Yeah, I know...that is why I asked him. I honestly can't remember. I'm thinking that you're right though Scottie.

 

I'm not saying it isn't I'm just amazed by these supercabs- they truly are the outcast compared to the standard ford trucks.

 

Well, it seems he is not coming back. Perhaps he has already started his conversion. Maybe we scared him away. I would like to know if the 2wd supercabs have front leafs too. Maybe someone else will answer.

 

If anyone finds out please post!. I'll keep an eye out for one too.

 

The 2wd Supercabs still had the Twin-I-Beam suspension. I got one under my '51 Mercury M-3 truck right now. Yes, the 4wd Supercabs got leaf springs because Supercabs normally got heavier cargo (carrying 4-5 passengers plus cargo). The F-250 Supercabs got the heavier duty F-350 suspension and brakes.

 

Well, there is that then. This time I will try to remember a little harder.

 

Hey guys - sorry it took so long to post, I had assumed the thread was finished and haven't been back for a few days!

Ok, so my 2wd Supercab ('76) has the Twin I Beam with coil springs setup. No doubt about it. So, this makes it more difficult to convert?

However, not to throw a wrench in the spokes here, but I HAVE had another Supercab, a 4x4 F150 - but it was also coil sprung with Twin I Beams ('79). (I know you had said that the 4wd were leaf sprung.)

(And Scottie2 - I'm in southeastern Ohio, Athens area, how 'bout you?)

 

Yes the coils makes it a little more difficult to do the 4x4 swap. I figured yours was coils being a 2wd. I'm in the Mt Vernon area. North Central OH

 

That's cool - I was born in Girard - suburb of Youngstown.

What is it about the twin I Beam setup that makes it more difficult - that is, how are the 4x4 front ends different (aside from the obvious differences in axles, steering, etc.)?

 

The 4x4 radius arms are different length than those on a 2wd, so you have to get the correct mounts for the frame for the longer radius arms. On a leaf sprung truck all you need is to bolt the other axle to the leafs. Beyond that everything is the same.

 

Don't get us wrong Jfarcus, it can be done. If you have a welder, a cuttoff saw, a torch, all the parts, and about 30-70 hours of time, you can convert this truck into a 4x4. I think it would be fun because I have done anything like it in a while, but I am sick person when it comes to this kinda stuff. I do know one thing, if I was going to go to all this work I wouldn't be putting in a dana 44 up front, it would be a d60. Also, the transfer case that I would select is the np205, that is unless you have truly lost your mind and have already put in the efi 460 along with the 4speed overdrive tranny. I guess then you would have to use the bw that bolts to it.

 

Thanks for the input, guys. I've got a baby girl on the way and plenty of projects to keep me busy for now - but it's good to know what would be involved if I try it down the line.

 

I've been following this thread, and if you want to do it, don't wait until the kid is born. However, since money can be tight, you might start slowly collecting parts and then rebuilding them over time. Then when everything is ready to go, you can bolt it up. I took about 2 years to convert mine. I started with the front end, then did the drivetrain later. I have about $700 in the actual conversion.

 

Jfarcas, congrats on the soon to be new one....a 2007 model..lol

 

Hello guys. I am building a 1976 supercab 2x4 into a 4x4. There are a couple pics on craigslist if you search omaha for ford long or shortbox bed wanted... I had a 77 full time f150 4x4 with a modestly built 460/c6 285-75r16 tires, 3:73 gears. It got 9-11 mpg locally and 7 mpg towing. There was some irreperable body damage. There was also a cheap useable 76 2x supercab down the street sporting a hung rod. I took some measurements and found about a foot of the frame channel at the front axle centerline to be the same width. I then stripped the f250 to the bare rails forward of the firewall. including torching out all crossmembers. Taking measurements from the radiator mount holes ( a common point) I cut the 2x frame off forward of the coil spring mounts and only through the outer channel of the 4x4 frame cleaning the excess channel off of the 4x4 front crossmember from that line back. I slid this into the trimmed 2x rails and welded it up, drilled all my mounting holes and installed the coil spring 4x4 suspension all with stock parts, installed the engine and driveline and steering in 5 days of vacation. Don't forget to use the steering column from the truck you get the frame stub and steering from. Also make sure you run the correct master cylinder. My transfercase fit under the automatic tranny floor without adding the 4x4 tunnel and since the 2x supercab frame was 1+ inch thicker under the cab I had to locate the tranny mount to the bottom of the frame shimming it at the top. I really prefer the f150 coil ride and the solid axle highway stability This can all be done to convert a 1980 and up truck to coils/solid axle too. My reason for the splice happening in front of the spring pockets is so the weld is forward of the suspension load point in the virgin channel.