4x4 CONVERSION
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 672
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From: Campton
4x4 CONVERSION
I wanna convert my truck to 4wheel drive. i like the standard tranny my 1994 model truck already has and i love the 300i6. just wanted to know what all i need to convert it. i would really love to get a manual tranny though that has granny first gear and od fifth. anyhelp would be appreciated this is my dads truck so it has sentimental value.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
I have converted a few, and let me share with you that it is a bunch of work. Unless you have a donor vehicle sitting next to you to rob parts from, you will make numerous trips to the wrecking yard for missing parts. It will drive you nuts. Can you find a salveged truck that was born a 4x4, and swap the cab, and bed? That would be soooooo much easier. I think doing it this way would put you time, and money ahead.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 279
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From: Anchorage
Don't listen these guys. Check out the threads <br>
<a href="https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/315034-to-sas-or-not-to-sas-that-is-the-question.html" target="_blank">HERE</a><br>
<a href="https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/318306-the-ttb-has-landed.html" target="_blank">HERE</a><br>
<a href="https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/319044-front-driveshaft-compatability.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> <br>
<a href="https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/373636-four-wheel-drivination-almost-complete.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> <br>
and <br>
<a href="https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/420327-latest-update.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> <br>
Total cost: ~$1000
Labor: 25 hours over three weekends
Not getting stuck in wet grass and having to be pulled out by my mom's Saturn: PRICELESS!!!!
<a href="https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/315034-to-sas-or-not-to-sas-that-is-the-question.html" target="_blank">HERE</a><br>
<a href="https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/318306-the-ttb-has-landed.html" target="_blank">HERE</a><br>
<a href="https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/319044-front-driveshaft-compatability.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> <br>
<a href="https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/373636-four-wheel-drivination-almost-complete.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> <br>
and <br>
<a href="https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/420327-latest-update.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> <br>
Total cost: ~$1000
Labor: 25 hours over three weekends
Not getting stuck in wet grass and having to be pulled out by my mom's Saturn: PRICELESS!!!!
just another Rockwell looser
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,042
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa, FL
i converted my 96' to 4wd, wasn't very hard but i did have a donor vehicle
holy crap, i had to be pushed out of wet grass when i was 2wd, ill never live it down, 4wd from there on out!!!
holy crap, i had to be pushed out of wet grass when i was 2wd, ill never live it down, 4wd from there on out!!!
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Columbia, South Carolina
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 448
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From: Edmonton, AB Canada
TTB = Twin Traction Beam
IRS = Independant Rear Suspension
IFS = Independant Front Suspension
And for the swap: I did it, it was fun, definetly alot of work but it wouldnt have been as bad if I didnt swap just about, wait no every piece of my drivetrain for something better. I also had to custom make my tranny crossmember cause it was easier than finding one for me. The front TTB axle assembly swaps right in on the same mounts as the 2wd stuff. The ZF tranny is the one you are looking for if you want a granny first and od in a 5spd. Transfercase and driveshafts are ones that you might have fun with. Most of the later year Ford trucks came with the borq warner 1356 t-case and with that all the things like driveshafts and t-case shifters will be nice and easy bolt right up. I installed a NP205 out of a 78 bronco in my truck and I have custom driveshafts and a t-case shifter out of a 92 that I modified to work. All in all my truck is done, jacked up 4" and just as tough as my old 78 bronco now. If I could do it all over again, I probably still would since I have a truck that no one else does, and I know what every nut and bolt in it is. Good luck.
