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still concidering 2wd-4x4

TC4x4

TC4x4

1/2 ton status
Joined
Sep 12, 2006
Posts
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Location
Michigan
So would it really be that big or a project to start a SAS on my truck. My goal to complete by the end of the winter is to have the old front end out and get the straight axle in and bolted up. That includes the axle, leaf springs, cross over steering (i think) and shocks. I would want it to be rolling come spring. It does not seem that big of a task. Any thoughts...?

So this is what has been going through my head. I would unbolt the stock 2wd suspension, and get it out, then get the mounts for the 4x4 suspensioin. get them squar, bolt the stock leaf spring 4x4 axle that I have laying aound. Its a D44 but that would be temporary. Cross over steering would work right, since I have a 2wd steering box. This seems easy enough, am I missing something.

After reading more, I would have to have say a 4 inch lift to have cross over, what if i put a lift and steering off to spring and just got this thing bolted under, so it was rolling.

Can I use something like diy4x b52s to mount the from leaf springs even though they are not 52''
 
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I have a 3" lift and crossover but, that is about the minimum lift I would go with for crossover, I had to really limit my uptravel! IDK if Kert's B52 mounts would work but, I guarantee he could fab up something for ya!!! If the dana 44 would just be temporary, I would probably hold off on the crossover until you get a 60, seeing as how they are different kits so it would be wasted money if you were going to switch it out anyway.
 
Considering this with my dually as well, but don't forget about mating and mounting the transfer case, cutting a hole in the floor for the shifter, etc....

The only way I'm gonna do it is if I come across some parts really cheap, which hasn't happened yet.
 
I think it was kert i talked to and he didnt have a 2wd 1/2 ton frame to play with so couldnt make me a set (Well, im sure if i got some measurements or sent him a spare set of front frame rails he could). I was thinking about buying a b52 kit for my 86 then seeing if they were that different from the 83s 2wd frame.
 
The engine cross member is the only hard part, I don't see a reason why the b52 mounts wouldn't work
 
B52 mounts are too skinny for stock style 47" springs. you need to trim off 1/4" each side of the bushings for them to fit in the hangers.

that said, no reason why a wider hanger couldnt be made.

if it were me i would use stock brackets and shackle hangers with the sweet engine crossmember and poly mounts.
 
i got an easer way to get u all ur parts at least this is how im doing it.

im turning my stock 83 c30 cab and chasey in to a k20, i bought a rust out piece of junk k5 (body and frame only) for 350 basicly scrap pricing, no title no axles. cut the frame up, saved the spring hangers front backs, front fronts, and the engine cross member scraped the rest. mad about 25 at the scrap yard from the rest. im scraping the every thing off the 2wd front running gear exept for the nuckles, rotors, and calipers. but everything else is getting scraped, but other then that thats the cheapest and easest way i found of being able to do it.

side note leave the front half of the frame from the ''k'' doner together so once u get all ur 2wd off u can messure for any holes that might have to be drilled.
 
The 2wd frame is shorter where the engine mounts go, so the stock stuff doesn't fit
 
the front half of the frames is all basicly the same for 1/2-1ton just 2wd or 4x4 .

the back half about under the back of the cab getts taller for true 1 ton frames.

and all 2wd have a 3" shorter front hanger for the front hanger on the rear springs. so this means you add 3" of lift to the rear over what you want or swap to 4x4 hangers and redrill all the holes in the frame were the hanger goes. as the riviot pattern is diffrent from 2wd to 4x4 .

if me i would do kirt's b52 kit and rear hd shackle bracket and then you got lots of beef and dont have to soruce a lot of factory stuff.

also you will havea 2wd box for steering so perfect for crossover at the same time.

and if need be just cut the bottom of the 2wd engine crossmember off and plate it to give the clearence needed.
 
I turned my 89 2wd crew cab into a 4wd. I used Kurt's B-52 kit and used style style 48" 4" HD springs. I had to cut 1/4" off both sides of the bushings to fit the 3" inside of the hangers.

