2wd to 4wd

[big bear]

HAHAHAHA 

[1979C20]

Hahahaha. Maybe ill find a 2 seater go cart with a lawn mower engine on.it.

[beastie_3]

Maybe I can get a motorcycle license? Haha.

not if your regular license is suspended...

[thirsty]

I just noticed this thread and figured I would share some info with you.

I did this swap to my 86. I put a 78 2wd frame under it.
I don't want you to take what I say the wrong way but I want you to know how much work it is for it to come out right. I definitely don't want to discourage you from making your truck the way you want and I will help in anyway I can.

At this point, doing a frame swap, body swap, motor swap, etc will be out of the question.

This is less work than a conversion.

I can swap the front drive train in a weekend(if i start on Friday morning or so).

Plan on pulling the front clip, bumper, and engine for this. You will have a lot of rivets to cut and a lot of holes to drill. I just counted 44 holes that I had to drill for the front suspension plus 2 large holes for the shackle mount.

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?

I would plan on 4x4 everything.

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.

Will the steering and alignment geometry be correct?

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 had a 79 4wd frame under my 86 from a previous swap so when I did mine I had both frames side by side and found it to hard to get measurements. I made jigs to locate everything. At this point I found that the front wheel arches were slightly different.

Just ask if there is anything I can help you with.

[big bear]

wow...thats cool you have that down to a science man.  im not doing the swap but very useful info for sure. seems pretty involved.

[Blazin]

My $.02
I would use early to mid 70s Ford F150 radius arms from a solid axle 4x4, or aftermarket, or fabricate them, and do a coil spring front axle.

[thirsty]

Have you ever seen that done on a square body blazin? Would you need the ford axle too?

@ big bear. I just happened to be on the garage computer sitting about 15' from my truck when I posted that so it was pretty easy to remember by walking over to it. haha

[Irish_Alley]

since ford are the wrong drop then no. i would think you can use maybe a dodge with coils or just get the coil perches

[WilliamBos]

since ford are the wrong drop then no. i would think you can use maybe a dodge with coils or just get the coil perches

The 1994+ Rams have a nice 4 link/coil SFA.  Wonder if that would, or could be made work??  That would be sweet.

[big bear]

@ thirsty     haha  thats cool man. 

[beastie_3]

If your fabbing your own hangers for the 52/56 in springs, then using your buddies truck for measurements wont work. hangers and shackles are in different spots because the springs are longer. Otherwise your wheel will be too far back in the wheel well.

You will not be able to do all of this in a weekend.

[1979C20]

No, the shackle hanger stays, I just need longer shackles and there are ways to center the axle.

[Blazin]

Yup Fords on the wrong side.
I had always thought if I did it I would fabricate or transplant the lower coil perch. I have seen it done to a 64 C20. They used a Dana 60 front end. and fabricated the mount for the spring on the axle. Used a panhard bar to keep it located.

[1979C20]

Just a quick update, Ive been stretched for cash lately and been spending my money on body work. But, I've found a few random good deals that were gone before I got to them. I'm still searching clist everyday. Some day it will happen!!

[Jason S]

If you can't get a whole truck for the frame and parts and store it, could you get a junky 4x4 then work a deal with a wrecking yard to take the truck there, cut off the front frame (e.g., just behind the front cab mounts) and remove whatever else you need and leave the remainder for them?