IRS = Independant Rear Suspension
IFS = Independant Front Suspension
And for the swap: I did it, it was fun, definetly alot of work but it wouldnt have been as bad if I didnt swap just about, wait no every piece of my drivetrain for something better. I also had to custom make my tranny crossmember cause it was easier than finding one for me. The front TTB axle assembly swaps right in on the same mounts as the 2wd stuff. The ZF tranny is the one you are looking for if you want a granny first and od in a 5spd. Transfercase and driveshafts are ones that you might have fun with. Most of the later year Ford trucks came with the borq warner 1356 t-case and with that all the things like driveshafts and t-case shifters will be nice and easy bolt right up. I installed a NP205 out of a 78 bronco in my truck and I have custom driveshafts and a t-case shifter out of a 92 that I modified to work. All in all my truck is done, jacked up 4" and just as tough as my old 78 bronco now. If I could do it all over again, I probably still would since I have a truck that no one else does, and I know what every nut and bolt in it is. Good luck.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage
Originally Posted by Tdvjensen
TTB = Twin Traction Beam
IRS = Independant Rear Suspension
IFS = Independant Front Suspension
And for the swap: I did it, it was fun, definetly alot of work but it wouldnt have been as bad if I didnt swap just about, wait no every piece of my drivetrain for something better. I also had to custom make my tranny crossmember cause it was easier than finding one for me. The front TTB axle assembly swaps right in on the same mounts as the 2wd stuff. The ZF tranny is the one you are looking for if you want a granny first and od in a 5spd. Transfercase and driveshafts are ones that you might have fun with. Most of the later year Ford trucks came with the borq warner 1356 t-case and with that all the things like driveshafts and t-case shifters will be nice and easy bolt right up. I installed a NP205 out of a 78 bronco in my truck and I have custom driveshafts and a t-case shifter out of a 92 that I modified to work. All in all my truck is done, jacked up 4" and just as tough as my old 78 bronco now. If I could do it all over again, I probably still would since I have a truck that no one else does, and I know what every nut and bolt in it is. Good luck.
IRS = Independant Rear Suspension
IFS = Independant Front Suspension
And for the swap: I did it, it was fun, definetly alot of work but it wouldnt have been as bad if I didnt swap just about, wait no every piece of my drivetrain for something better. I also had to custom make my tranny crossmember cause it was easier than finding one for me. The front TTB axle assembly swaps right in on the same mounts as the 2wd stuff. The ZF tranny is the one you are looking for if you want a granny first and od in a 5spd. Transfercase and driveshafts are ones that you might have fun with. Most of the later year Ford trucks came with the borq warner 1356 t-case and with that all the things like driveshafts and t-case shifters will be nice and easy bolt right up. I installed a NP205 out of a 78 bronco in my truck and I have custom driveshafts and a t-case shifter out of a 92 that I modified to work. All in all my truck is done, jacked up 4" and just as tough as my old 78 bronco now. If I could do it all over again, I probably still would since I have a truck that no one else does, and I know what every nut and bolt in it is. Good luck.
How did you get around the absence of the VSS on the 9"?
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB Canada
I had a friend of mine make me a gear to go on the rear yoke on my t-case and then made a bracket for the stock vss out of the diff and then hooked up the wires. Works like a hot damn. For more info on it, and where I got the idea, check out this link. http://hometown.aol.com/jzettel73/Mi...le_Swap_5.html
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage
Originally Posted by Tdvjensen
I had a friend of mine make me a gear to go on the rear yoke on my t-case and then made a bracket for the stock vss out of the diff and then hooked up the wires. Works like a hot damn. For more info on it, and where I got the idea, check out this link. http://hometown.aol.com/jzettel73/Mi...le_Swap_5.html
<dehijack>
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB Canada
It will still work for you if you put the gear on the driveshaft side of the slip yoke. Just make sure that with the gear on there that you still have enough in the slip yoke to take up suspension travel. You could also put it on the pinion yoke of the 14 bolt if there is enough room there also. A driveline vss doesnt just have to be on the output yoke of the t-case. And have you considered a sterling 10.25 out of a 3/4 or 1 ton. They already have the tone ring in the diff and all you have to do is reset your psom to match the 120 teeth of the tone ring instead of 108.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB Canada
You are still only 2wd though, and body lifts are tacky. Plus a locker will get you into some tight spaces but there are so many places I have taken my truck that 2wd would have not even come close. I agree that it is a lot of work, and would be simpler to purchase a 4wd and start modifying it, but each to there own.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage
Originally Posted by Tdvjensen
It will still work for you if you put the gear on the driveshaft side of the slip yoke. Just make sure that with the gear on there that you still have enough in the slip yoke to take up suspension travel. You could also put it on the pinion yoke of the 14 bolt if there is enough room there also. A driveline vss doesnt just have to be on the output yoke of the t-case. And have you considered a sterling 10.25 out of a 3/4 or 1 ton. They already have the tone ring in the diff and all you have to do is reset your psom to match the 120 teeth of the tone ring instead of 108.