Hey new to the site and i've got a question
I've got a '55 f100 w/a 390 and c-6 tranny. I'm looking at doing a four wheel drive conversion on it and was wondering if anyone on this site has done it. I've got a line on a '67 4X4 for cheap and was wondering if i should get that and do a body swap...or box out my existing frame and use all the parts off the '67. I know that if i do a body swap the wheel base will need to be shortened, i'm just wondering which way to go for the best outcome. Thanks alot!

 

i'm in the beginning stages of the same thing, biggest problem (other that steering and suspension mod's required) is the track with of the front axle is alot narrower that later model trucks. (ya know, tires will stick out past the wheel wells, and some would say look strange.)

 

I'm in the process as well on my 52 F-3. As far as front axles go, I'm planning on using my 52 frame and swapping over the front drivetrain. My plans are to use a Dana 44 out of an early (pre 77) Bronco since the track width is almost the same as our trucks. This however will not be cheap since those broncos are pretty popular. The rest of a driveline I'm using (engine tranny t-case) are all out of a 79 FS Bronco. It will not be an easy swap, and will take a lot of custom fabrication, including custom driveshafts. Then again, nothing on my truck is simple.

 

If I remember correctly, the axles from a ****** Utility Wagon are the right width, and are more-or-less Dana 44's. The wheelbases are about the same too, I think even the wheel bolt pattern is the same. I used to have one, and they are hell for stout for "normal" off-roading. Their primary weakness is the transfer case, but I had a 283 Chev in mine with the stock 3-sp and had no problems. Since they used virtually the same tranny as the F-series, it would seem like an easy(er) swap than some newer stuff.

 

Welcome to the site! Since the rear axle from '67 F100's are used for swaps into the earlier trucks I don't see why the front axle could be used as well. I'm not sure, but take some measurements and find out. I see strengthening your frame and adding the drive train from the '67 easier than a whole frame swap, much like irondragon is doing. Good luck and keep us updated.

hotrod48

 

cool. it depends on if the wheel bases are differnt frame widths and all the other factors on which way to go. if the wheel bases are differnt i would but the drivetrain under your frame as you would have to move the axles any way and would save you cab mounts.

 

I'm doing a '56 swap onto a '78 4x4 frame and running gear. As the guys on the list told me before I started, it's harder than it seems. But I wanted the '78 frame because it's so much more sturdy and all the engineering is already done. The '78 is a short bed and a '56 long bed would be the same wheelbase, but I'm using a '56 shortbed so the frame had to be shortened about 5".

 

I have my 54 near completion using 78 Bronco drivetrain. The front axel is around 4 in wider than stock. I have 8" wheels that stick out only about an inch from fenderwells. The frame width are the same from 53 to 79. So this is a bolt on. I boxed the frame for strength. Placed the coil spring brackets and the transfer brackets directly on the bottom of the frame, which made me raise the engine brackets (stock Bronco) 2" to make the engine sit level at carb plane. If I were to do it over, would space the coil spring brackets and transfer/ trailing arm brackets 2" lower than frame so the engine could mount on top of frame. Beings the frame is around 2" shorter than the Bronco. This would drop your trans/transfer case lower in the frame so you would not have to make such a deep tunnel on your floorboard. My floor tunnel is 5" tall to clear the transfer case. The complete front end is kind of a unit. Where you place the front axel designates where the engine sits. unless you want to remount the transfer case further forward and shorten the front drive shaft.
The 67 axel you have would be the correct size to use for the conversion. Should be stock width from 53 to 72. I am looking for a front 4x4 axel from a 71-72 to make mine narrower. By bolting the componets on, you could very easliy change back to 2 wheel if so desired. This makes a neet looking rig. Let me know how the progress goes.
Steve