Need help
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 106
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From: Johnstown unitedstates
Need help
I have a 79 F-150 4x4 with a 390 4spd. I like it but today i was looking through the classifieds and found the truck i really wanted to begin with but being 16 and impatient i bought the truck i have which i like but anyhow the truck that i found is a 74 F-250 Supercab camper special with the 390 C6 and perfect body. The only problem is that its only 2wd. Im sure now you know what im thinking in how hard is it to change the 4wd from my 79 to the 74 if even possible. I havent seen the truck yet but it sounds like its in good condition and he only wants a 1000 but i figure it could be had cheaper considering he is retired and said all he does with it right now is moves it from one place to another so he can cut the grass. So what do you think??
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 128
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Need help
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 08-Aug-01 AT 10:49 PM (EST)[/font][p]The problem is a half ton 4wd has five bolt wheels, while a 3/4 ton has eight bolt wheels. You don't necessarily need to match if you don't mind carrying two spare tires and a huge hassle when it comes time to rotate tires. Best to have them match. So you could put half ton running gear under the Supercab or get the correct running gear for an F250 4x4.
And this is a no-brainer but I will mention it anyway: the gear ratios have to match, and it's unlikely that the front end in your 1/2 ton will match with the rear end in the 3/4 ton.
'Nother thing to think about: F250 4x4s had leaf spring front ends; F150s had coils. The F250 2wd, though, also had coils. So you may have to convert that as well, and maybe the steering linkage too. Any way you go, you have your work cut out for you. Might be best to keep looking, or if you can get the Camper Special cheap enough, you can tinker on it and fix it, gain some mechanical experience, and sell it to a collector/enthusiast. Or if it's not too nice, buy it for parts and look for a worthy 4x4 to fix up.
And this is a no-brainer but I will mention it anyway: the gear ratios have to match, and it's unlikely that the front end in your 1/2 ton will match with the rear end in the 3/4 ton.
'Nother thing to think about: F250 4x4s had leaf spring front ends; F150s had coils. The F250 2wd, though, also had coils. So you may have to convert that as well, and maybe the steering linkage too. Any way you go, you have your work cut out for you. Might be best to keep looking, or if you can get the Camper Special cheap enough, you can tinker on it and fix it, gain some mechanical experience, and sell it to a collector/enthusiast. Or if it's not too nice, buy it for parts and look for a worthy 4x4 to fix up.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 106
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From: Johnstown unitedstates
Need help
Well i love my truck but i really like the super cabs but there are so many things i want to do it changes every day. I guess ill just forget about it and put everything i have into my truck.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 128
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Need help
Hey, 100 posts! Anyway, I've thought about converting my reg cab 4wd into a super cab because I like them too. It's nice having dry lockable storage for what have you that you don't want other people having! You could slap a super cab cab on your pickup and put a short box behind it if your reg cab pickup has the long bed. If it's a short bed, I guess you'd have to cut the bed down even more ala the new Super Crew. Might look kind of strange.
