I want to Convert a 54 Chevy to 4wd (have ?'s)

[txfireman110]

Where can I find some tech on how to swap a 4wd drivetrain into a 54 model chevy 2wd? The 54 we have is 2wd. is there any special problems, or is it a more or less bolt and go swap??

Thanks.
Brandon

 

[Geargrinder]

I did the same thing to a '58 F100 a few years ago. Hangin' the fron axle was EAZY, just weld perches on in the right spot and fab up some steering links.
It's gona take some and some to get the transfercase and shifters in but it's no to bad. Just make sure U keep the engine/tranny lined up when U make the mounts. It might be a good idea to use a divorced 'case if U have a good tranny allready. Then just get shafts made. Depending on what U use for the 'case U may have to do som mods to the floor of the cab to get it to fit. And ofcorse U will have to cut a new hole for the shifter.

 

[steve_kibbe]

#1 SEARCH

Clicky

Here's someone who did it.

 

[BrianDamage]

#1 SEARCH

Clicky

Here's someone who did it.

that'd be my vote for the easiest way to do it. Put it on a later model 4x4 frame.

 

[txfiremank5]

that'd be my vote for the easiest way to do it. Put it on a later model 4x4 frame.

Ditto

My my buddy had a 67 chevy step side, on a 4WD K5 frame. His dad's cousin actually owned it first and did the swap, back in the very early 80's. I think that's the best way to go.

 

[diesel4me]

I'd swap chassis too...

I helped a friend put a 1956 Suburban on a 1971 Suburban K-20 4x4 chassis about 15 years ago..it worked out well,not that much of a hassle to plant his body on the later chassis--just had to move the body mounts on the frame a bit,and extend them to reach the 56's body mount locations..and all the usual stuff like shifters,etc..-- the biggest hassle was putting the power brake booster setup on his firewall( his master cylinder was under the floor originally!)...one advantage to using a later chassis is you get power steering and brakes,and newer axles..lets you swap big blocks and later beefier trannies in easier too..

I've done some the other way using the old 2wd frame,and cutting off all the spring hangers and such off a donor 4x4 frame--it gets WAY too involved and its costly to get every trinket from a junkyard..a few of the trucks we did never drove down the road to our satisfaction,and we wished we had just bought a 4x4 and swapped the good cab and bed from the 2wd onto the 4x4 frame..done that several times since,its definately the way to go--still a lot of work though!..It MIGHT be easier to just add a front diff and use a divorced case,depending on how the 54 is set up...