2X4 to 4X4

[SanitysBane]

allright, i think im going to convert the truck from 2wd to 4wd. anyone have a clue how hard this would be? im thinking of just trying to by a 4X4 truck for 1000 and just switching every over. does this sound like a good plan? also i've got a warmed over 454 and i don't like braking rearends/transfer cases. what would be a good T-case to get and front end, i've got my ford 9 out back so im not worried their. Also, sence i have a long bed, what drive shaft would i need or how much shorter would it need to be with the T-case. and another question, would i need to try to find a T-case for a 700R4 or does it matter as long as it was an auto trans? Thanks and i am totally new to 4X4 so i know nothing.

[JIMs70GMC]

The easiest way would be to purchase a 4wd chassis and swap everything over to the 4wd chassis. I've seen one example in person of a 2wd converted to 4wd. it was a 71. You already have leafs in the rear. You'd need to fabricate spring mounts up front for the front springs are find some off of a 4wd chassis. Best bet would be to find a tranny w/ transfercase attached. Will need to cut a hole for the shifter.

[SanitysBane]

i think thats what i will be doing thanks for your help, hope to join the 4X4 club soon!

[MAC67]

so far in the last 2 months ive done 2 4wd conversions , both ways , this is the easiest and the safest way to do it , get a 4wd chassis and put your 2wd body onto it , you need to either get a high hump or cut a bigger hole with a big boot for your shifter , that is the best and safest way to do it , we pulled in a 74 4wd frame , dropped a motor in it , tranny , transfer , painted it all , then unplugged the wiring harness from the 2wd truck and hooked it all up on the 4wd frame , then we simply sat the cab on , followed by the bed then the dog house , plugged the harness in and hooked up our fuel lines and brake lines and misc hoses and drove it down the road , truck looks and drives like a million bucks ,we put an 84 body on it , the other one was with an 85 shortbed 2wd , we slung a motor tranny and transfercase in it , then dropped out the entire front susp , started drilling and measuring for our rear spring bushing mounts ,. then we had to cut the 4wd spring hangers/coresupport mounts off the old frame and put them on the 2wd frame , make sure youre axle is straight yadda yadda yadda , trust me , save your self the headaches and frustration and use a 4wd frame and sling your body onto it , alot easier and alot safer imo

[1976Scottsdale]

Originally Posted by MAC67

so far in the last 2 months ive done 2 4wd conversions , both ways , this is the easiest and the safest way to do it , get a 4wd chassis and put your 2wd body onto it , you need to either get a high hump or cut a bigger hole with a big boot for your shifter , that is the best and safest way to do it , we pulled in a 74 4wd frame , dropped a motor in it , tranny , transfer , painted it all , then unplugged the wiring harness from the 2wd truck and hooked it all up on the 4wd frame , then we simply sat the cab on , followed by the bed then the dog house , plugged the harness in and hooked up our fuel lines and brake lines and misc hoses and drove it down the road , truck looks and drives like a million bucks ,we put an 84 body on it , the other one was with an 85 shortbed 2wd , we slung a motor tranny and transfercase in it , then dropped out the entire front susp , started drilling and measuring for our rear spring bushing mounts ,. then we had to cut the 4wd spring hangers/coresupport mounts off the old frame and put them on the 2wd frame , make sure youre axle is straight yadda yadda yadda , trust me , save your self the headaches and frustration and use a 4wd frame and sling your body onto it , alot easier and alot safer imo

I just did the body swap on my 76 c10 and 79 k10. I found out the hard way that the hump is wrong. My friend cut the ENTIRE center hump out of my truck and now I have a huge hole in the thing. The worst part, the transfer case still rests just about 1/4 inch under the cab. So I am going to cut the hump out of my 1980 c10 and weld it into my 76c10 cab and then install a 2in. body lift on my truck. Then all I have to do is cut the hole in the center hump and install my boot. That will make life a lot easier and the truck cleaner on the inside. I am also going to install new cab floor pans(home made) and a new set of cab floor supports(JC Whitney) to fix my rust problem.

[MAC67]

if you can find an old 73-87 4wd cab just pull back the parpeting and the high hhump you need just unbolts out of the 4wd trucks , you can cut out the rear section also that runs under the seat ,, good luck , ya gotta learn somehow lol ,