2wd to 4 wheel drive swap in progress....ideas?

[gyjackson]

I just stripped the frame of my '72 2wd Custom/10 swb (I'm the second owner, earned it from my grandpa in 1986 with 11,280 miles on it). Nothing left but the rails, crossmembers, and body mount brackets. Whew!...I'm gonna have a pile of good, low mileage (about 70,00 now) parts left over... I am about to begin swapping in all suspension and running gear (including crossmembers) from a SWB 1980 4x4 (drivetrain and title are all that survive....the body is shot!). I know I am gonna get alot of heat for "hacking" up a truck like this, but hey, I kept it this long and my taste changed...I got all the parts...so what the heck. If my tape measure isn't lying to me, I think it should work out well. I hope to end up with a nice, clean, dependable truck that looks like it was born that way. After searching high and low, I really can't find anyone who has followed this method for a 2-4wd conversion. Looks like a few have used the newer frame, shortened it, and fabbed body mounts (none for me, thanks). If anyone has words of wisdom, I am all ears. I will try to make pics and keep 'em updated as I go. I plan to do the tank relocation and shackle flip for a 4" lift. Thanks for all the tips and ideas!!

[Aarons72s]

First off welcome to the board. Second when you do this please post pics and faqs on this. We bring it up every so often about converting a 2wd frame to 4wd but none has tried I think. We have seen some pics of it done, just completed pics but no specs or detaild photos. Again welcome.

[ClassicRedneck05]

i would love to see this done i have done it once but i did it diff lol would like to see some other ways and also i did this years ago and was hell

[BobS]

I'd like to see pics too, I'm planning on doing this to a 1-ton frame. Mine will use 69-72 running gear though. The only real problem I've been able to think of is the rear hangers for the front springs. Everything else "should" be fairly simple.

Bob

[gyjackson]

Thanks for the encouragement guys (and the warm welcome). I will take lots of pics as it progresses beginning in the next few days. As for the rear mounts of front spring, I intend to cut the hole in the frame and use the 80 spring mount. If my measurements are right, they will need to go right where the 72 e-brake cables are attached (in the dimpled spot)..I'll cut the dimple out and replace it with flat metal, then bore it to correct I.D....mergency brake cable will have to be re-mounted.

[skchevota]

The rear hangers for the front springs land right where the E-brake cable goes through the frame. you will have to relocate the cable and then you can ither heat the bump outs on the frame and hamer them flat so you can use a hole saw for the hole, or you can plasma cut them the way that they are. I took the easy way out and went with a longer spring, it rides real nice to. I think it is deaver that makes a longer spring for the 73-87 4x4 s that is stock length on the front side of the spring , but like 6" longer on the back side. They are supose to ride real nice, and articulate well. This would eliminate the need to move the E- brake cable as well.

[GMCMAX]

I flattened out the dimples on mine and plated the outside with 1/4". I heated the frame and used two 1" thick plates with a big bolt and nut through them and sandwiched the frame while it was hot to flatten it. Finished up with a small amount of hammering. That frame is tough! Sorry now I didn't take pics in progress. I did find out with the factory 2wd rear end spring mounts that a 4" block only brought the rear level with a factory front suspension.

[gyjackson]

Sounds like an interesting way to flatten it...hmmm...I do work at an Oxygen/Acetylene supplier. As for the rear springs....mine are...were...coil, so I'll be fastening the hangers where they are needed to keep the frame level. I guess??

[GMCMAX]

Mine was a 68 2wd longbed, I added the front springs and axle from a 71 blazer, and had to raise the rear to level, seeing as you are using everything from the 80, you may be all right.

[Yukon Jack]

Welcome to the board. Definitely document your project and keep us posted.

[cobinder]

gy this link might help ya.
good luck. http://www.chuckschevytruckpages.com/framespecs.html

[gyjackson]

Anybody still watching this? Just wondering. The project is well underway. Got the axles, springs, and hangers mounted under the frame. I just wanted to know if there is enough interest here for me to keep it updated. If so I'll try to begin posting pics and descriptions. They moved me off the 67-72 truck board and since then I have gotten no response. Thanks guys, let me know!!

