I have a 1973 SCS pretty much rust free, perfect bed, all original. It belonged to my father who has recently passed, and he had always said he loved the truck but wished it was 4x4.

I have a rust bucket 75 highboy 4x4 that I am SERIOUSLY considering mounting the super camper special on as tribute to dear old dad. Yes, I KNOW the wheelbase is different.

This brings me to 3 questions:

1) Is the SCS so rare and desirable that I would be ruining it by doing this swap?

2) If I proceed with the scs/highboy 4x4 conversion, Can I just move the axle/springs back on the highboy frame to 140"?

3) Has anyone else on this forum ever done an SCS/140" LWB four wheel drive conversion?

.....Before I get flamed for this, YES< I am aware of the difference in driveshaft length, and that the frame axle kickups are different..... among other things. I am no stranger to frabrication, I am trying to get some opinions and ideas from seasoned members on this. If it looks to be too much of a bad idea, I will sell dad's truck and mount a 71 F-100 on the highboy frame. But both he and I had really REALLY wanted a 4x4 SCS. This is something both he and I had always envisioned, and I want to move forward with this. But I need outside encouragement/ criticism / and tech info before I butcher two good trucks or create a dream from two piles.

Input is appreciated.

Thank you.

 

Don't mess up a Super Camper Special, if you do this, do it professionally and don't go cutting the frame.
I've thought of converting my Super Camper Special, But it doesn't snow in Southern California much, so it's unnecessary.
Just take all the 4x4 parts such as differentials and what not and put them on your Super Camper Special frame.
It's gonna be a-lot of work, you should contact 75F350 he knows a-lot about 4x4s, and can have more input on this.

 

I have the exact same trucks you have. A '73 SCS and a '75 Highboy. While I'm not going to do anything to the Highboy, I'm robbing the D70 rear out of the SCS to put in the HB. The axles from the HB are going under the SCS. I plan to put a D60 front under the HB.

I've crawled under the SCS and found they have the same mounting holes under the frame horns to mount the forward spring hanger brackets. To install the shackle mount would require drilling holes near the cab mount.

I have another HB chassis that I'm robbing parts off to put in the SCS. Such parts are like the engine crossmember and inner frame rail pieces to box it. I will only need the 4" blocks in the rear to complete the rear.

I will probably be tackling this task when spring gets here. Everything will be a direct swap and I will only need to drill a few holes and do some cutting on welds/beads and reweld the new frame pieces in.

I plan on keeping the 140" wheelbase, too. I will also swap in the transfer case crossmember from the HB into the SCS. I'm still deciding on what to do for power steering however.

 

You don't need no Power Steering, my friend...
That just makes it all the more "fun" to drive.

 

Well... I know what it's like to take over a vehicle from a relative who's passed...

If it were me, I'd find a way to make that truck a 4x4 - whatever it takes - if that was your father's wish, then I say go for it.

I don't have any answers on how to go about doing this but, there are threads on this forum from people who have done the 2WD to 4WD conversion - With the information from those threads and the will to do the work, anything is possible.

Good Luck!

 

Use the two frames and stretch it or just strech the highboy frame.
This would be a neat rig.

 

I've been thinking about doing it...

 

I would do it, But I love my truck so much, I couldn't think of messing it up...

 

I understand that. I don't mind doing it to mine because the body has bondo all over it. Not real sure if I'm going to keep it or not. I'm thinking of converting it to 4x and selling it back out. Just be unique to see something that was never offered from the factory.

BTW, is there any particular member here who might have a few HB parts? I'm looking for more stuff and don't really want to cut up a frame I have just to convert the SCS to 4x. If I could round up the small pieces I need, then thats saving another HB frame from death.

 

Check the Classified Ads here, and your local Craigslist.
I have an idea of a couple members, but they wouldn't be local to you.

 

Shoot me the member names. I can pay for shipping on the small parts. I don't need the long rails. Just a few brackets, etc.

 

One would be masterbeavis.
Another might be ChaseTruck754.
Another might be Ranger429.
Can't locate the other person I'm Thinkin' of....
PM them, they might have parts...
Also, Check your local Junk Yards.

 

I agree here, don't cut the frame on either, use your highboy stuff under you SCS and the only thing you will need to do is have your SCS drive shaft cut down to fit once everything else is done. Neither drive shaft will work so the long one will need to be cut down or a custom one made.

 

i have actually seen two of them for sale here in CA not to long ago. I saved a pic of one of them.

 

Here, Sense I have just about every picture of every Super Camper Special, I will post the rest of the pictures of the above truck...
1973 F-350 Super Camper Special, Converted to 4x4, 390-V-8, 38" 1/2" Monster Mudders on Alcoa Aluminum Wheels, Manual Transmission. (No it's not mine)








------------------------------------------------------------
Make sure you DO NOT do this...
See the terrible "Hack Job" they did...They cut up the Wheel Wells to accommodate the Tires, sense Super Camper Specials have 140" instead of the normal 133" WheelBase.
1973 F-350 Super Camper Special, On a HiBoy Frame,(Hence the "Hack Job") 460V8, C-6 Automatic Transmission, 4x4, 8" Suspension Lift & 4" Body Lift, Ridin' On 39.5"x15" Super Swampers.