4wd frame graft
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,181
Likes: 3
From: Across from the neighbors
4wd frame graft
Ok i want this 4wd conversion bad. I saw a post from a few years back where a guy grafted the front section of a 4wd frame to his 2wd frame. does anyone know much about doing this? the frames are close in the width measurement. the cutting and squaring up wont be a hassle its the welding part im worried about. I weld for a living but ive never welded this magnatude on a truck frame. Does anyone know how much heat the frame will take at one time before it warps? Im usuing a 220 mig welder if that helps. And also how much bracing will be needed?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,181
Likes: 3
From: Across from the neighbors
Yeah sorry bout that. What i have is a rust free 79 F-350 Crew Cab with an 8 ft bed. Its 2wd right now and i want it to be 4wd. I cant find out anything that bolts directly on. So i was wondering if i could graft the front frame sections from a 79 F-250 4wd onto it. I read a thread on here from a few years back about a guy that did it but i cant seem to get ahold of him. If anyone has done a 4wd swap on a truck like this please enlighten me. Im willing to use either leaves or coils up front. I have a field full of 150 and 250 4wds so parts are plentiful. Keep in mind my truck has the twin i- beam setup with radius arms and coils now. thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,377
Likes: 2
From: Elkhart IN
It wouldnt be that hard to put a solid axle under it, it would just take a trac bar mount. If you just want it for extra traction, and not to beat on you could get a dana 44, and swap the knuckles and whatnot to make it 8 lug. Im not sure on all of it though. I would think the spacing on buckets would be the same, so just slap it under there and weld on a trac bar bracket.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,181
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From: Across from the neighbors
Thats what i was thinkin was to use the 150 dana 44 front with the 8 lug knuckles and coil springs. the only thing im worried about there is that the coil buckets are chaped different between the 2wd and 4wd. Also how can i get it spuare with the radious arm brakets so it will track right.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,181
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From: Across from the neighbors
The coil buckets on the 2wd have diff mounting holes and the radius arms on the 4wd are close to a foot longer than the 2wd. the 4wd radius arms bolt to the tranny/transfer crossmember which is totally diff than the 2wd but i might go that way anyhow. also the 2wd has a crossmember under the motor whereas the 4wd is infront so i have to box the frame for the mounts and the steering box
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
> I have a field full of 150 and 250 4wds so parts are plentiful.
Make sure you have a rear sump oil pan for your engine, 2x4s are usually front sump and the steering box/pitman arm are backwards compared to the 4x4. Depending on the engine, it may be look like two humps or be almost impossible to find aftermarket (example FE-390) pans without spending $300.
When doing the conversion it is a good time to fix any leaking rear main seals.
FWIW: I think for a SAS a leaf spring setup is the only way to go.
Make sure you have a rear sump oil pan for your engine, 2x4s are usually front sump and the steering box/pitman arm are backwards compared to the 4x4. Depending on the engine, it may be look like two humps or be almost impossible to find aftermarket (example FE-390) pans without spending $300.
When doing the conversion it is a good time to fix any leaking rear main seals.
FWIW: I think for a SAS a leaf spring setup is the only way to go.
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Joined: May 2000
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From: Senoia, GA
Originally Posted by crazyredneckanyhow
The coil buckets on the 2wd have diff mounting holes
i have some extra buckets as well as radius arm mounts
-cutts-
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,587
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From: Virginia Beach
You could possibly convert this to 4x4 without any major frame grafting if you either:
A. Put about 8 inches of lift on the front to clear the engine cross member. .
or,
B. Cut a nice BIG chunk out of the drivers side of the cross member to clear the diff pumpkin. Reinforce to suit.
The front end is the biggest obstacle to the conversion. And that ostacle is finding a way to get the diff pumpkin under there without it bashing into the crossmember when ever you get in it. I'd think a lifted coil spring setup with some trimming of the drivers side of the crossmember would be the easiest way to go about it. Just be sure to reinforce any areas you trim!!!
Also, do yourself a huge favor and mount a divorced Tcase mid ship of the truck. It will make your life so much easier all around in this conversion. You'll need to come up with a way to mount it, or steal the crossmember from a high-boy.
A. Put about 8 inches of lift on the front to clear the engine cross member. .
or,
B. Cut a nice BIG chunk out of the drivers side of the cross member to clear the diff pumpkin. Reinforce to suit.
The front end is the biggest obstacle to the conversion. And that ostacle is finding a way to get the diff pumpkin under there without it bashing into the crossmember when ever you get in it. I'd think a lifted coil spring setup with some trimming of the drivers side of the crossmember would be the easiest way to go about it. Just be sure to reinforce any areas you trim!!!
Also, do yourself a huge favor and mount a divorced Tcase mid ship of the truck. It will make your life so much easier all around in this conversion. You'll need to come up with a way to mount it, or steal the crossmember from a high-boy.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,181
Likes: 3
From: Across from the neighbors
ok well i can fab up a new crossmember and bolt on the 4wd motor mounts. the frame in the front is actually identical to a highboy. the frame rails are open and there is no front to the frame rails there is a bracket on each side rivited to the frame and then the bumper is attached. and you know how a highboy has the bracket that goes all the way across the front that the springs bolt to? well my truck has the holes for it. my 2wd and my neighbors highboy are identical in the front fmae section. but i need that front spring mount and i would have it made but there are no highboys around here that i can get for less than 1700. id buy a whole truck but im not putin that much into parts. no i dont have a way to take pics and upload them right now im still tryin to get the digital camera program to load on my computer
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
> B. Cut a nice BIG chunk out of the drivers side of the cross member to clear
> the diff pumpkin. Reinforce to suit.
What they did on my van 4x4 conversion.
> but i need that front spring mount and i would have it made
If you are talking leaf springs, you can make it yourself using 1/4"+ plate steel and a sawzall. Or buy channel and use that.
I agree, shackle at rear.
> the diff pumpkin. Reinforce to suit.
What they did on my van 4x4 conversion.
> but i need that front spring mount and i would have it made
If you are talking leaf springs, you can make it yourself using 1/4"+ plate steel and a sawzall. Or buy channel and use that.
I agree, shackle at rear.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,181
Likes: 3
From: Across from the neighbors
well i jsut talked to the neighbor and i guess im buyin his highboy for parts. Its a 76 got a ford racing 460 crate motor and a c6 tranny. divorced transfer case. rust free southern bed new doors , fenders,and hood, new wiring harness has a pioneer system in it reese hitch and new cooper 33x 12.50 mud tires all for the small some of $1700 but itll be worth it when i get the crew cab together. so now ive got the front spring mount and a divorced transfer case all i need to do now is figured out how to get the shackles in right and ill be set. might have to get a buddy to help there and measure 300 times lol but i should be able to get it right
