Hey guys

I was wondering if anyone had taken a extended cab shortbed two wheel drive and put it on a 4wd chasis? I was thinking that the regular cab long bed 4X4 might be the same wheel base as the extended cab shortbed. I can get my hands on a 78 extended cab shortbed 460 c6 f150, but its 2wd - I would have to make it a mudslinger - but then you would have a cool looking truck! Anyone been there done that?????

Thanks

 

Close but no cigar. The super cab short bed is longer than the standard cab long bed. The wheelbase of the super cab short bed is 140" (139.5" to be exact), and the wheelbase of the standard cab long bed is 133", so about 6-7" too short. The other problem is that the super cab frame is significantly diferent than the standard cab frame, so it would not be a bolt-in deal, you would have to do some fab work to get that super-cab cab to bolt in.

If you really wanted to do this (and this would be a cool truck because Ford never made a super cab, short bed in 4x4, only 2-wheelers were made), I think it would be easier to convert the 2wd frame into a 4x4. You could use coil springs and radius arms from an F-150 4x4, to give it that factory look (although the F-150 4x4 super cab long beds had leaf springs in the front). Hope this helps. . .

 

Thanks for the reply: So if you did that you would take the front axle, coil overs, and radius arms off the donor 4WD, but would there be room for the transfer case? Would I have to build a crossmember to hang it? Surely someone on here has been down this road and can tell me how bumpy it was.

 

So basically this would be a 2wd to 4wd conversion. Search this site, many have been done. You can think of it in terms of these major points:

1. The front suspension. If you use leaf springs, you need to make the front and rear spring hangers, and attach them to the frame. If you use coils and radius arms, you need to do the same, and also the track bar. I've also seen custom coil-overs with custom made 3 or 4 link suspensions, if you're really motivated. Eiher way you need to modify or relocate the stock 2wd crossmember, and make new motor mounts, as well as new crosmembers for the suspension.

2. The steering box. You will need to use a new steering box from a 4x4 truck, or a Saginaw box will work too, and mount it securelly to the frame (again, more fab work here), and build all of the crossover steering linkage.

3. The transfer case. You can use a transfer case from an F-150/250 4x4, they will all work, and the corresponding transmission, because its different for a 4x4. Of coarse, you will also need to fab up a new crossmember for the tranny/transfercase. But yes it will fit.

4. You will need to have custom driveshafts made, and other misselaneous little things. Its probably easiest to find a donor 4x4 truck and get all the importan pieces from there, like the front axle!

Sounds involved, and it is. But its very doable for an experienced DIYer.