2x4 To 4x4

[Hittman]

I recently acquired a very nice '71 3/4T 4x4 frame. I plan to place the body of my current '70 3/4T 2x4 4-speed on to it. My understanding is that this may not be a simple "weekend" project as not everything is a direct bolt on application. The kicker is that this frame was set up for an auto from the factory but it does come with a 4-speed, transfer case and cross member from a '69 - not installed. (My brother actually has the '69 frame but with the auto, transfer case and cross member from this '71 frame - I know strange circumstances). Yes it would be nice if we could just agree to swap frames but I want the disk brakes and he wants the auto so you see the dilema.

Anyway my brother has discovered that the cross member holes in his '69 frame are roughly 3 inches off where his auto cross member needs to be. I can only assume that my '71 frame will also be about 3 inches off in the opposite direction for my manual tranny cross member. Can any of you confirm this? I would have thought all 4x4 frames were the same or had both sets of holes popped in the frame rails. Is this just a fluke deal or were there separate frames between autos and manuals or did it change from a '69 to a '71?

I also hear that 4x4's actually had a slightly different firewall on the cabs. Apperantly there is a clearance issue with the distributor when a small block 350 is mounted in there? This info is coming from another source which I don't know so I don't know what to beleive. Can anyone confirm this? I plan to re-install my factory '70 350.

I also understand that my new exhaust for my 2x4 will not work with the 4x4 frame due to the transfer case being in the way. Do the 4x4's also have a different exhaust manifold?

Other than the tranny hump being different I can't imagine there would be any other issues. Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated. I hope to tackle this project here in the next few weeks.