[iced tepe]

how hard is it to make a 2wd frame into a 4wd frame. all i need is the front end, transfer case, and drive shaft....right?

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by iced tepe

how hard is it to make a 2wd frame into a 4wd frame. all i need is the front end, transfer case, and drive shaft....right?

The mind reading device still isn't working, so maybe you could tell us what make and model of truck you're talking about?

[richard stewart 3rd]

Hi,
This makes no scene to me, just buy a 4WD truck.
Rich

[poncho62]

Usually more trouble than its worth....Totally different setup........Trade it in on a 4x4

[iced tepe]

the rolling chassis was given to me and im putting a 1954 3100 on it

[timothale]

I.ve seen a Few conversions around here. Most guys just look for a Rolled over 4 X 4... that way you get everything you need, and mabe swap in the inst panel, wiring, seats, power windows,,some times swapping in the 4 X 4 floor panels to get clearance. doing it piece meal can give you a few surprises .. $ $ $, need new front springs?, shock mounts?, steering gear setup.? etc

[iced tepe]

my plan was to get the same frame that is already 4wd and just switch over the front end. I have connections at the local scrap yard so i can get almost anything i want at scrap price or less.

[timothale]

On a lot of trucks the 2 wd and 4 X 4 frames are entirely different . look .take picts . measure.... around here it's hard to find a 2 wd truck . snowed again 4 of the last 5 days.

[iced tepe]

nobody makes a conversion kit? thats hard to beleive.

[timothale]

In the 50's there were lots of conversions kit companies.. then when the factory started doing 4 X4's the only kits left were for full sized vans.

[BBCMudbogger]

All you should have to do is get the spring hangers for the front end.I am fairly confident the frames are the same.Took only a few minutes of serching the wolrd wide web. The internet is your friend.http://www.chuckschevytruckpages.com/robsK35.html

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by iced tepe

the rolling chassis was given to me and im putting a 1954 3100 on it

OK, one more try.

WHAT type of "rolling chassis"?????

Ford, Chevy, Toyota?????

We can't give you an intelligent answer without more info.

Originally Posted by iced tepe

nobody makes a conversion kit? thats hard to beleive.

The fact that you think there's a market for such a kit is hard to believe.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by timothale

On a lot of trucks the 2 wd and 4 X 4 frames are entirely different . look .take picts . measure.... around here it's hard to find a 2 wd truck . snowed again 4 of the last 5 days.

IF the OP is talking about the 1973-1987 Chevy trucks (which, for some reason he refuses to share with us), the frames are actually the same. You need to remove the 2WD front suspension crossmember (it's a bolt-on). You then need a 4x4 donor truck in the same weight class. Remove the brackets for the front leaf springs and the 4WD engine crossmember and install them in the 2WD chassis. Install the 4WD trans, transfer case, and driveshafts. Install the 4WD steering box and steering linkage. Replumb the brakes. Nothing to it.

Or, go back to the part about getting a 4x4 donor truck. Throw away the "free" 2WD chassis and just use the one from the donor.

This type of conversion rarely makes financial sense. It only makes sense if you are trying to convert rare configurations. For example, the Chevy 1 ton cab/chassis uses a 159.5" wheelbase, which is not used on the pickups. Finding a cab/chassis like this with 4WD is very difficult. In this case it MIGHT make sense to find a 4WD one ton donor truck with a different wheelbase and swap the parts. Yes, you need a custom drivesahft in this example.

If you are just looking at a half ton 4WD chassis, they are cheap if the body is rusted out.

[fast68]

there is a ton of work to do this and frames are different and every riveted part to the frames has to be chopped off and swapped,
and holes need to be made for front leaf eye bolts to pass through the rails,.

rad suport body mount brackets have to cut off and swapped

every front and middle crossmember needs cut and removed and swapped also.,


and it goes on from there


find a factory 4x4 chassis

you will need one as a donor to even attempt to convert a 2wd frame to a 4x4 one.

theres no point in trying ot convert a 2wd into one when you need an entire 4x4 one to do it in the first place.

really.

save yourself nightmares and years of labor and mods

why would there be an aftermarket kit?

there is nothing aftermarket about this..

noobs who know nothing about trucks and get themselves into disasters of messes and ruin good trucks never cease to amuse me....

ppl never learn...

trust me just go and buy a rusted engine-less 4x4 for 100 bucks off the street, and remove the body and have your 4x4 chassis.

www.craigslist.org will help



good luck..