I am buying a 4x4 pickup to use as parts on my other pickup which is 2x4. anyone know what would have to be done to keep my 2x4 frame? or would it be best to just swap the bodies over. ive read a post saying that the 2x4 crossmember is much bigger. and gets in the way. i would like to keep my coilspring front end if at all possible. both have a 400 and a 4 speed manual transmission. The post i read off of was for a supercab though thats the reason why i made a seperate post. Didnt know the differences in frames to be honest. Anyone familiar with this any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

are you wanting a 2x4 or a 4x4?

 

4x4. i just want to use the 2x4 frame.

 

to convert a 2x4 frame to a 4x4 takes a lot of fabrication. it is much easier just to use the 4x4 frame. I believe the crossmember in the 2x4 frame is what causes most of your problem.

 

the 79 i am buying which is the 4x4 im going to rip everything i need then haul the rest for scrap. the 78 which is in my avatar and what im trying to restore is 2x4. what kind of fab work am i looking at? i am in the military and their is an on base hobby shop to do everything i need just about. they have everything from lifts to welders to pneumatic saws.

 

there are more that know more about this than me but I am pretty sure the cross member has to be cut out modified and rewelded or something along those lines. there are a few threads on here somewhere stating what needs to be done for the conversion. a body swap would be a ton easier and since you will be using the military hobby shop time is money since you have to rent the bay to work in

 

you reading my thread on my supercab 4x4 conversion?

A lot of the confusion involved in swapping a 2wd to 4wd is the differences in frames between 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks. The half ton 4x4 trucks and bronco have coil sprung front ends. 3/4 ton and up are leaf sprung. All supercab 4x4's are leaf sprung. not sure on the crews....

The easiest would be to swap frames. Next would be leaf sprung and huge lift. Then mod the crossember and a leaf swap. and the hardest will be the coil swap.

I know for a fact that significant modification is required to the front crossmember. or a huge lift of at least 6-8 inches to clear the crossmember. the 2x4 crossmember is u shaped and mounts under the engine, it is also the mounting point for the front suspension arms. The 4x4 crossmember is mounted forward of the engine and is straight between the rails. I don't know if the spring bucket position on the 2wd frame is in the correct position for a 4wd axle or if the radias arm brackets are the same. or if the frame is even the same where the RA brackets mount. I am waiting for a truck to take measurements from as I am doing a custom Supercab coilsprung 4x4 swap. If you don't have a significant amount of fab skills I would suggest swapping the frame....good luck.

 

yes it was your post. and i dont have many fab skills under my belt at all so i have decided to just switch frames. before i switch the body though im gonna take the time and por 15 the frame and restore the frame to a much better look.

 

reviving an old post i know. but i ended up not getting the other truck to swap onto. so now i have a question. will the body swap on any other f250 frame from 73-79 or are there interchangeability issues?

 

Only issue you could potentially encounter are mounting holes, which is easily enough remedied with a drill and some sharp drill bits.

 

I am doing this right now. I have 73 F100 that I have had for about 17 years. I quit driving it about 15 years ago. I finally found a deal on a 79 f250 4x4 parts truck and started my project. I have stripped the 79 down to bare frame and components. Sand Blasted the frame. I am building the front and rear diffs now. Before I took the diffs off, I mocked up a 351W with a Chevy Nv4500 and Bw 4401 transfer case. Once I get the frame assembly painted and back together, I will pull the body off the 73 and start the transplant. The bed bolts are the only thing I have heard are slightly different. Keep the center hump from the F250 cab, you will need it.

Good luck.

Doug

 

lol im doing all that u are doing. but im gonna keep my 400 and rv cam/351c head it.