what all would have to be changed in order to convert a 4x2 to a 4x4? and how much time would it take? instead of buying another truck to swap parts is there a kit that would do this? I want to do this but my dad is too lazy to help me, and was wondering, for the most part, if it could be a 1 man job.

87 f150 long bed 302 AOD

 

can u weld? do u have the parts? its cheaper to buy a 4x4 than make one!

 

it's actually pretty simple to convert it to 4x4 (87 F150 longbed), you will need the front axle off a 4x4 TTB F150 longbed, trucks between 1980 and 1996 will have what you need. It's a bit of a pain to remove a TTB axle, it can be done by 1 person, 2 makes it easier. With all that said it is a complete bolt on, no welding needed. By finding the exact same truck as yours but is 4x4 and taking all of the parts off of it will make the swap easy, you won't need to mess around with driveshafts. Just remove your 2wd ttb setup and bolt up the new 4x4 ttb axle.

 

usually the best bet is to find a donor truck.....

But then it comes down to how much you really like your truck, 'cause you sure won't get out of it what you put into it when it comes to selling it.


Prolly better selling or trading yours on a 4x4.

 

Sometimes the satisfaction of doing a project like this and finishing it with success by yourself is enough reason to attempt it.

 

80-96 ford 2wd and 4wd suspensions are completely interchangeable. The brakes are almost the same (except 4x4 hubs), the coil springs are the same, the bracketry is the same. The radius arms are different, but similar. It isn't always cheaper to buy a 4x4, because 4wd conversions on these trucks are very easy and can be cheap if he knows what he is doing. You can re-sell the 2wd parts and make most of your money back. There are lots of threads around here on how to convert. I attempted the conversion, but my truck got totalled. "fords ttb, whats wrong with it" was my posts in the 87-96 forum and the 4x4 forum. The 4x4 and 4x2 are the same concept, except the 4x4 has a pumpkin and an axle going through it. You do not have to fabricate anything if you use the TTB to convert. There is 1 crossmember that holds the tranny and the T/C. You will need to change the tailshaft on your tranny for the TC (transfer case) and get the crossmemeber from a 4x4 at the junk yard. The one you have might fit, i'm not sure if the 4x2 tranny crossmember is the same as the 4x4's tranny/TC crossmember. It doesn't have to be heavily altered or rienforced. The crossmember doesn't have to be modified to clear the front driveshaft, that crossmember is removed infavor of the 4x4 crossmember that holds them both up, which is moved back a little from the 4x2's position. The steering doesn't have to be custom made, you can get one from a 4x4, or there is a possibility that the 4x2s fit fine, I'm 80% sure that the 4x2s steering will fit the 4x4. You can easily go to autozone or a parts store and see if the drag links for a 4x4/4x2 have the same part numbers. A conversion from twin I-beam 2wd to 4wd TTB is a bolt in job. The 4wd uses 2' lift blocks in the back, you will need an extended brake line for that if you decide to lift the back as well.


*This was copied from a different post of mine so if something doesn't seem to fit quite right, it's because it was to another post I just edited it so it would give you some information.

 

Hey all, first post Mustanggt221, when you say or quote that all 80-96 conversions are interchangeable, does this include f-250's. I have a 81 extended cab 250 that I am currently rebuilding and would like to add 4WD. Thanks

 

Fusion
You'll need a Dana50IFS from a 3/4 or 1-ton truck (or a front Dana60 solid axle). The D50 is easily identifiable by the leaf springs and "50" cast into the bottom of the differential housing.

221
The crossmember is different for 4WD - it's lower and has the dip for the front d'shaft. Its position fore&aft is determined by the length of the transmission. The rear brake lines (hard & rubber) are the same for 2- & 4WD.

 

Thanks for the reply Steve83. I just installed a new motor in the truck and the 4wd is next on the list. A quick question though, is it recommended to change out the rear springs, I mean are there differences in the ride height between the 4WD and 2WD truck? I have seen some rigs converted to 4WD that sit nose high because the new front axle adds some lift of 1 to 2 inches. Thanks in advance.

 

The 4wd springs are wider than the 2wd springs, but the 4wds are higher because they have 2" lift blocks in the back, the 2wd doesn't.

I mean't all F-150 front suspensions were interchangeable. The F-250 is also IFS but has leaf springs. An F-250 would fit into another F-250 I believe.


The brake lines for the 4wd and 2wd have to be different. I have owned a 95 F-150 2wd and now own a 95 4wd. I put a lift kit on the 2wd, where i put 2.5" lift blocks on the back. Those lift blocks did not fit without extended brake lines. The stock 4wd has 2" lift blocks, and they have pleanty of room. Also, the 2wd truck I had, was 2" taller than a stock 4wd truck and the brake lines also had to be extended. It was close. I am refering to the rubber lines. Also, the lines on the 4wd truck are the stock ones, they have not been touched.

 

Fusion,
The 2x4 versions of F150, 250 and 350 use same front end geometry, they use different axles but they can be interchanged, I used an older 2x4 F350 frame and put my 1/2 ton running gear under it.
You could bolt up a 1/2 ton TTB 4x4 front axle and change the 5 bolt spindles to 8 bolt, search, there are a couple threads I responded to explaining this or you can convert it to a 79 or older D44 and use radius arms, again converting 5 bolt to 8 bolt, or switch your front over to leaf springs.

I did a 4x4 conversion by myself, it is possible, you just have to get creative with your floor jack.
also I didn't need to extend either of my brake lines and I put in a 4" lift.

 

If you don't mind having the TTB, the easiest way to convert an F-150 2wd to a 4wd is just to bolt in the coil springs, radius arms, and TTB from the 4wd into that truck. Just get a bronco or F-150 coil sprung front end. Unless you are going to lift the truck 10 feet in the air, the TTB would be the better option in my opinion. Ive heard that the F-250 TTB won't go into the F-150 because the leaf spring brackets won't go onto the F-150 frame, but I might be mistaken.

 

Thanks for the replys. I am going to try and find f250 of close to the same year, hopefully with a dana 60 to match my rear.

 

I know its an old thread, but i went thru all your post history and couldn't find the info.


I have 1997 f250 2wd in great shape, 351W already got a transfer case and im looking for the transmission.


Can you ELI5 the F150 4wd ttb swap?

Will i need to box the frame like in the leaf conversion?

Better to just swap the superduty rear and front axles?

Thanks!

 

this is a 21 year old thread, and he has not logged on in 18 years.