2wd to 4wd conversion, how hard is it?

[Joseph2001]

Ive been needing a frame for my 72 gmc k25 and have been holding back as long as I can on buying a 73-87 frame to use, they are super cheap where I am. There is a 71-72 chevy 2wd here in town that is much better shape and than my gmc and I was wondering how hard it would be to convert it to 4wd using the 4wd stuff from my gmc?

My thinking behind this was I can drop my 4wd stuff under the chevy and be ready to go. Then my dad could have my gmc cab to build his.

[demian5]

The search feature brings up a ton of stuff for this. Check it out.

[Mike C]

This is one of those situations if you have to ask it's probably not for you...

The two wheel drive frame has a different taper than the 4x4 resulting in 42.5" spring centers versus 40.5" so all of the brackets and things at rear are different.

As mentioned above, it can be done and has but it is not a "bolt on" solution.

[JustToxic]

The way I look at it is, if you have a welder and a big enough want then you'll find a way. It'll be more work to convert a 2wd frame to 4x4, but in the end you'll have more pride in it. Depending on your skill level you may want to just find a 4x4 frame, and just do a body swap. At least that's my 2 cents.

[Joseph2001]

Originally Posted by Mike C

This is one of those situations if you have to ask it's probably not for you...

The two wheel drive frame has a different taper than the 4x4 resulting in 42.5" spring centers versus 40.5" so all of the brackets and things at rear are different.

As mentioned above, it can be done and has but it is not a "bolt on" solution.

I figured it wasn't bolt on. I knew there would be modifications required. I just wanted to know exactly how hard it would be. I know guys do it all the time and vise versa so I figured it shouldn't be to bad.

[Joseph2001]

Originally Posted by JustToxic

The way I look at it is, if you have a welder and a big enough want then you'll find a way. It'll be more work to convert a 2wd frame to 4x4, but in the end you'll have more pride in it. Depending on your skill level you may want to just find a 4x4 frame, and just do a body swap. At least that's my 2 cents.

Between my Dad and I we have the know how. I always look forward to a challenge. My dad wants a cab and front clip to bolt onto a modern chassis as a 2wd daily driver so I figured this would be the easiest way to get what we bolt want

[Dieselwrencher]

If you do get the 2wd frame, make sure it has leaf spring rear. You can use a coil spring rear frame, but they aren't the same and require more work to get the leaf springs on the rear. What's wrong with your K25 frame right now?

The 73-87 frames are wider. They can be put under the 67-72s but it takes building new body mounts, and it takes some work to get the bed on the frame correctly. I've seen a lot of hacked ones and it is depressing.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

If you do get the 2wd frame, make sure it has leaf spring rear. You can use a coil spring rear frame, but they aren't the same and require more work to get the leaf springs on the rear. What's wrong with your K25 frame right now?

The 73-87 frames are wider. They can be put under the 67-72s but it takes building new body mounts, and it takes some work to get the bed on the frame correctly. I've seen a lot of hacked ones and it is depressing.

Great advice here. Also one other semi big thing is you have to fill the front e brake cable holes in both sides of the frame below the fire wall so you can bolt the the spring shackle mounts to the frame.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

Great advice here. Also one other semi big thing is you have to fill the front e brake cable holes in both sides of the frame below the fire wall so you can bolt the the spring shackle mounts to the frame.

Yes, good point. I have photos in one of my PB accounts of mine but I can't get them to open thanks to PB. They are in my thread and broken too.