I used the 2wd engine mounts, just boxed them in similar to what 4wd's have. It's much easier this way rather than try to make mounts and get them in the right spot. A crossmember is simple, I used one from Tennessee Diesel Conversions since the truck is getting a Cummins.

Changed the rear spring hangers out for 1/2-3/4 4wd, used a 2wd rear hanger for a poor man's shackle flip. Using the stock 56s off the crew.

Going with a divorced transfer, so no mods to the floor hump, yet. I might have to raise it for the 4500, not sure.

I haven't even barely looked at the truck last couple weeks, other than buying a better grille for it. Too dang cold to be outside working on it......
 
I can't believe there haven't been any "don't do it!" votes. I think I'd be in that category. It pains me to see nice trucks get hacked up. :frown1:
 
Few of us told him not to in his other thread. His truck to ruin.
 
As much as I dislike 2wd trucks, I have to agree. A truck that clean should be left as is. Just drive it and enjoy it. If you wanna go wheeling, find a beater for that, and just use your current truck as a daily driver. It would likely be cheaper than trying to convert yours anyway.
 
Why does a 4x4 need to be beat on? Why can't we just take a 2wd beauty and make it a 4x4 mall crawler? Everyone seemed to think if I made my 83 a 4x4 that I would take it out and roll it the next weekend, and seem to think he would do that to his 79 too. Don't people on here build nice blazers for light trails and daily drivers? No offense to anyone but just because we make a nice 2wd a 4x4 with a 4" lift and 35s doesn't mean that we are seeking to destroy it. I have my 78 to beat on if I ever feel the need, but converting it to 4x4 would be simply to gain more of the perfect truck image in my eyes (and I assume the op's) rather than to take it out and see how close we can get to rolling them down a hill. Rant off.
 
I know I mainly want mine to be 4wd because when it snows, it's nice to have it. That and when I go fishing and have to drive down near the creek, I don't wanna take any chances of getting stuck with 2wd. Not because I want to go bash trails and mud pits for fun.....
 
KansasTwister said:
Why does a 4x4 need to be beat on? Why can't we just take a 2wd beauty and make it a 4x4 mall crawler? Everyone seemed to think if I made my 83 a 4x4 that I would take it out and roll it the next weekend, and seem to think he would do that to his 79 too. Don't people on here build nice blazers for light trails and daily drivers? No offense to anyone but just because we make a nice 2wd a 4x4 with a 4" lift and 35s doesn't mean that we are seeking to destroy it. I have my 78 to beat on if I ever feel the need, but converting it to 4x4 would be simply to gain more of the perfect truck image in my eyes (and I assume the op's) rather than to take it out and see how close we can get to rolling them down a hill. Rant off.
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This isn't really my argument. If he makes it a 4x4 and goes out and beats on it that would be a real shame. If he makes it a 4x4 mall crawler that would still be a shame IMO. It would probably be cheaper and definitely lot easier to just buy another 4x4 truck for when you need it. There are very few nice stock 70's model trucks out there any more and to me it's a shame to molest one. To each his own.
 
I found it easier in the past to do a frame swap. We had a 79 2wd with a good body, and a 76 4x4 with a good frame/drivetrain junk body. Swapped them to make a 76 4x4. Had to cut the center hump out and swap them in the bodies. Unless you do a body lift the tunnel will hit the trans/transfer.

The only way I would do it the way you are talking about would be if I had a 2wd CC and wanted 4x4, for the lack of CC's out there.
 
fyi 2" body lift clears a th400/205 2wd floor pan combo. :waytogo:

and also a 465/205 combo with just the normall hole for shifter needed. :thumb:
 
If done right, in my opinion, it would be an upgrade, it would not be ruining the truck. This would not be some hack job. But understand hearing it from someone who use to live in Michigan where not many of these oldies are around in this kind of shape.
 
my suburbans hump cleared a th350 np205 with no bodylift
 
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