2x4 to 4x4 conversion?
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Joined: Apr 2001
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2x4 to 4x4 conversion?
I have 1996 Shortbed 2x4 F-150, I6 & M50D p.o.s. tranny. 97K mi.
I have the opportunity to acquire, very cheaply, a 1994 F150 4x4 that was totaled by the insurance after a rollover. The potential donor truck has 3.55 differentials and a 4-speed manual tranny (haven't looked yet to see whether it's another M50D or something better). It has 77K mi.
My brain is cooking up a plan to scarf all the usable bits off this thing (having a spare 300 in the garage would be nice) and graft the 4x4 stuff onto my truck. The body is toast, but the running gear should be OK according to my source.
Does anyone know if I have a chance in h-e-doublehockeysticks of making this work? I can't recall that I've ever seen a shortbed 4x4, but that might be just because I've never looked.
Can anyone think of any Gotchas! or showstoppers that I should be aware of?
I have the opportunity to acquire, very cheaply, a 1994 F150 4x4 that was totaled by the insurance after a rollover. The potential donor truck has 3.55 differentials and a 4-speed manual tranny (haven't looked yet to see whether it's another M50D or something better). It has 77K mi.
My brain is cooking up a plan to scarf all the usable bits off this thing (having a spare 300 in the garage would be nice) and graft the 4x4 stuff onto my truck. The body is toast, but the running gear should be OK according to my source.
Does anyone know if I have a chance in h-e-doublehockeysticks of making this work? I can't recall that I've ever seen a shortbed 4x4, but that might be just because I've never looked.
Can anyone think of any Gotchas! or showstoppers that I should be aware of?
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 661
Likes: 1
From: Villa Ridge, MO
2x4 to 4x4 conversion?
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 16-Jun-01 AT 03:22 PM (EST)[/font][p]
It really depends how much different your truck and the doner are. As i see you have it easer than i did. All you really have to do it swap out the trans and T-case and cut an extra hole in the floor. The front drive shaft will match up do to the fact that you are not changing that length. BUT your back drive shaft will have to be shortened. But that is not a big deal. Ran me less than $75 and had it back in half a day. Make sure you keep the ratios same in the axles!!! One thing i did leave out is that you will have to swap out the trans cross member. That is a biggie due to the fact that you did that extra bend to clear the front D-shaft. Read my tech artical and if you have any other questions let me know via e-mail. I have done this and its basicaly bolt up. Good luck!
Dan "Mudinford" MacDonald
mud-n-ford86(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
Rather be pushing a Ford than driving a Chevy.
Like A Rock......In Water!
It really depends how much different your truck and the doner are. As i see you have it easer than i did. All you really have to do it swap out the trans and T-case and cut an extra hole in the floor. The front drive shaft will match up do to the fact that you are not changing that length. BUT your back drive shaft will have to be shortened. But that is not a big deal. Ran me less than $75 and had it back in half a day. Make sure you keep the ratios same in the axles!!! One thing i did leave out is that you will have to swap out the trans cross member. That is a biggie due to the fact that you did that extra bend to clear the front D-shaft. Read my tech artical and if you have any other questions let me know via e-mail. I have done this and its basicaly bolt up. Good luck!
Dan "Mudinford" MacDonald
mud-n-ford86(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
Rather be pushing a Ford than driving a Chevy.
Like A Rock......In Water!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
Likes: 17
From: Dryden, ON, Canada
2x4 to 4x4 conversion?
The Bronco actually has a shorter wheelbase than your SWB... They did come from that factory, and are fairly common around here anyway. My truck was 2wd, I converted it to 4x4, and I'm back to 2wd while I re-build my front axle....
Evan MacDonald
82 F100 FlareSide 2wd
HD 300-6 9.5:1 CR
Clifford 270H cam
Hedman Hedder
SBC valved 66 240 head
Headlight Relays - Delanty Style
NP435(6.69 low)
3.55 Geared ARB'd 9"
31x10.50/15 Cooper Discoverer LT's
Evan MacDonald
82 F100 FlareSide 2wd
HD 300-6 9.5:1 CR
Clifford 270H cam
Hedman Hedder
SBC valved 66 240 head
Headlight Relays - Delanty Style
NP435(6.69 low)
3.55 Geared ARB'd 9"
31x10.50/15 Cooper Discoverer LT's
