1985 F-250 4wd Conversion
 

Im wondering how difficult it would be to convert a 2wd 1985 f250 to 4wd (extended cab with a 460). Idk if it's possible without a ludicrous amount of money (which I don't have :-roll) but can you guys tell me what this swap would entail and how much parts might cost.
Thanks

You will have to change out the transmission to a 4x4 unit, and round up a transfer case. You will need a shorter rear driveshaft, and you will need to cut a hole or get the floorpan to fit the transfer case lever.

You will need the frontend of course, and the front driveshaft. You will then need to cut off your coil spring pockets and that stuff you don't need, and then you will need to modify the very front of the frame behind the bumper to accept the leaf spring shackles. Then you will need to drill and mount the rear spring hangers on the frame. And then also mount the center pivot brackets in the front crossmember for the center pivots for the axle housings.

This is not as simple as a f150 conversion. And there are different approaches to this also you might want to research. The above I listed will get to a stock factory 4x4 f250.

If you want to round up a dana 60 axle from a f350, it will need everything above except no center pivot brackets. It will need a track bar and its brackets.

There are some people who have taken the frontend out of a later superduty and have retro-fitted it to a early 2wd truck. The superduties use coil springs like your 2wd has. I don't know all the ins and outs, you will have to google it and find out. I do know you end up having to run later metric rims, and if you are going to do that you might consider swapping the rear out also.

And another option, a shackle reversal kit. This may make your leaf spring conversion easier, it gives you a bar and mounts for the leaf springs, and puts the shackles to the rear. It also gives you some lift while you are doing it. The conversion to leaf springs is the most involved part of swapping 4x4 into a f250 2wd.

Lots of time and money. Easier to buy what you want.

So would it be possible to take the front end from a f150 and swap it in to a f250

I dont have the answer but the 150 parts are a lot lighter duty than the 250 parts.
Then you have the wheels. The front would have a different bolt pattern than the rear and I am pretty sure different sizes.
150 =15 inch
250 think is = 16 inch.
On a 4x4 the tire dia. have to be the same all the way around or the drive train will bind and something will break.

So you might as well just go with the 150 or find a 250 4x4.
Dave ----

Possibly look up doing a superduty axle swap. Good possibility to get a whole truck for the swap.

After some research years ago, I am confident you can. But like was said, your f250 will have a f150 frontaxle with the smaller brakes, smaller balljoints, smaller wheel bearings, smaller rims and 5 lug wheels. I was contemplating this swap, because I ran across a 2wd f250 with an excellant frame and body on it. I was going to swap in the f150 frontend, transmission and transfer case, and the f150 rearend. Just to avoid all the rust repair I needed on the original f150 body and frame. I never did it though.