Would this two to four wheel be an issue, or not?
 

I was looking at the thread of converting a 2 wheel to four wheel drive on a burb with coil springs in the rear and it got me to thinking about this again.

I don't have any more 4x4 trucks but have had occasions that I wish I had 4 wheel drive.

First swapping frames is 100% out of the question. Ill never have another truck where the frame, vin, glove box ... and everything doesn't match.

There are several places that sell conversion "kits" that pretty easily convert the front on a C version to a K version. They even have "kits" for again pretty easily converting a rear C to a K as long as you already have rear leafs.

What would be wrong with having new coils spun up to give a lift in the rear that would match the front that you have converted? Maybe front and rear sway bars would help if the having coils in the rear are a lateral problem?

Im not talking using 4 wheel drive in heavy off road conditions. More like what todays SUVs do. Good in snow, some mud, boat ramps, off road to the extent of roads in the hills that arent paved sort of thing.

I already have a matching set of half ton axels. I have all the correct 4x4 cross members, a 350/350/NP205 set, and I have a 4x4 700R4 if I wanted to go that route.

I feel like this is doable ... tell me what Im missing.

Re: Would this two to four wheel be an issue, or not?
 

I’ve seen several converted to 4x4 using rear coils. It’s definitely do able, theres a few things that come up depending on coil height. 1st will be the need for an adjustable track bar to keep the rear centered if you go a good ways over stock Height. Second the higher you go the more the wheels will move toward the front of the wheel opening. 3 would be pinion angle changing as the rear drops down with the longer springs. If you are only talking about replacing the spring with stock height or maybe 1-2” higher none of these things will likely be of any real consequence. Much higher than that and you’ll likely start opening a bag of worms.

Re: Would this two to four wheel be an issue, or not?
 

I think the end goal would be close to stock height, maybe two inch max. Track bar is a good idea. Since you would be replacing the rear axle, pinion angle would be taken care of with install. Not sure about centering in wheel well. Might take something more drastic like moving the center cross member back a bit. My guess is you would have to have drive shafts custom fit anyway.

Im only doing this via the board and in my pea brain for now. Promised myself not to purchase anything project wise until what Im actually working on gets done (ish).

I think its interesting to consider, maybe others have but just havent tossed it out there.

Re: Would this two to four wheel be an issue, or not?
 

Lol yea you had a pretty good project herd at one time I remember. Nothing wrong with focusing on one at a time.

At stockish height I don’t think you’d need worry much about any of the variables I mentioned.

Re: Would this two to four wheel be an issue, or not?
 

Check out WFO concepts. They have kits for coils, maybe they have something that would work...

Re: Would this two to four wheel be an issue, or not?
 

YEARS AGO ........... the mags had a nice 67-72 white 2wd to 4wd truck featured . used ford dana 44front and radius arms and kept the gm coil buckets . the rear did a trailing arm over and coils to match up . boy was she sexy and i bet rode real nice .