2WD TO 4X4 CONVERSION

I just bought a 1986 gmc 3/4 ton but the problem is its only 2wd. i wanna know what i am getting myself into if i decided to convert it to 4x4 and where to start. thanks  

It is doable but best way to do this is to find a complete wrecked or rusted out 4x4 of that body style to swap parts out of. You will need front drive axle, Tcase, cross members (in front engine bay and tranny area) and tranny too. (4x4 tranny have a heavier case to control Tcase counter torque in low range)It will take a lot of work but no metal cutting other than some rivets and you can use grade 8 bolts in place of rivets when you put it back together.  

Sky-Manufacturing.com has all the brackets you need for the front spring mounts. You can find the rest at a junk yard.  

sell it buy a 4x4  

Richieh80:
sell it buy a 4x4

Maybe that's the reason most of us are here. We like to fabricate and trucks in stock form are too boring. I have built many trucks and changed things on trucks to make them better than stock. Maybe bosshog_21 wants to make his truck more purpose built than what he or anyone else can just go out and buy a 4x4. If he did that, he wouldn't be here. So what are you here for? To buy a 4x4? I think this is where guys/gals gather info and share info on buildups. Its never easy, its just better.    

OK Bosshog, here we go.  Assuming you have already sourced a donor vehicle with all the neccessary bolt on items for this swap (front axle, tranny, t/case, crossmembers, t/case linkage, front AND rear leaf springs, etc) the next big obstacle is going to be locating that front axle under your rig.  Most likely, any brackets you can buy are going to be weld on, hopefully you can weld You need to ne pretty comfortable with tape measures and a plumb bob as well to make sure that the new front axle is exactly parallel to the rear axle, which is all determined by spring location.  Also, if I remember correctly, the rear mount for the front springs is drilled and sleeved through the frame on those older trucks.  Don't know if your 2wd frame has that or not, if not, then again you will need to make some pretty exact measurements and put your welding hat back on.  Other than mouting the front spring hangers and shackle mounts, it's pretty much a no brainer as long as you have some mechanical aptitude.  Like was stated earlier, all of the crossmembers and other components are a bolt in affair.  You may have to drill new holes in the bottom of the frame due to different crossmember location on 4wds due to transfer case. So, these are the major obstacles I see, I'm sure others will point some out if I missed any.  Good luck!  

Lots of good info in here...  

when converting 2wd to4wd doesnt the donor truck need to be the same year or around the same year and pretty much identical  

hotrodman_2008:
when converting 2wd to4wd doesnt the donor truck need to be the same year or around the same year and pretty much identical

Not necessarilly, granted they didn't use solid front axles in the p/u trucks starting in 88 unless it was a 1 ton. My 91 conversion has all sorts of parts from 73 up to 2004. If you know the applications and part numbers for various parts, that is always a big help in almost any build such as a 2WD to 4WD conversion.  

ok say i had a 1970 chevy c10 or c20 would your previous statement be true, im just wondering, not to call you a liar or anything  

hotrodman_2008:
ok say i had a 1970 chevy c10 or c20 would your previous statement be true, im just wondering, not to call you a liar or anything

Why would I lie about something I know about? If you had a 70 C10 or C20 and wanted to convert to 4WD then it'd be basically the same as what I did to my 91 2WD to 4WD conversion. There is so many different combinations you can go with its crazy. Its all about the money you have and how much you want to pay to either have it done or to build it yourself.  

ok thank you, I apoligize for calling you a liar  

hotrodman_2008:
ok thank you, I apoligize for calling you a liar

Are you planning to do a conversion on said vehicle?  

I have a 2003 ram 1500 2wd and want to convert it to 4x4. I am tring to pull up some reseach and there isnt much on the net. I want to start getting the right parts/plans b4 I deploy and do the build when I return. The truck is my every day driver. I have an idea of the stance I would like to have.  

On a newer IFS rig, 4x4 conversions are pretty tough. If I were you, I'd do something like what I plan on doing with my Durango. I'm going to swap in a complete '94-'01 Ram 1500 axle and springs for the front. You'd also need a transfer case, possibly an adapter to mate your transmission to the transfer case (most 4WD trucks have a different output shaft than their 2WD counterparts), and new driveshafts. Using a manually shifting transfer case will be easier as you won't be running wiring and switches, but you will be cutting a hole in your floor.  
My current ride:
1998 Dodge Ram