Front axle on 2wd

[chevymadness]

Hi guys! I should start by saying I know this is kind of stupid and feel free to laugh but hey they laughed at Loui's Armstrong and look at him now.Anyway I have this 82 silverado and it has strong sentimental value and money put into it .But I have a problem it's. 2wd :/ and as many more guys these days doing crazy fabrication to there trucks.Well I would like to take care of this 2wd problem because you see 2wds cannot be lifted.The front end of course has no axle or leaf springs and has only coil springs etc.So after comming across this 4x4 forum I found some thread where a guy had a 4x2 and just tore off the front end and welded on the leaf spring mounts to mount the leaf springs and then mount the axle exactly like you would a 4x4.The front.He also did this for cheap and I would imagine you can preety much use any axle because the axle is not really going to be working.Im just wondering about the issues with steering colum or what type of issues can be the hardest to achieve and what do you guys think.I want a 6 inch lift.Essentially the truck is going to have a 4x4 front end identical but none working.Less expensive for full working 4x4 drive train and a less hassle.I only plan to tow with this rig but want a 6 inch lift!

[willett]

Find a rusty 4x 3/4 or 1 ton and swap your truck over! You will end up with better axles and you can probably nab one for cheap

[willett]

And I'm pretty sure you can buy 2wd lifts

[Wrecked1982]

if you want a 4wd the easiest way is to find a 4x4 frame and swap your body onto it.
if you want to keep it as original as possible find a 4x4 frame and swap springs brackets,crossmembers, etc...
http://www.hillbillywizard.com/images/frame.jpg
thats a 1 ton tough

[chevymadness]

Oh lord if I had a nickle for every John who has told me to swap or there "preety" sure a lift kit is out there for a 82 4x2 silverado.I would definetly have a 10,000 lift under the truck.Down here its texas not the south these trucks specially in the border cost nothing short of 1g on a good day.All I need is a axle is spend a couple hundred at best I just need advice on the steering column ,steering etc.What would need to be fabricated.What is exactly different.

[chevymadness]

I could buy a 10 bolt for 100$ at the junk yard I heard down here.I cannot swap its to much and if I eer do I would fabricate it myself and I have no place to work on the tuck or he money.And labor down here will kill me.

[chevymadness]

Originally Posted by Wrecked1982

if you want a 4wd the easiest way is to find a 4x4 frame and swap your body onto it.
if you want to keep it as original as possible find a 4x4 frame and swap springs brackets,crossmembers, etc...
http://www.hillbillywizard.com/images/frame.jpg
thats a 1 ton tough

Ah thank you I was going to ask we're I can find some 4x4 frame photos.

[BONUSCAB]

Originally Posted by chevymadness

It's all about original guys original let me say again original.

If the truck truly does hold a large amount of sentimental value, leave it alone. Go buy a 4x4, they are a dime a dozen.

[LONGHAIR]

It can be done, but it would take some fabrication skills. If you are capable of doing some cutting and welding, it shouldn't be that bad, but.....the steering might need a bit of attention. True 4x4 steering move the pitman arm front to back to move the steering side to side. You could probably use the 4x2 steering box to get a crossover type steering....again, fab skills.

This is something that a guy and his buddies would have to workout on their own, it would not be cost-effective to have to pay someone else to do it.
Also, probably not the best idea for your daily driver, it might be down for a while as you work this out.

[willett]

But How will your truck be all about original if you stuff a front diff under it?

[andrewmp6]

What your talking about is basicly a 4x4 swap with out the t case.You will have to change out the engine cross member and whole front suspension and steering depending on lift and if you want high steer or not.Fabtech use to make a 2wd lift kit and one of our vendors has one he was thinking about copying it and selling them http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=612963 The other option is to use 88-98 2wd lift spindles they work with a little change like a ball joint.Those spindles are 4 inch lift and if you run a 1 ton coil spring it will get you close to 6 inches lift total.

[chevymadness]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

What your talking about is basicly a 4x4 swap with out the t case.You will have to change out the engine cross member and whole front suspension and steering depending on lift and if you want high steer or not.Fabtech use to make a 2wd lift kit and one of our vendors has one he was thinking about copying it and selling them http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=612963 The other option is to use 88-98 2wd lift spindles they work with a little change like a ball joint.Those spindles are 4 inch lift and if you run a 1 ton coil spring it will get you close to 6 inches lift total.

Heck yea now your talking you gave some good thaughts here.I will look into these spindles and what truck should these spindles come off.Do you think I would need to change anything else other then the spindles and coil springs.How about steering.

[chevymadness]

Originally Posted by willett

But How will your truck be all about original if you stuff a front diff under it?

Welp..you got me there haha

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Man I'm taking my k5 and getting rid of all the 4x4 stuff. You can have it free if you pay shipping. Given the mods allow this?

[INSIDIOUS '86]

All the leaf spring mounts crossmembers and such will just get scrapped here

[andrewmp6]

I found the post it took me a while http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=509417

[willett]

Hey what ratio is in that thing?

[chevymadness]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

I found the post it took me a while http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=509417

Hey thanks that was some really interesting material on that thread.It seems you can lift any truck with some good spindles but in conclusion he reached a 4 to 5 inch lift tops.The a arms are getting in the way at that point.And from my judgment I think a front axle placement is best to go it will more or less cost the same and can have any lift.I want a 6 inch lift!