Change a 2wd to a 4wd
 

I am trying to get a friend some information. He has a 83 GMC 4wd that he spent quite a bit of money on and the frame got bent some time soon after. He also has a nice 85 Chevy with a utility bed on it. He has a gravel pit and a construction business so he has equipment scattered all over west Tn. If the 85 was a 4wd it would be able to get into remote areas a lot better. He wants to use the running gear out of the 83 in the 85. He wanted to know if the 85 would be drilled for mounting the 4wd suspension or if he would have to do all the measuring and drilling to make it work. Thank you for any help you can give as I am not up on 4wd stuff. I guess I will be around now as I bought an old parts Blazer from Huck and plan to try to build a truck cab, flatbed short truck. (kind of like Yukon Jacks truck) Yes I'm a little old to be trying to learn new tricks but just gotta try it. Thanks

Re: Change a 2wd to a 4wd
 

Ron,I`m not sure but think he can do that.I believe the holes are already there.Have him check that out.I know there are sources where you can get all the frame specs to compare.A have a friend that came up with all the nitpickin`details to compare a Suburban frame to a pickup.
But...the rule of thumb agrees that swapping a body onto another frame would be much easier.I know he prolly wants to work with what he`s got.But,I`m sure he could come up with another 4wd frame pretty cheap and easy. Even if he has to swap his drivetrain into a bare frame (or to replace a crapped out drivetrain) it would be easier with the body off.
Just some things to consider.

Re: Change a 2wd to a 4wd
 

Thanks Tim. He has a mechanic and 2 or 3 gofers not doing much as it is too wet. He is sure it can be done he just don't want it to take a year to do it. So with more time than money he wants this done with the junk he has laying around.

Re: Change a 2wd to a 4wd
 

Aw,he can do it then.

Re: Change a 2wd to a 4wd
 

I was hoping for a little better response than this. Has anyone done what I'm asking about. He has called and after all the bragging I've done on this site I have to tell him that I don't have an answer. Some feedback please.

Re: Change a 2wd to a 4wd
 

I wish someone that knew what the heck they were talkin`about would respond and not just a buncha mumbo jumbo from a cereal killer.I wonder if you`d get away with putting this to the 73-87 message board and not have it moved back here.

Re: Change a 2wd to a 4wd
 

I have seen a truck up close that had this conversion done, but it was many years ago so I don't remember much. I do remember that they used the 2x crossmember and had to hack it pretty bad to clear the front diff. I know it can be done. I know it will be quite a bit of work. And I know I don't think I'm going to try it... LOL


Chuck

Re: Change a 2wd to a 4wd
 

Thanks for the reply. If I was healthy I would tackle it just to see but them days are over. Maybe someone will step up.

Re: Change a 2wd to a 4wd
 

It sounds like your friend would have everything needed,just need elbow grease.He should just crawl around and measure all over the place.

Re: Change a 2wd to a 4wd
 

It can be done... I did it on a 71 C30 frame and helped on a 81.

Mount the 4wd spring hangers and rad support brackets in place of the 2wd ones. Then place your shackle hanger in the rear and drill for the mounting holes and the shackle placement. All the holes for the cross members are there.

Get rid of the 2wd engine/suspension cross member and use the 4wd one. Bolt holes are there.

Pics in my sig should help.

BTW, this was easier than swapping the body, which I've also done.

The only drilling he would have to do is for the front spring's shackle hanger, which should be right where the frame bulges out for the ebrake cables.

I have a couple of shackle hangers, if he doesn't want to play with rivets.

Re: Change a 2wd to a 4wd
 

go to chuckstrucks.net Chuck sells every thing you need to put springs under a 2wd. Put your 2wd on jack stands. Mark on the frame the spindle center line. Take a wheel base measurement, remove front suspension. I build all of my parts. I dont know what you can or cant do. So look at Chucks projects. It might give you some ideas. As far as the engine mount x-member art morrision sell a nice one that you weld in for 75.00. Or go to offroaddesign.com they have a bolt in high ground clearance x-member. Check out my frame. It is on page 19 of 4x4 pictures.

Re: Change a 2wd to a 4wd
 

Ron there is a member here who did the same swap in his driveway. He swapped suspensions between a 2wd truck and a 4wd blazer. It seems like it was all pretty straight forward while having both of the rigs there. It seems like the only things he had to build were driveshafts. There's a build thread here somewhere on how he did it with tons of pics. I want to say that the original poster was in the service and is now overseas somewhere.....but I really don't know.

Edit:Ron , The members name is sixty8c10. Here's the link for ya!

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