2002 4.2 V6 reg cab short bed 2wd truck

to convert to a 4wd usinga parts truck, I am guessing that the required changes are

rear part of the tranny (to mount the T-case to),
T-case, entire front suspension
lower part of the steering
4wd shifting eletronics
rear driveshaft, front DS of course as well

I coulda sworn I had a longer list earlier, so what else am I missing right now?


Now for the funner part of what I am wanting to do.

V6 4wd to V8 4wd.
the v8 will likely bave a diff tranny, diff T-case, so diff driveshafts
beefier front suspension, beffier rear-end and front diff
engine mounts and eletronics of course
increased fuel delivery system?

ok, now for the true part of the project that could not have been bought at Ford....
Will a F-250/350 6 speed (I think their 5.4 sticks are 6 speeds? or are they 5? anyways...) will that fit in a F-150? I don't believe that the 150 was ever offered with a stick behind the 5.4 correct?



So, the ultimate goal, a reg cab swb 4wd 5.4 with a stick....from a base model p/u

I can possibly nab a wrecked FX4 5.4 SCrew, but would need to locate a tranny...I don't imagine taht would be TOO difficult....

the other option is to sell the '02 and buy a bike....after fixing the '91 Lariat...which I want to do anyways....do Ireally need a 91 and '02 4wd?...teh 02 would be funner in the mud (swb, very light..almost like a bronco), t he 91 better on teh road...longer wheel base, more comfy ride imo, feels more like a TRUCK

but of course I would have work I want to do to the 91, like an engine upgrade...if I move to arkansas, this means a carburated FE (no inspections) if I stay here in La, that means a souped up 351 unless I can find a way around regs for a bigger motor.

 

My opinion is if you want a 97-03 4wd with a v8, sell your and buy one. If i had the money i would trade my truck in and buy a ex. cab 4wd with a 5.4

 

If I wanted a 4x4 for less $$ I'd buy a complete wrecked 4x4 that could be salvaged and buy a 4x2 donor truck that could "fill in the blanks". I wouldn't cut up a good truck unless I'd got it cheap.

There are plenty of wrecks out there, and if you make friends with a used car dealer who buys at auction he might let you buy through him and pay him a fair markup.

Frames are often easy to have straightened. I'd do something like a cab swap if the 4x4 cab were hit too hard or lightly burned. (Cruise control fires that get put out in time put a lot of salvage Fords into auctions. You'll recognise the burned area around the master cylinder.)

 

Save yourself the time, headaches, and money, and sell your 2WD and buy a 4WD.

The swap is much, much more complicated than it seems.

Oh, and SEARCH! This has been covered many times before.

 

Just buy a 4x4 5.4. That's going to be the easiest, and likely cheapest way to do this.

Now I was you, I'd sell both trucks and use the money to buy or at least make a down payment on what you really want. An F150 super or crew cab can be set up to do some moderate off roading and still be a daily driver.

Mike

 

I'm in the middle of it.....FOR TWO YEARS NOW!!!!

My wife and I got into it about this...I have almost 20k in the swap.

Yes, I am going extreme....but still....

Here are a few items (if you are still considering it) that will come and bite you in the ***....

E40D or 4R100 are a MUST behind a 5.4. Mine was 3600 from ArtCarr. Because there is no "stick" offering with the 5.4, you need to consider that the computer is going to act retarded....unless you invest in a custom tune (via dyno)....

The cross member has to be changed. You should have several bolts in your frame rails where the current cross member is. The adaptor for your trans for the transfer case (obviously) pushes the "tail shaft" placement back. At first glance, it would seem as easy as relocating you current cross member back to accomodate. Nahhhh. $130 later, you will see that the "right" cross member actually mounts opposite of the stock configuration in the existing holes....but more importantly....the pitch on the tailshaft housing MOUNT is at a different angle.....keeping the drive angle correct.

Next....aside from the hole in the floor that you don't have yet, think of the shifter and linkage for the 4wd. If you are going to go Shift On The Fly (I don't think this is possible with a stick, but I am not sure) then you are talking about significant wiring....which will be required anyway AFTER you purchase your new ECM/ECU.......

And of course....this all dovetails into the need for a new engine bay harness. Not just the engine, but the bay harness....and of course....what it mates to below the brake booster.

Not sure about 2002, but I have torsion bars. Bad news here too. The transfer ends up in the middle of the cross brace there too, so you have to lengthen them. I had ZERO luck getting a part number for the longer bar with appropriate load without a vin......and my vin isn't the one I needed. Long gone are the days when a good parts guy can just tell you what you need....they need a pn or a vin...

I'm not trying to discourage you. I found out as I went......and I started with a v-6 4x4. From the sounds of it, I was already ahead of the game compared to where you are starting from.....and I am still paying. In fact, I have shift cables and brackets arriving tomorrow.....so the build goes...

 

Always fun to consider the grueling $10,000 project with a $5000 lack luster result. You'd need to have a lot of spare time on your hands to complete such a swap.

What you seem to "really need" is an "ultimate goal". If I was contemplating moving I wouldn't be looking to "nab a wrecked" F150 & dismantle a presumably running "base model p/u". My priority would be "fixing the '91 Lariat". Don't be surprised if the menu might have yet an "other option".

 

"You'd need to have a lot of spare time on your hands to complete such a swap."

You need access to CHEAP truck donors for doing this stuff to make any economic sense.

 

how badly wrecked is the screw?

 

Ahhhhh fuggg-it just straight axle the SOB that's what I'm doing.....I had a '97 4wd parts truck and THOUGHT about doing the swap....for about 5 minutes. Screw that!!!! You're in Louisiana why you need to 4x4s anyways? not like ya get snow!!!!

 

It'sa redneck thing....

 

Never heard of mud in Honkytonkville?

 

yeah but we got separate trucks for the mud up here. I'm sure we're not the only place on earth, but you know. LOL. I personally have a different truck for every possible weather/terrain type- dry, rain, mud, dirt, grass, snow, ice, blizzard, hurricane......you name it I'm ready for it LOL