4x to 2x Blazer conversion tips wanted.

[diesel4me]

opposite conversion..

Most folks here are more interested in making a 2wd into a 4x4 than going the other way!...(Its no picnic to make a 2wd into a 4X4 either!--if it were,I'd convert my 79 C10 in a heartbeat,since its got decent sheet metal--but I've done them before,and its a long,difficult, time consuming chore!)...

I'd search the web for a 2wd Blazer..it would be the best way to go in the long run..or get a pickup,there are more of them around...

 

[Z3PR]

Find 2wd pick up of same year, do body swap. 2wd Blazer.

 

[santana]

been thinkin about doing a 2wd blazer conversion myself. swapping in a 2wd front end cant be all that hard. i would rather do it that way than shortn frame and move mounts and all. plus it will give ya something to do

This is what I might end up doing since it's supposed to bolt right up, just have to drill a couple more holes but the pilot holes are there. Besides this will give me something to do and get my son involved in it. I've already have an engine off a 89 Blazer with 46k and a 700r4 off a Caddy. I figure I can get a 4x k5 and a c10 pick up take the suspension and swap it over to the k5.

 

[DavidB]

Factory IFS sucks. Ever notice HD 3500 2wd trucks use a dummy straight axle? That's what I'd do. No alignment to mess with.

 

[kgblazerfive]

You are going to need the rear axle also, 6 lug verses 5 lug. The whole 2wd should bolt right in having seen my neighbor do a 2wd into 4wd. 2wd Blazers are kind of hard to find but not all that hard. If you have nothing already body wise I would try and find one first. The conversion would not be all that bad just may be better to find one already done cause you have nothing body wise already.

 

[73k5blazer]

I know I saw an article in one of the four wheeler mags in the late ninties on going the other way, 2wd to a 4wd. I might still have it, I'll take a look when I get back home on friday. Anyhow, if I remeber right most all the holes are already there, just a matter of grinding off the rivets and removing the spring mounts and swapping in your new parts.
You'll need: Entire Front suspension, engine mount crossmember, 2wd steering box, steering idler arm, transmission crossmember, driveshaft, transmission (or tail section of doner, depending on which tranny you want to run)

 

[santana]

That's why I'm looking into getting both a c10 rolling chassis for the front suspension and rear axle (hopefully a 12 bolt) and a 4x k5 in good shape to swap it on to..

 

[kennyw]

I remember seeing that article too... been a while but I probably still have the mag in a box somewhere. Seemed to be an easier conversion to go 2wd from 4x4 than to go 4x4 from 2wd, but how often do magazines make things look easier than they are?

Buy a donor frame, plan on having a lot of time to do it and a big shop to work in if possible. Should be able to do it all with factory parts though.

 

[kennyw]

Also, a K5 body will not bolt onto a short bed pickup frame. The frame rises up under the cab of the pickups but a K5 frame is flat in that area. on top of that the wheelbases are different. Not worth the hassle when the 2wd suspension will swap over on the 4x4 frame with only a few new holes to drill at the worst case.