4 wheel drive conversion

[Cumminsduallyguy04]

I think if you ask around you'll find you don't want any sure grip in either end. When you get on ice, control is much easier with open diffs. May very well make the difference between staying on the road and being in the ditch.

2 months ago I lost the stock 70 rear. cost to repair the 70 compared swaping a $50 gm 14 bolt with 10. 5" ring gear made for a project. 15" brakes compared to 14" drums. ease of later gear swaps with less tooling needed to purchase and spool options and cost were all factors considered when i decided to swap 14 bolt rear in. the 91 dodge just got stuck too easy in the stupidiest situations-not buried to frame or axle housing BUT STUCK?!?!?! What the heck! the back of my house and kitchen window are loaded with mud from getting stuck in the grass.



a spool will help the 2wd trucks so much 4wd conversion would help even more. Good luck with all yals 4wd swaps. how many of you finished? and what model fords can I source a divorced 205? im considering 4wd conversion with divorced case, custom crossmembers and driveshafts. Where did Infamous Wagoner Machine shop in Oklahoma disappear to? I loved their 203 to 205 stuff among their other bullet proof 4wd parts

 

[HHhuntitall]

My cousin and I just did one last winter/summer. He found a super clean '85 2wd crew cab, converted it to Cummins AND added a front axle from a '92 wrecked donor truck. He had to drill the frame for the front spring mounts, and swap the crossmember. IF you'll look under my pics, there's a picture of it completed; it's a beautiful Gray color. The A-arm mounts and spring perches come off easily enough with a grinder... ... but going back is a pain. The bolt holes lined up for the crossmembers and the front/front spring perches. Be ready for lots of tail time under the truck, though.



As far as using the front spring perches to make it a coil over conversion, I've seen it done. I'm going to try it when I get time. I think it can be done easily enough. A stock front spring from 94 up won't fit the upper spring perch, though. It's too large in diameter. I've looked at making my own out of channel iron, plate, and a steel leveling kit to hold the spring in place. I think pipe or a leveling kit can be used to for the top of the axle, as well. The ones I've seen have had the spring perches cut off of the newer trucks, and welded to the replacement axles... .....

 

[RedRamAndy]

Howdy All,

Actually I gave up on the 4x4 conversion... ..... for now. Pepecat REALLY has me thinking again. Ironically, my whole drive to get this project rolling in the first place has been removed. I HAD to get to work when it snowed which was 30 miles away. I drive a snowplow for my State DOT. I was fortunate enough last December to get transferred to a plow shed 4 miles from my house. Yay! My Caliber and Neon make that drive just fine.

Back to the conversion: Pepecat; I was told I would have to substantially lift my truck (more than 4" over stock 4x4) to get the punkin on the front axle to clear my 2wd crossmember if I were to go your route. I DO like it I must add. I am against cutting and replacing and frame members. I have been told many horror stories from friends of mine who did this and found their bolts loosening or breaking later on the replaced members. These guys weren't thrashing either. I can fab a lot on my own though, and a four link or custom setup really interests me. I still want to go wherever I point the truck. Now, weren't the front axles in our trucks 61's?? Or was that just for the automatics to get the 3. 07 ratio? (BTW; I have a 3. 54 out back I will want to match)

For now though, I'm having the 16"x6" rims cut to 7. 5" wide and putting 265/75 Hankook MT's out back. This, along with the suregrip and about 500lbs in the bed will just have to do for now.

 

[RedRamAndy]

Ok, got my wheels in my head turning now. (only two though, gonna go for four one day. :-laf) Does anyone have, or know where I can find some schematic drawings of the front Dana 60 or 61 with the external dimensions? I need to do some mock-ups to see if the coil-front idea that was presented can be done without too much lift and $.

Thanks all!

 

[HHhuntitall]

Try the local dealer. They don't ever seem to mind me and my tape measure whenever I lay down under one on the lot. They seem to like the attention I draw from the Interstate... ... . Just don't try to jack it up and take a tire off. I've made lots of fabs from measurements I took off a truck sitting on the lot.....

 

[RedRamAndy]

Well, i'm officially quitting on the conversion. I have many friends telling me they'd kick my a__ for messing up a perfectly good 2wd truck. Given my current load of projects, I am throwing in the towel on the conversion. I am trying my best to cope without adding a live front axle though..... https://www.turbodieselregister.com...-forum-1989-1993/220969-wider-tires-rear.html