4x4 Conversion
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4x4 Conversion
Hey everyone, I'm just toying with an idea and wondered if any of you had been down this route before:
I have a 2wd Supercab, '76 with a 4speed manual and 300 six engine.
I love it, except that it's 2wd. How much work would be involved in converting it to a 4wd? Are driveshafts/t-cases/steering components hard to find for a Supercab 4wd with the 4spd/300 I6? That is, how rare is the Supercab 4wd with a manual/300?
Thanks!
Justin
I have a 2wd Supercab, '76 with a 4speed manual and 300 six engine.
I love it, except that it's 2wd. How much work would be involved in converting it to a 4wd? Are driveshafts/t-cases/steering components hard to find for a Supercab 4wd with the 4spd/300 I6? That is, how rare is the Supercab 4wd with a manual/300?
Thanks!
Justin
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From: Delavan, IL
I'll sum it up for you as simple as anybody on here will...Buy a 4wd frame for your truck. Just find one with a junk body and do a body swap. Body swaps are rather simple if you have the ability to lift everything, which could be just a few buddies. The 2wd frames are totally different and would require a lot of work on the front end to make them 4wd.
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From: Honkytonkville
It's doable but that is definitely the hardest route to getting a 4x4. You'll definitely need a parts truck. As stated by samickguy you may also want to consider buy a supercab 4x4 and body-swapping if yours is in better shape. This is easier than the front end conversion IMO. Or you could always sell your pickup and buy a supercab. The supercab pickups are not easy to come across so either way expect to pay a little money. 
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From: Delavan, IL
There is always the option of just finding a 4x4 frame from any body length and halfing the frames. I thought about doing that recently, but it just seemed like more of a hassle than it was worth. So instead I'm making new rear spring hangers, shock mounts, adding some frame bracing, etc...
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From: Delavan, IL
I guess I should have clarified that I was wanting a new rear half. Either way it would have involved the same stuff. Split both frames, align them, weld them, box them, hope you got everything straight because if you didn't you may as well paint it red and put claws on it because it walks like a crab...
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Ok, I didn't know the frames differed that much. I've got plenty of work to do besides the Supercab, so I guess it's gonna stay a 2wd! I really like the drivetrain setup (300/4spd), too - I'll just have to deal without a 4x4 for a while!
Thanks for put it so simply.
Justin
Thanks for put it so simply.
Justin
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Before you ditch the 4x4 idea, doesn't this truck has an solid i-beam axle hung by leaf springs? If so, your conversion just got considerably easier.
Originally Posted by jfarcas
Ok, I didn't know the frames differed that much. I've got plenty of work to do besides the Supercab, so I guess it's gonna stay a 2wd! I really like the drivetrain setup (300/4spd), too - I'll just have to deal without a 4x4 for a while!
Thanks for put it so simply.
Justin
Thanks for put it so simply.
Justin
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From: Delavan, IL
Originally Posted by T.R.Bauer
Before you ditch the 4x4 idea, doesn't this truck has an solid i-beam axle hung by leaf springs? If so, your conversion just got considerably easier.
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Scottie,
It is a supercab. They have different front suspension configurations than the f100-150. I honestly can't remember if it does or not, but my gut tells me that it does have leafs over a solid I beam, but it has been a long time that I actually looked at one - thus the question.
It is a supercab. They have different front suspension configurations than the f100-150. I honestly can't remember if it does or not, but my gut tells me that it does have leafs over a solid I beam, but it has been a long time that I actually looked at one - thus the question.
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From: Honkytonkville
crazy....These supercabs have been giving me headaches lately. Heck i just recently found out that the F150 supercab 4x4 have front leafs, now the 2wd does too???? WOW Is all I can say. But yeah, justin if your truck is front leafed, that makes your install of a front axle much easier.
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Scottie,
Supercabs are weird animals....For some reason, ford built a very different truck - more like an f-250 than a f-150. I don't the logic behind it...perhaps they had left over 60s truck parts around and wanted to get rid of them. Who knows.
T.R.
Supercabs are weird animals....For some reason, ford built a very different truck - more like an f-250 than a f-150. I don't the logic behind it...perhaps they had left over 60s truck parts around and wanted to get rid of them. Who knows.
T.R.