go for the tires you really want and build it around that. Also, if you want to see more about 4x4 conversions, do a search for posts in the "offroad" forum by a guy named ramboss429. He has started a few threads lately detailing his trials and tribulations with lots of pics.
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