Conversion from 4wd to 2wd...
 

Hey guys...I just found a 87 with short bed, original 50k miles 4wd. I'd like to buy the truck because It's a solid foundation for a project and I'd like to eventually have it slammed on the ground. What's involved in swapping the 4wd to a 2wd? Is the frame the same? (I know I could have search for the answer but...I'm a little lazy!):waah:

Re: Conversion from 4wd to 2wd...
 

Here's a pict of the truck

Re: Conversion from 4wd to 2wd...
 

I'm wondering the same.....nice truck btw!

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Well, for sure I imagine I'll have to change the transmission, not sure about the rear end tough? But what do I have to plan for the front!?

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id say. sell the truck and buy a 2wd. youd get good money for it. it looks like in good shape. then buy a 2wd shorty and slam it!!!!

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They are quite rare in this condition up here in quebec!!! So when you find something this great,...you hold on to it!!! (BTW, I have not buy it yet...I'd like to but that's the reason I ask about the conversion)

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dude, thats way to nice to convert, leave it as is and enjoy it.
Pick up and other 2wd drive and slam it. Make the 4x4 your parts getter

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Yes it can be done. I would give you complete details but....I'm a little lazy!....;)

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That would be an absolute shame to convert that to a 2 wheel drive. Its way too nice. Either get it and leave it the way it is or let someone else buy it and appreciate it.

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Hahahaha! That was funny! :lol: I vote on leaving that truck just how it is and enjoy it while you look for a clean 2wd project. It would be more work than its worth. Easier to travel to buy a 2wd project

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Amen!

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He doesn't own tha truck yet

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What you guys are missing is the fact that a clean rust free truck is hard to come by in his region regardless of it being 2wd or 4wd. If he can't find a clean 2wd, then its a logical choice to convert the 4wd to what "he wants".

I agree that it would be easier to start with what you want, but sometimes thats just not a viable option. To answer your question, you will need a complete 2wd front suspension, transmission, crossmember, and rear spring hangers.

If you can locate a complete parts truck or at least a complete 2wd chassis, it would make the conversion easier.

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i could be wrong, but also doesnt the front frame rail where the motor is kick up 1" higher than a 2wd does? if so that would get you an inch lower to start off

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In the end, I'll have to find my own answer and it seems pretty clear that you would all leave it alone since it is in such good condition...but SERIOUSLY, what's involved? I know i'm making a fool of myself but can't help it!:censored::dohh:

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My browser seemed to have fail refreshing and showing me the last posts before I reply...Thanks for those of you who took it seriously and thanks for the good laugh for the others...!

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Finding a shorty with a 2wd setup here is not and easy thing. Those worth the look are mostly jacked up in the sky... This is the best looking truck I found in a long time but before buying it, I wanted to know what would be the thing... I guess I'd still be far from ordering a dropmember and dragging the frame out on the streets...

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maybe you could buy it and then look for a 2wd in poor condition and swap the cab, bed and front clip along with any other parts that are nice?? A 2wd rolling chassis may save a lot of money over converting the 4wd one. Are they so scarce that you couldn't find a 2wd truck that is really rough that you could swap your nice body on to? Just a thought.

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try south west region texas, new mexico, or arizona
Trucks hardly ever rust over here

check it out....just found these listings

http://elpaso.en.craigslist.org/cto/2099317762.html

http://elpaso.en.craigslist.org/cto/2075251194.html

http://elpaso.en.craigslist.org/cto/2120034458.html

http://elpaso.en.craigslist.org/cto/2134570602.html

http://elpaso.en.craigslist.org/cto/2127582326.html

http://elpaso.en.craigslist.org/cto/2136951348.html

http://elpaso.en.craigslist.org/cto/2136708664.html

Re: Conversion from 4wd to 2wd...
 

still might even be easier to buy a long bed 2wd chassis and shorten the frame. that might be a lot less money and time. You'll need to find a 2wd donor truck anyway to get all of the suspension components.

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If travel is an option, he is right. A couple months back a guy in my town was parting out a fairly rough short bed 2wd less engine/tranny and doors for $250

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I also tought about this... If I can find a fairly good chassis...The problem with the trucks here is that if they have seem the winter(with everything they put on the road to melt ice and snow), it is rusted a lot after 20...years. This particular truck already comes from the southern states so it has never seen winter. It was brought here as a classic truck... Still I'll try to see what it cost to have one transport here...The thing is that it is a lot easier when already registered in quebec!

