Let’s start this next section of details on the process with a fair warning. This is not a simple bolt in the cross member from a 2WD and you’re good to go as some members have stated. Well it is not for my personality anyways. I want to clean and make everything right while doing it on a budget. I bought a 2WD front end off of member Jeremiah King (awesome couple and my go to resource for parts).
A lot of cleaning of parts and learning from this site, I followed LIVRAT’s process of sectioning the frame to line up where the bolt holes go and referenced those with measurements from other members.
Also put in 2nd row escalade seats before I started conversion.
I bought all new ball joints, tie rod ends and lowering kit from CPP (thanks to member John Oro for the intro). Obviously I needed to fund this project and of course it started with that money my wife said I could spend on the cage. Then I started selling parts that I was pulling off. This gave me the opportunity to not only pass them on to other board members, but have met some great people on the way. I referenced everyone possible on the conversion. Spoke on the phone with LIVRAT, ORTEGAMOTOR and BIGBLUTHG(bought some fenders) I have been back and forth with GRINGOLOCO on his trailing arm conversion..(his work on that blazer is out of my league)! Keep in mind it is a long process, but you can get it done. I am on a mission to prove it to myself now and I am not a welder or mechanic. Just have played with a couple cars in the past. The lists of parts is where you may fool yourself on the conversion. I read everywhere that you need the x member and trailing arms, here is where I am at so far.
Front Cross member with upper and lower arms, Drop spindles, springs, shocks, brake lines, 2WD throttle cable(motor moves far forward), 2WD fan shroud, 5 lug wheels, trailing arms, trailing arm bushings, trailing arm drop crossmember, rear shocks, rear shock mounts, rear Springs, C notch kit, Upper shock mount, New 2WD e brake cables rear section, 2WD trans cross member, coil spring rear axle, new brakes all around, ANOTHER new redhead steering gearbox, Centerlink, Front CPP sway bar with lowered brackets, Pan hard Deluxe CPP adjustable bar, 2WD exhaust manifolds, 2WD front body supports...obviously you can do without a lot of this if you use a flip kit for the leaf rear.