OK, i got a steal on a 2003 2wd f-250. Now I am wondering; if I unbolt and remove the TTB susension, can i simply bolt in a newer model (coil spring) front axle? Any ideas, thoughts, or concerns?

 

I know this has been done before some one should chime in soon.

 

for one thing ur better off buying a donor truck because all of the parts will be their. I have been thinking bout this conversion on my truck.

 

If you really did buy that truck for a steal, flip it and make some profit. Then buy a 4x4. Conversions are much more expensive than what I just suggested.

 

I agree, a conversion will get pricey, better to find a 4x4

 

Ya, but while this thread is going, i might as well ask. What do u do about the person whos truck has to much sentamental value but its 2wd and they want to make it 4wd? Well thats me. Whats invovle besides buying a donor truck?

 

by the way biggrey, keep up the awesome vids on youtube!

 

Actually, it is simpler than you think. From what I can tell, the early model two wheel drive spring buckets are the same as the 05-06 spring buckets. In theory, it should be largely bolt in and based on my assumption that the buckets are the same, it is actually much easier to go from pre-05 2x4 to 05-4x4, than it is to go from leaf springs to coil springs. There may be some drilling required at the brackets that mount on the rear portion of the frame rails, but the early model frames are really not as different from the 05+ frames as ford would love us to think.

The guy that has done this already is on the excursion forum. Do a search in the excursion forum and it should pop up. Something you need to remember is that the newer axles are wider and the rear axle will need to be swapped out as well to match the wider front. This will also mean that you will need at least 17" rims to clear the larger brakes. If you love the truck and you can find the parts, what the heck, do it. But unless you have a nice place to work and a fair amount of lifting tools, it will be a LOT of work.

- edit - Installing a leaf sprung front end IS 100% bolt in and is really not that difficult. The hard part is getting the tranny and transfercase and drivshaft lengths straight. Easiest way to get everything is look for a rollover or something and ****** the undercarraige.

 

Save a ton of money and work. SELL IT , Buy a 4x4. You won't be sorry. A bad conversion and your stuck with it and NOBODY will buy it.

 

you can probly go with either spring I would go with leaf springs hang the shackels,shocks,pittman arm and brakes then you can hang that new trans and transfer case new crossmember then mesaure that new set of drive shafts add all that up and you will know if it really is love!!!

 

I was thinking that I wanted to keep the coils, but if leaf springs are a bolt-on??? I wonder if the radius-arm mounts and trac-bar mounts are the same? Those are the biggest issues I can think of right now, besides buying an axle.

I also was thinking that i would just hang a divorce mount t-case and not have to switch the trans out, just make three new driveshafts.

 

Leaf springs are most definitely bolt up, you just need to find a wrecked truck to get all the parts. Stay away from rollovers. Look for rear enders, or burnouts. I think a divorced T-case would be fairly hard, there is a hole in the floor already where a floor mounted shifter would go for the transfer case lever. Hardest thing about a divorced T-case is rigging up the controls.

 

I thought coils would be easier. But mayb i was wrong. Some guy in the EX forum bolted up a 05 front end and a 05 rear end to his excursion. But i dont kno if his truck started out to be a 2wd platform??

 

with the $ youll spend doing this, go buy a older 4X4 250 or 150 to play with. do you need 4x4 on the 2wd truck or do you just want it? if you buy another one, them you have another cool toy.

 

It wasn't on a super duty. But when I was a young man (25 years ago) I took on a project of making my 2wd pick-up into a 4wd. I got it done, but it was the biggest pain in the butt projects I have ever done. It never was completely right, even though I did have a donor truck for parts. Speaking from experience, I would not recommend anyone to do this. Unless you just enjoy aggravation :P