2wd conversion almost done!

[chevyguybc]

haha got alot done the last 2 days

torched out the front 2wd crossmembers/suspension, front bumper,

welded in front custom crossmember, got one diy4x shackel mount in and drilled!

going to get some pictures tommaro when she comes home, on a flatdeck!

now heres a few questions, since this will be a 4x4 truck, should i use braided fuel lines, or can i get away with nicely tucked rubber lines?

also which regulator do i get, im planning on the blazer tank in the front of the long box, with the electric fuel pump, to the regulator , and to the carb, but will the regulator work with the TBI down the road?

and by the way, with the truck 2wd front, 38s and 9 inch rear, i was driving it around with the 2wd trans and **** still in it, and it would roast the 38s no problem! hahah posi gov lock 4:56 rules with 350hp!

 

[sweetk30]

dont forget your front hangers in the rear springs system will be shorter as its 2wd. so plan on around 3" more lift for the rear or finding and swaping in 4wd hangers.

 

[chevyguybc]

yes of course i noticed that months ago, i used some truck hnagers and built my own shackel reversal..

no motor trans or tcase in it, so its sitting about 2 inchs higher then normal in front. wheelbase streched a bit too

im real happy with it, and those are 38s! haha

 

[chevy wrangler]

sweet!!!!

 

[chevyguybc]

thanks... the motor is getting pulled apart, cleaned up and new gaskets on it

painting it chevy orange, of course, going to slap some new heads on it, some 87 TBI heads, they flow really well...and are 68 cc i belive

 

[chevy wrangler]

awesome, i have a 2wd frame out in my back yard, i might have to make it 4wd!!

 

[imiceman44]

awesome, i have a 2wd frame out in my back yard, i might have to make it 4wd!!

It's funny, here i have 4wd frames that are in great condition and waiting for someone to buy for $200, or even $100, and I see people going thru all the trouble to make their frame 4wd.
Sometimes it doesn't matter what the frame is because the custom work will eliminate all the OEM hangers anyway but if all you guys want is 4wd, it's easy enough to swap a cab onto a frame.

 

[chevyguybc]

i saved time by using a 2wd frame buddy...

plus the truck is rust free, and the frame is in pretty good shape, so why get rid of it

plus the fact that i can say to people it used to be 2wd all original

not i cheaped out and swapped a body on

 

[imiceman44]

i saved time by using a 2wd frame buddy...

plus the truck is rust free, and the frame is in pretty good shape, so why get rid of it

plus the fact that i can say to people it used to be 2wd all original

not i cheaped out and swapped a body on

I know what it's like to do a conversion like that, I did a 4wd van.
But 4wd Vans are not that common and they were never offered from factory.
These trucks are so abundant and when i say I have frames here, these are California frames, some of them still have shiny paint on the frames, no hint of rust or abuse and I am ending up cutting them up and scrapping them, a shame but I can't seem to sell any.
I used to live in a rust belt and restored a 73 blazer and I wished at the time I could find a decent frame to use since mine was beyond bad.

 

[Russell]

Have you considered the issues you're gonna run into with registering the truck later?

I converted my 2wd to 4x4 by using a rolling 4x4 chassis, and was unable to find an insurance company that would cover it. My only option was to find a 4x4 donor cab, and will have to swap things over and register it as a 85 Chevy instead of the 80 GMC it is at heart and in outward appearance...

 

[imiceman44]

Have you considered the issues you're gonna run into with registering the truck later?

I converted my 2wd to 4x4 by using a rolling 4x4 chassis, and was unable to find an insurance company that would cover it. My only option was to find a 4x4 donor cab, and will have to swap things over and register it as a 85 Chevy instead of the 80 GMC it is at heart and in outward appearance...

here it's not that hard, either you go by the VIN from the frame or the body and everything follows:
registration, smog, insurance...

 

[chevyguybc]

Have you considered the issues you're gonna run into with registering the truck later?

I converted my 2wd to 4x4 by using a rolling 4x4 chassis, and was unable to find an insurance company that would cover it. My only option was to find a 4x4 donor cab, and will have to swap things over and register it as a 85 Chevy instead of the 80 GMC it is at heart and in outward appearance...

i already have 85 4x4 tags

thanks

 

[derikleon]

So do you think it was easier to go with the custom front crossmember as oppose to finding factory spring hangers? & are there any problems you had to face by going the direction that you did?

I'm getting ready to make the swap to 4x4, & was pretty set on the factory brackets but this method is a total possibility.

thanks!

 

[chevyguybc]

well... after having some advice by a random guy on bc4x4.com, he says the 2wd 2x4 frames are thinner and different, where has 3/4 ton 2wd frame is thick and the same as a 4x4 frame.

but my buddy and I checked with his 3/4 ton 2wd pickup and they were the same.

But I am going to pull the original crossmembers out of the clip I have next week and fabricate some low profile custom crossmembers, will this make it possible for me to run a striaight dag link, which I heard is better and stronger??

( been putting this project off, picked up a 70 chevelle 300 deluxe)

anyways I belive custom crossmembers, rivits replaced with bolts, will be great, and the way to go,

 

[original balzer]

Nice work, I am also doing a 2wd to 4wd swap useing the 2wd frame. My problem was I do have 4wd frames available but non of them are crew cab. I didnt want to do the 5" body lift in the front and stock body mounts in the rear and diff sizes in the middle, to make a crew cab fit a reg cab frame. Also Im glad I went this way as the crew cab frame is WAY bigger than a 1/2t or 3/4t frame. I also did a square tube front crossmember for the front of the springs to mount to. I did it that way for built in lift so I could run flatter springs that ride and flex better, yet still get the lift I wanted.
Heres some pics.

Balzer