2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive conversion

[Mudder]

I have a 99 Silverado. How hard would it be to change it from a 2 wheel drive to a 4 wheel drive.

[DWilbur]

The easiest way is to sell the 99 2WD and buy 4 WD. if you want to do swap the best way is to find a cheep truck to get the parts you need and sell off the rest of the truck.

[special-K]

Set it on a Squarebody 4wd chassis

[sweetk30]

the newer stuff is a lot harder to swap over with all the electrics and abs and such .

and swapping on a older 4wd frame gets fun as the newer frames are set WIDE compared to the older 34" frame width .

you might look at doing a solid axle conversion with leaf springs . some company's out there offer a almost bolt in kit . just have to look then source a axle / leafs and t-case plus crossover steering kit .

[CarolinaHD]

It's doable I just did one, its way easier than trying to convert a pre1987 frame to 4x4.
Helps to have the frames side by side for comparison but here goes for a factory IFS conversion. I did mine on a 2003 3500 cab and chassis Silverado, lb7 duramax and zf6 manual transmission. Converted it to floor shift 4x4, zf6, and a 2006 lbz engine. All the wiring is factory and everything works like it came from the factory that way.

You have to locate, cut out and weld in a sleeve for the upper passenger side frame mount bushing. The lower passenger mount sleeve is already there. Cut out the lower control arm crossmember mount on the drivers side and knock out the tubes the bolts run through. Use the 4x4 crossmember and weld on the new driver side mount. Cut out the driver side upper mount, locate and weld it on the new frame.

I had the engine removed and used a cherry picker to hold the differential in place. Bolted all the mounts to the diff then welded them in place. You'll need a subscription to alldatadiy to figure out the electrical part. Need the transfer case and front diff actuator harnesses. It'll be much easier to use the floor shift transfer case. Just need to relfash the ecm with a 4x4 calibration. Nothing changes in the abs.

You'll be money/time ahead to buy a wrecked truck for all the little parts and wiring or just swap the frame. Cab and chassis frames are harder to find which is why I modified my frame. Wish I had some pictures for ya.

[Mudder]

Sounds Tuff. Thank you all. I really don't own the truck but was thinking about buying it tomorrow at an auction. It's a really sweet truck with 29,000 miles. I just don't think I need a two wheel drive for what it's going to bring. Thanks again. I'm going to stick with the older trucks. You guys are awesome.