Author Topic: 2wd to 4wd  (Read 29053 times)

Offline 1979C20

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2wd to 4wd
« on: June 22, 2011, 02:33:22 AM »
I poated about this before, but i didnt really get what i was after and i didnt have as great of an understanding of our trucks. But, im looking tobconvert my truck to 4 wheel drive, because i dont have a couple thousand dollars to by a 4x4, but i could buy parts a hundred or so dollars at a time and then convert it when i have time. The first thing on my list would be putting the front axle on. An! Then i can deal with the transfer case and tranny later. So, i have a few questions. What parts would i need for the front end. Can i weld/bolt spring perces to the frame while my 2wd parts are still in place?
1979 SCLB C20 Q-jet 350 SM465 14b F.F. 4.10 G80
1989 GMC Suburban V2500 TBI350 TH400 4in lift 35's 14b SF

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2011, 03:54:29 AM »
buy a donor truck for some change. your measurements would have to be perfect for the alignment to be true aint work it imo especially with wanting to keep the 2wd system up and running. im sure you can find a old beat up 4x4 around take the body off and redo the frames lines fuel/brake and once your done that take a weekend to move your motor and body to the 4x4 frame. then scrap the 4x4 body also dont forget to use the 4x4 cab's center hump.
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline 1979C20

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2011, 04:06:42 AM »
I can find any decent price junkers. I have measurements of the hangers and what not, and i already have a high hump with my sm465. Im just looking to do the front spring hangers, moved foreward a few inches to use rear springs up front and then when i have all of the parts slap the front axle on. What parts would i need though? Spring hangers, shackle hangers, axle, what steering parts?
1979 SCLB C20 Q-jet 350 SM465 14b F.F. 4.10 G80
1989 GMC Suburban V2500 TBI350 TH400 4in lift 35's 14b SF

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2011, 04:11:40 AM »
if i can remember right even the steering box you need. so its pretty much all the steering parts
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2011, 04:24:25 AM »
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline 1979C20

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2011, 05:04:34 AM »
I saw that red on in a seprate post, but my parent wont let me drag that hung of junk home. I was planning on calling and offering him 100 for the hole front end. Stwering, spring hangers, crossmember. Thats why i wanted to know which parts id need.
1979 SCLB C20 Q-jet 350 SM465 14b F.F. 4.10 G80
1989 GMC Suburban V2500 TBI350 TH400 4in lift 35's 14b SF

Offline Blazin

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2011, 07:47:24 AM »
You will also need the front spring hangers for the rear springs. The core support mounts are different on a 4x4 as well. The front spring hangers are attached to them. As far as leaving the old front suspension parts you would be better off installing the front axle and running it with out the driveshaft etc.
I would find a 4x4 frame and swap your motor, and body onto it. Allot less work!
Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #7 on: June 22, 2011, 08:23:41 AM »
less work, less time and cheaper
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline WilliamBos

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #8 on: June 22, 2011, 11:44:53 AM »
I poated about this before, but i didnt really get what i was after and i didnt have as great of an understanding of our trucks. But, im looking tobconvert my truck to 4 wheel drive, because i dont have a couple thousand dollars to by a 4x4, but i could buy parts a hundred or so dollars at a time and then convert it when i have time. The first thing on my list would be putting the front axle on. An! Then i can deal with the transfer case and tranny later. So, i have a few questions. What parts would i need for the front end. Can i weld/bolt spring perces to the frame while my 2wd parts are still in place?
my friends dad did this with a dodge.  Scavenged all needed parts from his ram jaeger, and made a 2wd VRAM a 4wd.  Did not do a frame swap.

Offline 1979C20

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #9 on: June 22, 2011, 01:02:42 PM »
At this point, doing a frame swap, body swap, motor swap, etc will be out of the question. I can swap the front drive train in a weekend(if i start on Friday morning or so). So, if i were to fab some front hangers out of 1/4 flat, got the shackle hanger off a parts truck and install those in place while the 2wd parts are still on it. jack the wheels off the ground, jack stands under the frame, cherry picker on the engine, unbolt sway bar, disconnect steering, unhook brake lines, unbolt crossmember, roll front drive train out, take tires off, replace engine mounts while I'm there, bolt 4x4 crossmember in, put tires on new axle, roll front axle in, bolt leafs to hangers and shackles, brake lines, replace steering box with 4x4, done. But, what I don't know is, what steering parts need changed? Just the box? Will the brake lines work on the 4x4 calipers? Could I use my 2wd 3/4 heavy duty calipers and pads on the 4x4 rotor? Am I missing anything? will the core support work since I'm fabbing my own spring hanger to use 52 or 56 inch rears up front. I'm not worried about replacing the rear spring front hangers right now, I know theyre taller. I'm just looking to put the front axle on it for now. I am planning on measuring my buddies k10 for the spring hanger locations. I'm going to go off of position of the bolts from the top to the bottom of the frame and then from say the body mount to the bolts. And I'll mark it all on a piece of paper with the frame sketched on it for reference.

