Right now I have a 78 f-250 2 wheel. I'm interested in making it a 4 wheel drive. Does anybody make a book to help do the swap or can it even be done? I hope it can be. I think it will be a great learning experience So if you can help please let me know. thanks

 

While not impossible, It will be cheaper and quicker in the long run to sell your truck and buy a 4wd truck. (Or buy a 4wd frame with rusted out body and put your nice body on it)

Now after the warning, if your truck has a front beam axle held on by u-bolts, just put an drive axle where the beam axle is, and hook it up to power. You will need a 4x4 tranny, 4x4 transfer case, and the front axle, also a front and shorter rear driveshaft. If it has some kind of IFS, then it will require spring perches to be welded on. This is not the place to learn welding (anywhere in this conversion), as all welds will be structurally significant.

If you are merely seeking to expand your off road travels, then a locker in the rear axle and a winch in the front bumper, along with some decent size and tread tires, will probably get you through most situations. You'll eventually need these with a 4x4 anyway, as they have not yet invented the unstuckable 4x4, and you always want to go just a little farther.

 

Great Project,but it needs to be a Labor of love.A total build up or conversion can get to be a pain in the ***.I dont know of any book that describes the process,but its easier know than it used to be.There are many companies these days making addapters for almost anything.A good place to start would be to buy some off road magazines,and look at the upgrades that are available,and so on.Then you need to decide what kind of a 4 x 4 are you looking to build? This is probably the most important question,so that you dont waste your time and money. you should have a straight front axle on your truck so you should be able to do a simple front axle install.One of the best front axles is the Dana 60 from a newer (90 and up)Ford 1 ton,they were also available on Dodge 3/4 & 1 tons from 94 to 96 and on Chevy 1 tons from 77 to 91. I need to know what kind of motor and trans you have,(or plan on having),in order to take the next steps.If you start with the front axle you can take your time build it right and,(lockers,gear ratio,steering linkage,brake set up,etc.)Then you can install it and work out any problems,before you actually have to install the new drive line components to it.That way your truck is not down for to long,and if you install a different gear ratio than is currently in your rear axle,you can still drive your truck untill you change the ring and pinion in the rear.If you are going to raise it that would be a good next step.If you want big tires(35" or more) you need at least a 4" lift but I would go 6".With the bigger tires I would gear the axles at 4.56:1 ratio.After your lifted,have the matching gear ratio in the front and rear,have your new tires and wheels,and all the bugs worked out of the front end.Then you can start looking at installing a new or modified tranny to accept a transfer case.If you go with a different tranny you can build it up along with the transfer case,all in advance and when you have all of your components ready, do your swap in a weekend,(with any luck).Good luck,Keep me posted if you really decide to do this.I have a radically modified F250 that I use in competetive Mud Boggs,and I am currently modifying an 89 Jeep Wrangler,(just swapped a Dana 44 front axle,building a Ford 9" rear axle and am looking for a 302HO with tranny from a mustang),(in just about the same order I suggested for your conversion. I have been through a lot of the problems that you will come up against. Later,
Jeff

 

Hey man, I am not totally positive on this but I have heard that 67-72 2x4 and 4x4 frames are the same but as for 73-79 they are two totally different animals.

I believe its nearly impossible ($$$$) with your setup.

I suggest you look around for a 73-79 3/4 ton 4x4 frame with axles and transfercase. You will get nickled and dimed to death on all of the 4x4 parts.

I had been looking for a 73-79 f250 3/4 ton 4x4 for a while. I just bought one for $700 from a farmer nearby. It was sitting out by his barn. It is complete w/ one ton axles, Eidlebrock intake and carb, 400M engine, A/C, canopy, just needs a bed (rusty)! And it runs great!

There are deals out there. I don't know where you live but I suggest that you look into nearby rural towns. Drive down back roads and look next to barns!! Sounds crazy but I have found a few trucks that way and cheep!!

Cheers,

And good luck!

Harper

 

Harper,
You mention the 73 - 79 models as a good starting point.I am not sure what your imformation is considering as a good project truck. there were big changes in the F250 series between 76 and 77. My very first new car purchase was actually a 77 F250 with a 460 that I purchased just out of high school. The front axles went from a dana 44 up to 76 to a Dana 44 reverse in 77. I would not consider either one of these as a premier axle for a full size truck with any hard core wheelin aspirations. They were all supplied with a Dana 60 rear or in some cases a Dana 61 ??? nobody even knows that it exhists(the dana 61) and Im not sure what the differences were between the 60 and the 61,but Ive been told its best to avoid trying to build one??? In any case the 4x4 build is still going to be the same. You will have to decide on a tranny and transfer case but adapters are available nowadays to use almost any combo. A donor truck is deffinitely the way to go,but make sure that you have a donor with a potential to use the lions share of parts or you will have 2 eye sores in your garage. what are you planning for your new truck? What year and what axles(front and rear),what tranny and transfer case? Bottom line is conversions are not that tough but anyone would be $$$ foolish to begin without doing a lot of homework and establishing a good vision of what you are trying to build.It can deffinitely get expensive,(gear ratio changes and installing lockers on both axles can cost about $2000 using new parts)and that would be true on any year make or model. My advice would be "look before you leap",(its not everyones cup of tea).
Later,
Jeff

 

h8monday,

You are exactly correct. In 1977.5 the f-250 4x4 (highboy) got a 3" narrower frame and a lower set of springs among other changes. I was just trying point out the fact that he could use his body on any of these years.

