2wd on a 4wd frame - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

griswold510 · 04-04-2005, 05:16 PM

is it possible to take the engine and transmission out of a 2wd c10 and put it onto a 4x4 k5 frame? i want the front suspension of a 4wd but just dont have all the money to do the full conversion yet including the transmission. but if i just stick my 2wd transmission with the rear drive shaft for the k5 will it work?

Russell · 04-04-2005, 06:22 PM

While the engines are the same, there are differences in the transmissions, and the motor mount brackets on the engines.

If you are putting the 2wd transmission into the 4x4, you will need a driveshaft from another K5 that was not 4x4, has the same tranny, and same rear end. Not an entirely common thing to find.

Your easiest bet would be to get a tranny / t-case and driveshafts from another K5 and put them in right away.

Its a whole lot easier to do what you are suggesting onto a truck, infact, I've done so with my 4x4 chassis. Only difference is that I will be running a divorced transfercase so I will be using the 2wd transmission anyways. This means I won't have to change trannies when I get my divorced case installed.

screwballl · 04-04-2005, 06:32 PM

divorce case.. i think thats when both get shafted?

Russell · 04-04-2005, 07:13 PM

Yeah, that means I am running a 2wd TH400, with a mini driveshaft between the tranny and the t-case

griswold510 · 04-04-2005, 08:07 PM

yeh i just cant seem to find a cheap parts truck around here....so i was hoping to minimize my price by doing this. right now i have a 76 c10 and just want the whole suspension of a 4x4 so i can add more lift that what is available for a 2wds. also the lifts are much cheaper. what would be the difference in doing this to say a k10 short box?

Russell · 04-04-2005, 08:17 PM

Well, the only thing that is holding you back from what you want to do is the very fact that it is a K5 you are putting the engine / tranny into. If you were doing it to a K10 shortbox, you'd easily be able to find a driveshaft of the right length from a 2wd shortbox truck with the same tranny / rear end.

Basically what I am getting at is that 2wd Blazers are fairly rare, so you would have a hard time finding a driveshaft that would bolt in for you. If you were willing to pay a few bucks, you could get your longer driveshaft shortened to the length you need it to be, and then all would be peachy for you.

If you had the driveshaft, all you would need would be the 4x4 engine mount brackets (the towers should be on the 4x4, the engine mount cups are the same between 2wd and 4x4, but the brackets bolted to the engine are significantly different between a 2wd and a 4x4) and a 2wd transmission crossmember. Just keep the front diff unlocked, and you'd have no worries driving without a driveshaft to the front, having no t-case etc

griswold510 · 04-04-2005, 08:57 PM

nice....cant wait to get started now then....

04-04-2005, 05:16 PM	#1
griswold510 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: kennesaw GA Posts: 73	2wd on a 4wd frame is it possible to take the engine and transmission out of a 2wd c10 and put it onto a 4x4 k5 frame? i want the front suspension of a 4wd but just dont have all the money to do the full conversion yet including the transmission. but if i just stick my 2wd transmission with the rear drive shaft for the k5 will it work?

04-04-2005, 06:22 PM	#2
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	While the engines are the same, there are differences in the transmissions, and the motor mount brackets on the engines. If you are putting the 2wd transmission into the 4x4, you will need a driveshaft from another K5 that was not 4x4, has the same tranny, and same rear end. Not an entirely common thing to find. Your easiest bet would be to get a tranny / t-case and driveshafts from another K5 and put them in right away. Its a whole lot easier to do what you are suggesting onto a truck, infact, I've done so with my 4x4 chassis. Only difference is that I will be running a divorced transfercase so I will be using the 2wd transmission anyways. This means I won't have to change trannies when I get my divorced case installed. __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)

04-04-2005, 06:32 PM	#3
screwballl Tonawanda 454 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liquid Sunshine State Posts: 2,755	divorce case.. i think thats when both get shafted? __________________ 91 Chevy Suburban Tonawanda 454 R2500 - SOLD!!! 04 Dodge Durango 5.7L Hemi 2WD, 24K miles (as of July 2011) In the past 30 years about 90% of Fords are still on the road, the other 10% made it home. -------------------

04-04-2005, 07:13 PM	#4
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	Yeah, that means I am running a 2wd TH400, with a mini driveshaft between the tranny and the t-case __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)

04-04-2005, 08:17 PM	#6
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	Well, the only thing that is holding you back from what you want to do is the very fact that it is a K5 you are putting the engine / tranny into. If you were doing it to a K10 shortbox, you'd easily be able to find a driveshaft of the right length from a 2wd shortbox truck with the same tranny / rear end. Basically what I am getting at is that 2wd Blazers are fairly rare, so you would have a hard time finding a driveshaft that would bolt in for you. If you were willing to pay a few bucks, you could get your longer driveshaft shortened to the length you need it to be, and then all would be peachy for you. If you had the driveshaft, all you would need would be the 4x4 engine mount brackets (the towers should be on the 4x4, the engine mount cups are the same between 2wd and 4x4, but the brackets bolted to the engine are significantly different between a 2wd and a 4x4) and a 2wd transmission crossmember. Just keep the front diff unlocked, and you'd have no worries driving without a driveshaft to the front, having no t-case etc __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)

04-04-2005, 08:07 PM	#5
griswold510 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: kennesaw GA Posts: 73	yeh i just cant seem to find a cheap parts truck around here....so i was hoping to minimize my price by doing this. right now i have a 76 c10 and just want the whole suspension of a 4x4 so i can add more lift that what is available for a 2wds. also the lifts are much cheaper. what would be the difference in doing this to say a k10 short box?

04-04-2005, 08:57 PM	#7
griswold510 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: kennesaw GA Posts: 73	nice....cant wait to get started now then....



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