4WD Conversion Project
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
4WD Conversion Project
Hello!
First, a little background: I have an '89 F-250 XLT Lariat Supercab Longbed 2WD with a 7.3L that belonged to my late grandfather. It has an Automatic tranny with no overdrive and a 4:10 rear end. It currently has only 127k miles on it. This truck has huge sentimental value and I know that it wasn't abused. It's simply just a farm truck from central Illinois. When I asked my grandmother why Grandpa didn't buy a 4WD, she simply said that if he got it stuck, he would pull it out with the tractor. Talk about the epitome of practicality!
Anyway, I love this truck and my 2 yr old daughter loves to ride in "Daddy's truck". I feel that I would get more use out of it having overdrive and 4WD. I have an '05 Mustang GT that is my daily driver and living in Colorado, the winter commute of 50 miles to the office tends to suck.
Talking with my mechanic, he suggests getting a fully functional donor truck and just convert from there, as opposed to trying to piece together the parts I would need from junkyards, etc. My plan is this: find an '89 like mine (same body style?) that has a 5-speed manual and 4WD and then start the conversion. This way I can get 4WD and an additional 2 gears.
My truck has the coil-over shocks for the front suspension, and I'm willing to bet that the 4WD would have leaf springs, so I will have a stiffer (understatement of the year) ride than what I have now. My ultimate goal is to have a 4WD truck that I can use in the winter time for the snow and to drive into the office one day a week to keep it in good running order. I understand that I will have to modify the floor of my truck to allow for the gear shifts to come through and that is fine. Do I need to stick with an 89, or will I be safe with a 90 or 91? Can I go with the 1 ton, or do I need to stick with the 3/4 ton? Do I need to find a supercab longbed, or can I get away with a short-bed and just use my current driveshaft?
If I can modify any of my search criteria on auto-trader, I tend to find more vehicles and potentially a better deal
Any help of advice would be greatly appreciated!
-Todd
First, a little background: I have an '89 F-250 XLT Lariat Supercab Longbed 2WD with a 7.3L that belonged to my late grandfather. It has an Automatic tranny with no overdrive and a 4:10 rear end. It currently has only 127k miles on it. This truck has huge sentimental value and I know that it wasn't abused. It's simply just a farm truck from central Illinois. When I asked my grandmother why Grandpa didn't buy a 4WD, she simply said that if he got it stuck, he would pull it out with the tractor. Talk about the epitome of practicality!
Anyway, I love this truck and my 2 yr old daughter loves to ride in "Daddy's truck". I feel that I would get more use out of it having overdrive and 4WD. I have an '05 Mustang GT that is my daily driver and living in Colorado, the winter commute of 50 miles to the office tends to suck.
Talking with my mechanic, he suggests getting a fully functional donor truck and just convert from there, as opposed to trying to piece together the parts I would need from junkyards, etc. My plan is this: find an '89 like mine (same body style?) that has a 5-speed manual and 4WD and then start the conversion. This way I can get 4WD and an additional 2 gears.
My truck has the coil-over shocks for the front suspension, and I'm willing to bet that the 4WD would have leaf springs, so I will have a stiffer (understatement of the year) ride than what I have now. My ultimate goal is to have a 4WD truck that I can use in the winter time for the snow and to drive into the office one day a week to keep it in good running order. I understand that I will have to modify the floor of my truck to allow for the gear shifts to come through and that is fine. Do I need to stick with an 89, or will I be safe with a 90 or 91? Can I go with the 1 ton, or do I need to stick with the 3/4 ton? Do I need to find a supercab longbed, or can I get away with a short-bed and just use my current driveshaft?
If I can modify any of my search criteria on auto-trader, I tend to find more vehicles and potentially a better deal
Any help of advice would be greatly appreciated!
-Todd
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 2
actually the 4wd truck will have a spring and a shock next to it, no leaf springs i would also suggest a doner truck... you might have trouble getting the ttb mounting brackets off of a 4wd truck and it is probably the same price to get lift brackets as it is to get new ones....
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
From: Manton,MI
Keep in mind that the Trans needs to come out of a Diesel truck as the ZF does not have a removeable bell housing. Secondly I would stick with a solid axle and not fart around with TTB. Also I would use the coil spring setup and buils some radius arms for the Dana 60. You probably could weld on some C wedges and use 79 Radius arms. This will cost you a bunch more than you think. You will spend $2500 just for an axle and trans. Also have you priced a clutch for one of these diesels? If you are paying to have this done. WOW Good luck let me know how it turnes out. RB
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 164
Likes: 1
From: Utah
I have done this conversion more that once. not really all that hard. you can get the spring mounts from ford, Track arm bracket from ford and the steering arm is the same. I would also go with a straight axel and not mess with the TTB. as for the T case and tranny you can go with a divorced t case and use the trans you have. this set up is common in older trucks it will give you 3 drive shafts. It is a lot easier and if you use a NP 205 T case it will be all gear drive and a lot stronger. Just a fhought.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
From: Manton,MI
I have done this conversion more that once. not really all that hard. you can get the spring mounts from ford, Track arm bracket from ford and the steering arm is the same. I would also go with a straight axel and not mess with the TTB. as for the T case and tranny you can go with a divorced t case and use the trans you have. this set up is common in older trucks it will give you 3 drive shafts. It is a lot easier and if you use a NP 205 T case it will be all gear drive and a lot stronger. Just a fhought.