Swapping from 2wd to 4wd? Involved?
 

Guys I've got an 85 silverado, 3/4 ton 350/400/4.10's. Camper special. Pictures in my sig.

What all is involved in making this thing 4x4? Are we talking just a solid axle swap and transfer case, or are we talking frame swap?

I'd love this thing to be 4x4!
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Re: Swapping from 2wd to 4wd? Involved?
 

Anybody?
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Re: Swapping from 2wd to 4wd? Involved?
 

my opinion.. you'd be better off finding a 4x4, with the cost and amount of work its going to take to convert to a 4x4, you could have found a 4x4. if there is a sentimental attachment to the 2wd you have you could always find a junkyard 4x4 and put the body from yours on it..

Re: Swapping from 2wd to 4wd? Involved?
 

if you can get the frame do that swap other wise do the axel and springs, engin cradle, transfer case and the transmission output shaft swap. I have done both and the frame swap is easer but both can be done.

Re: Swapping from 2wd to 4wd? Involved?
 

Hmm, so frame swap is easier. No way I'm losing my cab, that thing is immaculate. Would be nice to find a short bed 4x4 frame though and swap my cab on, then find a short bed for it!
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Re: Swapping from 2wd to 4wd? Involved?
 

I've never done anything in the way of a 4x4 swap... But my personal opinion is that you should just leave your C20 the way it is. Judging by the pictures in your signature and in the other thread you posted, it looks like a truly unmolested example, and it'd be kind of a shame (IMO) to go about swapping things around.

Re: Swapping from 2wd to 4wd? Involved?
 

You don't "need" a frame to do the swap. It would be nice to have a complete donor truck or rolling chassis, but you can piece it together. Your 2wd frame will work just fine.

Re: Swapping from 2wd to 4wd? Involved?
 

i did the 4x4 conversion to my truck. its not all that hard to do. i have a build thread on another site. pm me for the link. iono if someone will get mad if i put link on here. what are future plans with the truck? big tires? mud truck?

Re: Swapping from 2wd to 4wd? Involved?
 

This is funny because I have an 82 3/4 ton 4x4 LWB that has no drive train or axles that I am trying to figure out what to do with it. It was a halfway clean truck before it got gutted. If I could find cheap axles for it I would bring it back to life.

Re: Swapping from 2wd to 4wd? Involved?
 

It's almost new, minus the faded paint. I agree, it would be nice to stay original, but at the same time I dont run a museum. Lol.
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Re: Swapping from 2wd to 4wd? Involved?
 

The more I think about it the more I think I'll just leave it as is.

It was made for a purpose and thats hauling and towing heavy stuff such at the camper it had. I dont even think I'll change the wheels. I'm going to get my painter to repaint the white wheels professionally, (If I can find the right paint) and get me some new tires, and might even have him paint the truck and go back with new chrome molding and re-use most of the aluminum stuff.