2wd-->4wd truck question

Why don't I ever hear of anyone converting a F150 or Silverado from 2wd to 4wd? Is it just that the 4wd are available and so it's not worth the bother?

You answered your own question

Plus, the whole front crossmember needs to be swapped out along with the suspension.

yes

Yep. Why do all the work when you can get a 4x4 with a blown engine for next to nothing.

I've seen plenty of people convert 4wd to 2wd on numerous occasions.

plenty of people do it, you just do not hear about it. most of them are on pirate4x4 and stick 1 ton axles under something like an s10 and pound the crap out of them offroad.

i did take a 2wd astro van and make it 4x4 with 3/4 ton pickup axles and trans/t-case. i had to cut out the whole engine crossmember and make tube one. that whole project ate up too much of my life, and i am glad it is gone.

i am still planning to one day do my 1990 3500 2wd silverado dually by getting a swap kit from sky manufacturing to put a front solid axle on leaf springs with their hangers, and just putting a divorced transfer case behind my transmission. but that one day is a long way in the future.

What patgizz said. Plenty of people doing that. Check 4X4 forums and/or offroad rags. When I lived in Alaska I got into off-roading and had a K5 Blazer. Dug into 4X4's some and learned about them. Some of those folks are just like GRMers except with trucks. Engine swaps, driveline swaps/upgrades, interchangability, strengthen, etc. Some real grassroots technology (along with some redneck ingenuity sometimes ) and some $$$ upgrades.

Alot of the older trucks with ladder frames and solid front axles were pretty easy to convert. These days a 4x4 frame is often way different than a 4x2 frame, and the fronts are often times IFS, special mounting brackets, etc.

For instance, my F150 4x4 not only has a different frame, but the front is an IFS with torsion bars. The 4x2 version has different crossmembers, no mounts for the front diff, and nowhere to put the torsion bars. Just way easier/cheaper to buy a 4x4 instead of convert.

It makes sense when you have a cherry, rust free 4x2 and a cheap donor but makes far less sense otherwise. It's fairly straight forward for 80's to '97 Fords, not real sure about the others but I'm willing to bet that Chevy's are easy(er?). Hell, seems like everything is easier on a Chevy with regards to swaps.

I'll explain my reason for asking. I was thinking that what I need for my next 'chine is a plain old white Fleet pickup with a small V8. I figured the chances of finding one with 4x4 would be pretty slim and wondered about how tough it would be to change to 4x4. No cheap way to get where I want to go, I guess...

Certain Dodge Rams can be converted... say... a '96 2WD V10 (body and frame) to a '95 4WD Cummins (engine/trans/axles)... I would know...

stroker wrote: I'll explain my reason for asking. I was thinking that what I need for my next 'chine is a plain old white Fleet pickup with a small V8. I figured the chances of finding one with 4x4 would be pretty slim and wondered about how tough it would be to change to 4x4. No cheap way to get where I want to go, I guess...

One of the work trucks at my old job was a white 96ish (newer square style) F250 with 4x4. Think people who work outside. Surveyors, biologists, etc. All my current work trucks are white 4x4s with no carpet but they're still fairly new (99+). So they're out there, you just gotta look for them. If you don't need white, look at Forest Service vehicles. You'll get a sweet green truck and I'd be willing to bet lots of those are 4x4.

My pops just picked up a 2001 f150 work truck from his company for a song. 4.6, ext cab, 4x4, and red. I love it.

Mostly, by the time you get it done, its far cheaper and easier just to buy a 4x4 in the first place... But, if you have nothing better todo...