[1969k10stepside]

Im watching this,I have 2 67-72 original 4wds but I always like more and Im running out of original 4x4s to get but still have alot of 2wd bodys and newer 4x4 frames

[bobvilla67]

I was planning to do this to a 1 ton frame also.post some picswhen you get a chance.thanks

BobS:are you planning to convert the 157' or the 133"wb 1 ton?just curious.I have both,but not sure which one would look better.

[FLOutlander]

I have an '82 Scottsdale 2WD that I want to convert to 4WD. By all means, post lots of pics. I'd greatly appritiate it!

[GMCMAX]

Ya, still following, would love to see the pics.

[skchevota]

heck ya.. post pics when you can.

[gyjackson]

ahhhite then...seems you guys have made up my mind!!
I have done some mods to the 80 front hangers on the rear springs thus far with out pics, but I can show the finished product and give a discription of how I did it. Also, I have the mods done to the 72 frame to accept the rear hangers on the front springs with no pics, (but stil pretty easy to see what I did). I'll get the camera out tonite and see if I can get 'em posted in the next few days.

[Cody chance]

im ready to do the same. please post pics

[gyjackson]

Sorry guys.....I will try to get some pictures made....I haven't been on top of that....I used the complete drivetrain (motor, 4-speed trans., transfer case, front and rear end) from a 1980 chevy 4x4. I took alot of measurements after stripping the body off both trucks. Here is what I found. The width of the frame on the 72 differs only 2 inches in one place on the 72 (at the front mounting point of the rear springs). With the 72's running gear in place I measured the centerline of the 72's rear axle and the centerline of the front spindles and transferred the mark across the frame (with a plumb bob and a straight edge). With the 72 frame rails on stands, i moved the axle assemblys from the 80 (complete with springs and hangers attached) under the 72 frame and lined the axles up with the marks I had on it's frame. From there It was just taking time to square it all up and get the 80 mounts attached to the 72 frame. On the Front Springs.....I had to cut the dimples out of the 72 frame where the e-brake cable attaches (this is where the rear leaf spring bracket goes through the frame), The front of the spring was just a matter of aligning the bracket, clamping it and drilling the holes after removing the 72's core support bracet (the 80 will work in its place and also provides the spring mounting point), also there are L shaped brackets used on the 80 in conjuction with these brackets. They will need to be moved to the other side of the bracket to use them on the 72. Now for the Rear Springs......the rear mount was a direct fit, just clamp and drill. On the front mount, a little fabrication if you used the new model mount. (keep in mind I was converting from coil springs, if you are using existing leaf springs you should be able to bolt it right in the existing bracket) I chose to slice completely through the bracket on the same plane as the bottom surface of the frame. Let the springs dictate where the bottom half of the bracket needed to be, then weld it back together (I also added gussets for strength) Now for the rest of the story.....I took measurements to see where the engine stands should sit. Once that was figured out. I put the 4x4 crossmember in, clamped it in place, drilled and bolted it in place. The engine stands had to be trimmed to the heght of the 72 frame (so they will fit inside it at the top) then they were bolted to the 4x4 crossmember. Once it was in place, I cut out the very front crossmember on the 72 and replaced it with the one from th 80 (which also supports the front brackets of the front springs) I then set the 80 engine, transmission, and transfer in as one unit. Once the engine was sitting on the mounts, I bolted the 80 trans. crossmember to the trans., jacked it up till it hit the frame and drilled holes and put the bolts in.....Mysteriously the driveshafts worked with no mods!! I used all grade 8 bolts in place of all the factory rivits that were cut off and punched out. I'll try to get some pics soon and get 'em on the board

[skchevota]

I need pics man.... ok I can wait if I must, sounds like its coming along great!

[Greggo]

Right on, someone with the same idea as me. I'm about to tacle this same project. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Any body know if there are aftermarket leafspring mounts or do I need to find used? Thanx

[earl87gta]

http://www.diy4x.com/suspension.htm has every thing you need front spring hangers shackles shackle flip for rear .

[gyjackson]

Hi guys, I know it has been awhile, but I've made a little progress since the last post.....still out of $$$....If anyone has inforrmation or questions related to this swap, let me know. I hope to start the bodywork soon. Thanks, Greg

[FormerMember]

I did something like this with a C40 frame.