I'm going to be slowly buying all of the parts. So I'll make a list now.

Front axle: 10 bolt 8 lug. Will remove gears if not 4.10 or 4.11.
4x4 steering box: And all other steering parts.
Front spring hanger: Fabbed out of 1/4 flat, something like below.
Front spring shackle hanger: Preferably off of a parts truck.
Leaf springs: Hopefully 4 inch REAR lift springs to net me ~8in of lift. Stock rear springs are worst case scenario for ~3-4in.
Brakes: Will know as soon as some questions are answered.
Shocks: Going to run without shocks until I can get a good deal on them or have money for them(waiting for flaming)
Rest of the truck!
Leaf springs: Preferably all spring lift springs to match the front lift.
Shocks: Run with out, same as front.
Axle: 14 bolt FF with 4.11 and govloc. May replace govloc.(BOOOOM)
Tranny: SM465, may convert mine to 4x4, may replace mine with a 4x4.
Tcase: NP205 split stick.
Engine: Mild 350, may build a 383 or a 396 stroker in the future. 396's are more rare.
Front bumper: 4in steel tube with grill guard, custom.
Rear bumper: Stock step bumper, may "EXO(external)skeleton it(the bumper, not the truck) with 3/4 or 1in tube.

Spring hangers.


I plan on turning this post into a build page and also a how to. So Any help on the topics I asked about will be much appreciated. This will be a long brewed process as money is tight, but It will get done and hopefully soon. I'm in the hole 500 as it is for my heads and to get my license reinstated. I missed a court date for a flash ticket and it was suspended. I was out of town on family business. :/
« Last Edit: August 22, 2011, 04:37:20 PM by 1979C20 »
1979 SCLB C20 Q-jet 350 SM465 14b F.F. 4.10 G80
1989 GMC Suburban V2500 TBI350 TH400 4in lift 35's 14b SF

Offline Blazin

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #10 on: June 22, 2011, 01:51:54 PM »
You will need all the steering parts, as 2x and 4x don't share any front end steering linkage.
Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs

Offline 1979C20

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #11 on: June 22, 2011, 02:13:37 PM »
Thanks blazin, thats what I needed to know.
Remaining questions
Will the 2wd core support work, as I'm using custom spring hangers?
Will 2wd calipers work on 4x4 rotors?
Will 2wd Brake lines work on 4x4 calipers?
What are the 4x4 steering components needed?
1979 SCLB C20 Q-jet 350 SM465 14b F.F. 4.10 G80
1989 GMC Suburban V2500 TBI350 TH400 4in lift 35's 14b SF

Offline 1979C20

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #12 on: June 22, 2011, 02:26:53 PM »
Will this fit our year trucks? If so I'll probably go pick it up today.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/pts/2449760479.html
1979 SCLB C20 Q-jet 350 SM465 14b F.F. 4.10 G80
1989 GMC Suburban V2500 TBI350 TH400 4in lift 35's 14b SF

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #13 on: June 22, 2011, 02:47:10 PM »
Not saying it can’t be done just it would be easier if using a donor frame but if you want to do it that way. We are here to help as much as we can. My bud is working on his own welding company has a 4x2 3+3, he had a 4x4 1ton so he’s doing the same thing turning the 4x2 to 4x4. But if he had a frame i know he would use it lol. And i think someone did a write up about this before ill see if i can find it. The calibers im sure have to be changed. Not sure what rims are on the heave half but I think they are 15 and ¾ will be 16 so it’s a different radius
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline 1979C20

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Re: 2wd to 4wd
« Reply #14 on: June 22, 2011, 02:49:25 PM »
Would an 8 lug dana44 from a 1970 suburban fit our year truck? That would be perfect for me.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/pts/2433414040.html

Irish, Thanks for the help. I have a 3/4 ton with stock 16's
1979 SCLB C20 Q-jet 350 SM465 14b F.F. 4.10 G80
1989 GMC Suburban V2500 TBI350 TH400 4in lift 35's 14b SF