to 4x4 or not to 4x4, that is the question!

I came across a 87 f250 4spd with granny 4x4 with a blown 302 for $400. I dont really want the truck, was just curious how much money I would have to invest to put the 4x4 in my truck? My truck is a 89 f250 IDI with a e4od. Would the trans tail shafts be the same? Would I need a different driveshaft, or is it all plug and play like I`m hoping? Any expertise would be appriciated.

 

Not a chance with those two different setups. If it was same engine, trans, body style, you would still need new front end and new driveshafts. I'd still buy it depending on which front and rear end were in it. That's cheap.

 

A couple things:

Is it the same wheelbase?
Yes the tailcone will have to be replaced. However this will also require transmission disassembly to swap the output shafts. A small project by no means - it'd be easier to start off with a 4x4 diesel E4OD.

Once you have the transmission sorted out and the transfer case bolted in place, you'll need to cut out the hole in the cab for the shifter.

Once you've got the shifter in and the rear wheel drive working again you need to sort out the front end. The front of the frame on the 2wd will be slightly different from the 4x4. You'll need the front shackle inside cup from the 4x4 and have to cut out the rivets and bolt it into the front of your project truck. You'll have to grind off or unbolt the brackets for the 2wd trailing arms and then locate/drill/bolt in the rear spring hangars. Then once you have the springs in you can swap in the differential. Now being an F250 4x4 with a 302 I'm certain this will be a D44/D44HD. Not really ideal for the work going into the swap as you'd be best off with a Dana 60 front axle. If you're thinking "But I can just bolt the D44 to my 2wd crossmember" I think you'll find that the 2wd brackets are in the wrong spots, will have to be removed and the 4x4 brackets removed from the other truck and installed just to have the inferior TTB front axle.

Next, is the gearing on the donor truck the same as the gearing in your current truck? if not you'll be looking to swap gears.

Dana 60 front axle uses different steering setup (drag link/tie rods) than the 2wd diesels do so you'll need that for an F350 if you run the Dana 60. And don't forget with a Dana 60 there's also a panhard rod from the crossmember to the differential.

Shock hangars/coil towers are different for a 2wd vs the 4wd. I'm not certain if the coil towers will work for shock location or not. You can get new shock hangars for the frame from the bronco graveyard for like 25 bucks a pop though should you need to change them.

That being said, I'm converting my 2wd to 4wd in a few weeks/months. To deal with the front shackle I'm looking at doing a shackle reversal, however this will net about 3.5" lift on the front of the truck which will require a lift in the rear to level it out again.

Best of luck whichever route you choose, but I'd consider looking for a diesel 4x4 with a shot engine as a donor.

 

Its 3/4 ton...thats about all I know. It has a highway gear int he rear. The truck is same body, and has front end and both driveshafts in it. Not that it matters, but it even has the same interior. My truck also has a removable tailshaft.

 

so why cant he just swap the motor and tranny instead of trying to convert his existing truck?people drop v8's in mini trucks all the time and still retain 4x4 so why would this be different

 

You can unbolt the "tailshaft" but the actual transmission output shaft is different for 2wd vs 4wd I believe. It's the actual shaft coming out of the transmission that needs to be swapped and getting that shaft out means disassembling the whole transmission to get the snap rings out that hold it in.

 

Certainly doable Rupe.

F250 gasser front crossmember is slightly different from the diesel and the gasser will work - it just requires that you weld up a patch over the big oil filter hole in it from the gasser. They're welded in so swapping the crossmember would be a major PITA.

But you still will have the 2wd diesel to 4wd diesel transmission issue. Transfer case will work. And then you want to take a real good look at what shape the frames are in. My F250 4x4 frame couldn't hold a candle to how good the 2wd frame was, which is why I'm doing the 2wd to 4x4 swap instead of my originally intended engine swap.

 

i mean swap motor tranny and tcase

 

ok ty.......sigh

 

if he had a 4x4 tranny it'd be an easy swap really. But the 302 E4OD 4x4 trans wont' work with the diesel. I think the 302's E4OD output shaft and tail housing could be installed in the diesel trans.

Am I way off base in thinking that the E4OD's used different output shafts for 4x2 and 4x4??? Or are the E4OD's 2wd and 4wd using the same output shaft and just have to swap tailcone for transfer case extension to convert??

 

ohhhkkkk lol i see what ur sayin now.sorry its been a long day i way over thought that whole thing and confused myself

 

Dont get my hopes up now....lol my e4od has a rather long tailcone on the tranny...

 

everybody says that

 

Ahhhhh the suspense is killing me! Should I tear it apart or not? lmao

 

i got a t19 and t case out a 87 6.9