Thanks

Harper

 

4x4 power magazine did this conversion on a mid70's f150 (I think it was late 98 or early 99) over 4-5 issues. They used a coil spring setup. It involved boxing the frame among other changes. It did not look that difficult but looks can be decieving. I looked into doing this conversion with leaf springs on my 74 f-100 using a divorced transfer case. If I do it I'll find a donor vehicle and duplicate it. HR

 

First, let me say, great project!Take your time, its a tedious project, but very self gratifying if done right.Ok, first, if you have a solid beam axle, youll already have spring perches, so lets start there.
Youll need a solid front axle, preferably a Dana 60, try contacting-Boyce Equipment and truck parts, phone # 1-800-748-4269.They sell rebuilt axles, from dana 44 up to 2 1/2 ton military units.You can disc brakes , lockers and differentials, etc.
Ive done several swaps like the one you propose, but my love affair is with 1967-1972 ford trucks.Youll want a transfer case, Id suggest the dana 24, it is divorce mounted, so with a driveshaft between the tranny and transfer case, it allows you to drop the t-case, to correct driveshaft angles, after a lift.An excellent tranny to mate to this case is the NP 435 and the borg warner T-18.With these trannies and t-cases, the front output shaft is on the driver side.
You can use a divorce mounted NP205, they came on chevy and dodge trucks.The dodge 205 has four 5/8 coarse thread holes on top of the housing.The chevy unit has two on top , two on the side.You can easily fabricate mounts for either one.The front output shaft is on the passenger side with the 205's.You can also use the Rockwell T-221, found in 60's GMC trucks.It has a rear output shaft lower than any other fullsize case, so its great for correcting driveline angles.
The T-221 also is gear driven and has a 194:1 low range, excellent.Ok, now youll need steering correction.You can fabricate your own setup, and pray it works.But, Id suggest calling Dynatrac, theyll build you a custom crossover steering system.Theyre # is-714-596-4461, you can get a custom dana 60 axle from them too, but youll pay a chunk of change.
If you want to go with large tires, youll need powersteering, its highly suggested.Dont use any of the Ford pumps, theyre just whining , smoking ##### boxes.You should look for a saginaw pump, usually found in GM and Chevy trucks.But if not, then contact the company, Jack-It.The # is 1-888-452-2548,they can set you up with a pump setup and reinforcing brackets,etc.Your steering box is fine to use, I use a box off a 78 f-350 2WD now, on my 68 high boy.
Lastly, if you are on a budget, then look around for a 1977 f-250, it has the np435, dana 24 and the driveshafts you need, hell all youd have to do is graft the running gear over to your rig. Well, I hope Ive been of some assistance to you.Keep suckin gas and haulin #####!

 

lots of good input in these replies.
my two cents is similar to matt's. the frames are different on 4x4's. you will have to do a lot of work to get this done.
the easiest swap is 80-96 f150. it is a bolt in swap if you are trying to go from 4x2 to 4x4 in those years.

 

I am sure glad you said that Billy... I was about to ask about those years. I have a great '83 F-100 2WD and a piece of junk '84 Bronco 4WD. But the running gear is good so I was planning on using the Bronco as a donor to make the pickup 4WD! They both have small block C-6 and 9" rear which should help.

What I don't know... the Bronco IFS axle pivots aren't in the same place as the twin i-beam pivots. I havnet looked closely yet... will the Bronco pivot brackets bolt onto the pickup frame? Are there holes drilled in the right place already or am I going to have to locate and drill?

Also, I assume I need a shorter driveshaft because of the transfer case. Anyone know what length I need to get it cut to?

I had already planned to do it in stages, rebuilding everything first as mentioned above.

Thanks!

Darren

 

darren, i would get under the trucks and look again to see if pivot points are in same spot. on 85 fi50 and 88 f150 that i swapped parts around on , the points are identical.
from what i have seen, the differences may be either you have a lift kit on one or the other truck, or you may have a forged axle on 2wd instead of stamped steel axle. the stamped axle will have ball joints to connect spindles to axle, the forged will have spindlepins.
the frames should still be the same, so i think you can put brackets from bronco onto f150. they are probably on with rivets, but can be ground or burned off, and replaced with grade 8 bolts.
you can get driveshaft cut or made at a good truck shop or driveline specialist.

 

Yeah, man, get a 4wd truck, same year or equivalent as yours, with the engine burned out, or body all rusted, whatever, for a couple hundred dollars, and swap the engine and body from your good truck over to the 4wd frame that's under the bad truck. It'll be WAY less of a headache, and it'll probably cost quite a bit less. You can always upgrade those axles later, but the frame from a stock 4wd will make welding and stuff largely unnecessary.


Greg

 

thats an oldy 18 july 1999.
a d61 has the ring gear spacing moved to allow taller ratios without having a ring gear that is 3" thick. so its good for hiway haulers but wont readily accept 4.88-5.13 type.