4WD conversion? Is it cost effective?

[truck1974]

Hi everyone.  I recently bought a 1976 3+3 crew cab dually.  It has a 454 4sp with granny gear and supposedly 104,000 original.  I didn't really need the truck but the body is in pretty good shape and I knew the motor was worth the $550.00 I paid for it.  Anyway,  I was wondering what would need to be done to convert to a 4x4?  Can a person just mount springs on the 2wd frame and plop a straight axle under it with T-case and driveshaft?  What would be all involved.  I don't want to stick alot of money in this truck but I live in Wisconsin so winter (snow) and summer (mud) would make use of the 4wd.  It seems to me with the long wheelbase that these could get stuck really easy with just 2wd.  Anyone attempt this swap?  What are your opinions?

Thanks, Matt.

[Mr Diesel]

I put Hankook 215/85/R16 Dynamic M/T tires on my 2x4 crew cab 1 ton dually. I could not believe what a difference they made over the all-terrain tires! Literally 5 or 6 times the traction. Even though the tread is very aggressive they are just as quiet as the other tires too- no loud buzzing while cruising down the highway. Downside was the $130 price tag on each, but they look like they will make about 40,000 miles. 4x4 trucks still get around better than I do, but my traction is good enough now that I stopped thinking about converting it to 4x4.  

- Mr Diesel
'76 C30 Crew 6.2

[aprice]

Its alot easier to find a 4X4 frame and swap everthing to that. i know of a truck that needs a body not far from me. its an early 80's truck and the drivetrain has been rebuilt. i live northern wisonsin

[truck1974]

How Much are they asking for it?

[Blazin]

You could hang a coil sprung 60 under the front and modify 70s Ford front trailing arms with a fabricated cross member to hold them. That way you can use the factory GM front spring mounts on the truck and the factory Ford mounts on the axle. You would also have to either install 4x4 rear spring mounts or a lift block or lift springs in the rear. Plus the obvious transfer case etc. etc.

[bld155]

get a donar, that is all i can recomend(thats what i plan on doing) just make sure it is a 3/4 truck/burb/

then just remove all all 2wd stuff/ steering box, and radiator supports, then remove front axle from donar and all the mounts to go with it(they are rivited on). and measure and drill your holes. as far as i can tell, the radiador support for the 4x4 uses the same holes and the front leaf spring mount mounts to that, so that should make it easy to install the leaf springs(in theory).

i am going to do this when i get the money because i would rather convert my truck to 4x4 than rebuild the old suspinsion.

[aprice]

they want $1000 for the truck. its a 1 ton crewcab long box, with a rebuilt 350 rebuit 4 speed, t-case,and i think axles. though it has been parked for awhile. i know the guy selling it very well and it would be well worth the $$, if you have a body for it. it was parked mainly because the heater core went out, and then the bodt went with it

[truck1974]

I'd be interested if I knew the axles front and rear as well as the gearing?  Is the front axle a Dana 44 or Dana 60?  Is the rear a 14 bolt?  What gears? 4.10's?  Let me know if it isn't a big deal.  Also, what year is the truck?

Thanks, Matt.  

[aprice]

i cant say for sure on which axles are under the truck, thought the ratio is 4.10. i cant remember the year of the truckl though i know its either an 80 or early 80's. where are you located at?

[truck1974]

Stevens Point, WI  

[aprice]

Oh, ok well i'm in st croix falls and the truck is sitting in North Branch MN

[James670X]

If you are going to convert your truck to 4wd you will probably want to use factory GM 1ton running gear (ie. NP205 t-case and Dana 60 front diff.). To make the GM running gear work on a 2wd truck a person would need the following:

1. A front diff. with the correct pumpkin location (driver, center, or passenger side) so that it will work with the t-case (driver or passenger side drop).

2.Front drive shaft and a transmission with the correct number of splines for the t-case.

3. T-case crossmember

4. Shock mounts

5. Leaf spring mounts

Edit: Shimming of the differentials and or dropping of the t-case may be required to prevent vibration in the drive line.
Blazin's idea sounds easiest (I'm not too keen on Fords though     ).

Edited by: James670X at: 3/7/05 5:02 pm

[Blazin]

Im not a Ford freak either but the only thing Ford would be the trailing arms. Have you ever seen one of them rust out or break under normal or even hard usage? Last time I knew iron is iron and if someone is that sketchy about a Ford part I am sure you could have a set machined up, $cha ching$.