Converting '86 2WD Cab to 4WD

[ChaseDale3and8]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I have a question concerning converting a 2wd cab to 4wd. I bought a VERY clean 2wd cab for my 86 K10 off of eBay a while back for $200. I noticed the hump was way too low, so I bought a bolt in center section out of an '84 with an automatic trans that a guy was parting out, thinking that all I'd have to do was cut out the center so that the hump would drop in to either be bolted or welded in. My current cab is a 4wd 4-speed. The closer that I examined it, it looks like the entire center from front to back is too low, clear back to under the seat, that this isn't going to work, and that I really need a 4wd cab, but they are next to impossible to find around here.

I have been told by a couple of locals that this cab CAN be converted to a 4wd, but they didn't go into detail, they just want me to pay them to do it for me. I'd rather do it myself and save the cash if it's possible to do without having to cut the entire center of the floor out. This cab is a really clean one, and I don't want to destroy it. Have any of you done this? If you have, do you have pictures of where to cut it? I really could use some help here with this. I'd like to convert it with the bolt in center that I have if possible. I know that I need to cut the hole in the hump for the 4-speed trans, and that shouldn't be a big deal to do. Thanks guys! ....Joe

[thirsty]

Here is a link for the different humps.
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=11838.0

I know what you mean about 4X4 cabs being hard to find, same in my area.
You will have to cut the hump area out of the 4X4 cab or run a body lift to clear the transfer case.

[Blazin]

Cut the center hump out of your old cab. Cut it bigger then the hole you cut in the 2 wheel drive cab. Then use large self drilling / tapping screws to secure it down. I use the metal roofing tape that is for the length run on each sheet before the next one goes down for a sealant. Have converted a bunch of 2 wheel drive cabs over the years.

[Yamaha74]

Blazin, can you elaborate a little more on the metal roofing tape?  Do you this in place of cutting the hump from a 4wd to place in a 2wd?  I also have a truck that has 2wd cab bolted to a 4wd chassis.  My truck does have a 4 inch body lift which allows the case to barely clear the 2wd hump.  I still would like to replace my 2wd hump with a 4wd hump. 

Here is a picture of what mine looks like now.

[beastie_3]

4 inch body lift?? wow

[Blazin]

When you install metal roofing the correct way you run a strip of two sided tape down the length of each sheet before laying the next sheet down. There are a few different kinds / sizes. Most common around here is about 1" wide, 1/8" thick and looks to me to made of a urethane rubber type material. It sort of reminds me of the windshield butyl tape, but its flat not round that used to be used to set glue in glass.

[thirsty]

Bytul tape is what it's called Blazin. I was a roofer for 11yrs. Go see some commercial roofers and they will have all kinds of stuff like that. Even Lowes and Home depot probably got stuff like that. Just make sure you get two sided because it come in both.

[Blazin]

Well that makes it easy as thats what it reminds me of. I've done plenty of roofing in my day, and never knew what it was called. When i've ordered roofing before I just told them I wanted sealant tape, and they gave me that. I've got about 10 rolls of the stuff stashed in my stashes of crap!

[spectreblazer]

swapping floors is simple

this is mine and i did it in a few nights

first slice and dice the 4wd one out. sounds like you already have one from another truck. i had to cut mine from a 4wd one



step 2

drop over existing 2wd floor and stare in under shock that is it lines up 





make a line with a sharpie around the outside. then measure in about an inch or 2 inches. then make another line.

the second line is the one you want to cut

step 3

grow a pair of you know whats and bust out that cut off wheel and safety shield and get to work




then drop the 4wd and plug in that welder and go to town






and that is how you put a 4wd hump in a 2wd cab

don't forget to seam seal

-dave

[Grim 82]

@ spectreblazer

lol, that was awesome. 2 thumbs up 

[Blazin]

Yep except I would screw it in with 1/4" self drilling / tapping screws. They usually have a 3/8" or 7/16" head on them. Also be careful not to spray any sparks at your glass if its still installed.

[ChaseDale3and8]

Thanks Spectreblazer, that's exactly what I needed to see! I need to get a whole floor center by the looks of it since my 4wd cab is still on my truck right now, and I'm still driving it. When I find one I'll just cut it out way bigger out of the donor cab to make sure that I have enough. I want to butt weld it together so that you'd never be able to tell it's been changed instead of overlapping though. Thanks for all the replies guys! ...Joe

[spectreblazer]

Thanks Spectreblazer, that's exactly what I needed to see! I need to get a whole floor center by the looks of it since my 4wd cab is still on my truck right now, and I'm still driving it. When I find one I'll just cut it out way bigger out of the donor cab to make sure that I have enough. I want to butt weld it together so that you'd never be able to tell it's been changed instead of overlapping though. Thanks for all the replies guys! ...Joe

i'm herculining mine so the seams won't be seen.