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Well thanks for the talk...I'll sleep on it!

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there is a thread on here that went into detail but i can' find it right now but i agree if you can find a 2wd in poor shape and swap out the bodys will be the way to go. I just in 09 bought a complete 86 short bed 2wd for $75 and cut it up to make a trailor then it hauled most of itself to the scrap yard:lol:

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i say buy it and start cutting and unbolting away and get that sucker converted to a slammed 2wd. its only a couple crossmembers and what not

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Not hard to do ..just takes a bit of time.

The frame rails are basically the same...we did a 91 Blazer 4wd to 2wd conversion.

Pull the body off to start ...box in 1 pc and the cab and nose as another.

You will need a complete 2 wd donor but it can be a long box(but you will need a short box 2wd driveshaft)

Swap in crossmembers and front suspension

Change out steering box,rear end and trans

drop body back on

Final assembly and hookups

With 2 guys,air tools and a forklift or large A frame will take 2 weekends

Between taxes,travel time and registration hassles it may be easier than purchasing a USA truck

Re: Conversion from 4wd to 2wd...
 

Finally, the easiest thing to do
1-Pass on it and continue to search ...
2-Buying it and having a donor truck for the front swap and trans,etc...to convert it or having a complete 2wd donnor chassis and swap body!!!

I guess that thinking that I could cheat and shortcut on body prep and paint job by buying a truck in this condition was wrong...But it is still the best looking C-10 I've seen around here for a while!!! :chevy:

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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=168231

Here is the thread on a guy that took a 4wd blazer to 2wd and the 2wd truck got the 4wd stuff.

If you like the truck buy it and convert it. I'm converting a 4wd blazer to 2wd and have caught some flack for it. If its a decent truck at a decent price you will save a ton over a crappy 2wd that needs 20k worth of body and paint work.

The swap is not that hard, but so far all I have gotten done is disassembling my 2wd donor parts, then work and life got in my way. My build thread on the blazer is in my sig, but like I said no progress on the suspension swap yet.....

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I just read the whole thread...Wow! The guy went through a lot of work both ways to build a 2wd out of 4wd...really inspiring! after reading all the opinion you guys gave on the subject, I'm considering buying the truck...Might drive it like it is for a while and then see how I feel about it... If no 2wd find its way in my garage, will probably torn it apart and have fun...:wave:
Still have to talk with the wife first...:drama:

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real nice, any pics of the truck?
Black silverados seem to be hard to find.
Www.ClassicParts.com owns one from Chevy dealership that had it stored. 1987 4x4 short bed with 89miles!

My dad scored a 1986 GMC 4x4, we are in the process of restoring for a daily driver, but with TBI from an 87

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The frames are the same.

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I'll trade you my 2WD 3/4 ton long bed for that!!!!!! That trucks in too nice a shape to butcher it.

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First,355bullet, here's a few pictures... from the internet ad from the guy who owns it...

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I'll have to pass on your offer...even if it is a 2wd, I'd rather have a short bed...But your right on one thing, that truck IS nice!!! maybe too nice...:devil:

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dammmmmmmmm!!!! where is it being sold..lol!

Congrats if u decide to buy it....thats the cleanest truck ive seen in a long time

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I could agree to tell you where it is being sold...Here in canada, in quebec actually...If really interested, PM me...I'll give you the link If not buying(I'll have to take a decision at some point!!!)

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Here in Alberta there not rusted like out East. Buy a truck out here and take it back to Quebec...

I always see a 73-87 SB on Kijiji here in every so often in good shape if you watch for them, sometimes with lower Km's.....

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Honestly that SB 4wd is worth money, and is a rare find, especially in that shape, color, Km's, and in a silverado!!!

Don't chop it up!

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You guys are killing me. If you take your time and do the conversion right, its not chopped up and can be put back to 4x4 anytime you wish. The thread I posted he swapped all that stuff b/c the wanted the truck to be 4x4 when he was done. From what I have seen, I'm only removing the 4x4 engine crossmember and putting the 2wd one in. Everything else will stay where it is......


Its also not like its a COPO camaro or something he wants to chop up into a pro street doorslammer. These trucks are everywhere....

Re: Conversion from 4wd to 2wd...
 

yup clean ones are sure hard to find up here
it would be easier to find a rusty bucket 4X2 for parts up here
turn around and try to sell the 4X4 stuff
put an ad in the paper
may find someone with a 4X2 wanting 4X4 parts too.
may even offer to help you


Seen it on here.......it's your truck build what you want!