frame question

[kanuck]

I was out and about today and bumped into a 1978 short step in a towing yard that was going to end up going for scrap. It is sitting on its front dif with no axles and on the drums in the back. Yes it is very rusty and has no engine and tranny, but I can take it away for $100 if I can figure out how to move it.

Question is, since I have a 1980 2wd with a frame that needs a little work, can the 4wd frame be used to make a 2wd and how much trouble is it. I have read question about converting the other way which I know means adding the leafs. This way I would need to bolt in the front cross member.
What problems would I bump into???

Thanks for any info

[andrewmp6]

Only thing i can tell you is put your body on the 4x4 frame sounds the easiest to me.But you'll have to use the cab on the 4x4 or swap floor pans the 4x4 trucks had a taller tunnel in them.

[kanuck]

As I want to stay a 2wd the cab shouldn't be a problem either way. Concerned more about the cross member bolting in or?????
Thanks

[andrewmp6]

The 2wd cab won't work the tunnel in it is not big enough for the t case you need to switch cabs or switch the floors.Why swap the crossmembers why not just swap frames.

[Conundrum]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

The 2wd cab won't work the tunnel in it is not big enough for the t case you need to switch cabs or switch the floors.Why swap the crossmembers why not just swap frames.

He wants to keep the truck a 2wd, and is wanting to swap the suspension over from the 2wd to the 4wd frame.

I'm not sure what is involved but a few people on here are doing it.

[Storm Chaser]

Are the frames the same width apart in the engine area? If so, it seems like a 2wd crossmember would bolt in.

[Damien]

There is a guy that did a swap on here.
Here is the linkhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=168231

[Captkaos]

If you have a 4x4 and a 4x2 donor, you need to swap everything that is suspension related from 4x2 to 4x4 and remove anything 4x4 related on the 4x4 truck. This included both front and rear leaf perches. The frame width distance and frame rails are identical on both. the crossmember will bolt up.

[sqrbdy]

What he said!

[S_Lahnen]

i'm just did the 2wd to 4x4 swapyesterday. as long as you have donar truck for the right parts and measurments its not that bad of a job.

[Storm Chaser]

i'm just did the 2wd to 4x4 swapyesterday

I've been studying this type of swap for a while- you usually get people saying "just go get a 4x4 frame and do a body swap cuz it's hard hard hard." I still can't understand whats supposed to be so hard about it. Time consuming and tiring yes, but difficult? I just don't see it.

Seems like the hardest part (aside from gathering ALL the parts one needs) would be locating the through-frame spring hanger mount. Was that easily located? Was there a common bolt hole to go by, or was it just pure measurement from a 4x4 frame?

The reason why I am interrested in this is because this weekend I'll be the proud owner of a crew cab, and you just don't see those frames in 4x4 around here for a reasonable price- It would be much cheaper to convert one to 4x4... at least in my neck of the woods.

[73CheyenneSuper20]

You said the engine and trans are gone, so I'm gonna assume the the transfer case is gone too.
If you're gonna use your drivetrain- engine, trans, driveshat- you're not gonna hafta worry about the tunnel being taller.
Mine and the trucks I looked at seem to be like this:
Auto trans & 2wd= low tunnel
stick= tall tunnel
stick & transfer case= tall longer tunnel

[S_Lahnen]

we took the 4x4 frame rails after crosmembers were taken off and cut the rails off behind front cab mount and tack ed the rails along side of the 2wd frame and drilled the needed holes through the 4x4 rails. we marked center of the spring hanger hole and made the hole to the needed size. this process we started in the morning and had the axle under the truck by mid afternoon along with all the 4x4 crossmembers.

[Storm Chaser]

A body lift would get you past the tunnel problem.