2wd to 4wd conversion

[1979C20]

I'm looking to convert my truck to 4 wheel drive. I'm going to buy the fron crossmember, front axle hub to hub, and front springs to start. I was wondering, is there any way to custom make spring holders for the springs that I can weld onto my chassis? Or would it be better to get the mounts from a parts truck like out of the junkyard or something?

[KY..Rob]

Personally, I would look for a parts Truck. Take everything you can get from it. Brake lines, swaybar, nuts bolts, steering gear, pitman arm, drive shafts tierods. Mark all your bolts and nuts in bags from what they came off of. You will also need the Hump. You mite get lucky and find a good donor with the Transmission and T-case. Take it all.

[Irish_Alley]

Best to find a farm 4x4 buy it and put your cab and bed on it with a 3" body lift or like said get the center hump off the 4x4

[thirsty]

I did the conversion (Can't finish the truck right now though). It was alot more work than I expected but it is possible. I also used a 79 frame for my 86 stuff. If I was to do another frame I would find a 4x4 before I made one out of a 2wd frame. I did it because I got a nice frame for free and didn't want the 3rd frame for my truck to ever have to come out again. There is alot of cutting of rivets, I made jigs to get the right measurements, alot of drilling, and alot of high quality bolts needed.

On the other hand...I am confident in the chassis work and also am proud of it and glad I did it.

Older brother took some photo's and posted them here whenever he stopped by to help.
http://www.suitorsgarage.com/projects/86chevy4x4/86chevyphase3a8.html

[1979C20]

Okay, Another question about it, this one kind of odd. I found a differential on craigslist for a 90's 4wd, and it is for the independent front. Is it possible to modify my truck to use independent front suspension with 4wd?

[Captkaos]

How much skils do you have as far as fabrication?
With enough money time and the right tools anything in possible, but, it is worth it?  The solid axle design is superior in offroad in my opinion.

[1979C20]

Actually, solid axle and independent both have their pros and cons. Independent is much softer for things like dirt woops and landings and travel, but solid axle is superior for rocks and hills. Also, less likely to break solid axle. I figured, since I have independent front suspension now, I could use the same crossmember, swap out the control arms and spindles with a 4wheel drive set up? Idk. Just kind of brain storming really. It would be an interesting concept

[Da67goatman]

Hummvee...just put your body on.

[Captkaos]

If you are just going to be driving on dirt woops and stuff, why not just keep the 2WD.

The front frame rails are not the same on the 88-99 trucks so you are going to have to fabricate something or front half the truck.

[1979C20]

I wont be going off dirt woops, just making a point that they both have their strong points. And, I probably wont do the independent considering this is my daily driver and I cant have it sitting. I found a 6 lug Dana 44 with springs axles gears hubs rotors calipers etc on craigslist for a fair price. Is it possible to convert a 6 lug dana 44 to 8 lug since my truck is a 3/4 ton and I have 8 lug wheels?

[Irish_Alley]

Its possible yes but you would need a 3/4 ton axle to get the parts off of. Might just want to use that one lol. Could buy parts but by then you might just want to buy a Dana 60

[1979C20]

Well, dana 60 fronts are EXPENSIVE. I found a dana 44 front for 120 complete without the hubs. He dana 60s all go for like 400. They made 3/4 ton trucks with d44 fronts tha had 8 lugs, didn't they?

[Irish_Alley]

Yes they do what I was saying if you bout the 1/2 44 then a 3/4 44 just for the hubs then you would have about enough for a 60. Also what's your plans with it

[fitz]

. He dana 60s all go for like 400.

I would buy a truckload of Dana 60's if I could get them for $400 each. The sell for double that in Mass.

[1979C20]

Those dana 60 fronts are just the axle housing and no gears! And, I wouldn't buy a dana 44 6 lug and a full dana 44 8 lug. I would buy the 6 lug, and then the 8 lug hubs?