2WD TO 4X4 CONVERSION

ok...first of all, i would like a bigger truck with 4wd. my dad bought me the s10 cuz it was $6,700 and he could afford it. neither i or my dad can afford to buy a different truck. if i could afford a different truck, obviously i wouldn't be asking questions about conversions. if your not going to answer my question, then dont respond to the question. i know there are other people that might have done this on an s10 and might know what they are doin. so if your not gonna help then let other people help me on this...or buy me a new truck and then i wont have to convert mine.  

dgman300:
ok...first of all, i would like a bigger truck with 4wd. my dad bought me the s10 cuz it was $6,700 and he could afford it. neither i or my dad can afford to buy a different truck. if i could afford a different truck, obviously i wouldn't be asking questions about conversions. if your not going to answer my question, then dont respond to the question. i know there are other people that might have done this on an s10 and might know what they are doin. so if your not gonna help then let other people help me on this...or buy me a new truck and then i wont have to convert mine.

Try finding a set of axles out of a Jeep cj model, get a trans and transfercase from a fullsize Chevy truck, preferably a 700/208 as they are most common and about the cheapest in a wrecking yard, get a set of front and rear springs from a Chevy 1/2 or 3/4 ton Chevy, and you can basically start fabricating brackets and hangers for the springs. You have alot of work to do and some may think its not hard but there really is more to it than what one would think. I converted my 91 Chevy C2500 to 4WD and I did about about 5 months of research on various ways of doing it and talked to people at different offroad shops that custom build stuff like that with knowledge about specific vehicles and most people told me that if I had the fabricating and welding skills I could do it. Seems how I have those and mechanic skills for over 15 years, I didn't think it was that hard at all to convert it. I'm actually looking for another truck to do the same thing. I can only give you or anyone else advice on things that I know about or have experienced myself. Hope it all gets figured out for you and you get it converted. If I can help you out, I will do what I can. Good luck.  

Well i agree with both responses! But i have not performed a 4x4 on a s10 so no response to tech. On the other hand i love the no giveing up attitude with 17 year old!!! of course were all 17 at heart!  When i started my conversion which was easy compared to your situation i went to a trade school where i was trained on welding mig,tig,brazeing and cad cam metal fab. What i found out is welding with a good mig with gas is easy and only takes a little practice so if your gonna do the damn thing keep searching for some one who has done it and im sure they would love to tell you how....down to parts....custom parts....measurements and placements of parts and overall peformance of there setup..IM SURE SOMEONE HAS DONE IT. keep googleing it and find someone with a great conversion for your type of wheeling and copy there setup... the internet is a great thing for shareing info and pics....   BUT THE POINT IS...IS IT GOING TO COST ALOT....YES...MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR YOUR TRUCK-?...PROBALY NOT....PURPOSE OF COPYING SOMEONES SETUP TO SAVE TRIAL AND ERROR OF DESIGNING YOUR OWN CUSTOM BRACKETS WHICH TAKE SERIOUS KNOWELDGE...WHY YOUR PISSED''CAUSE YOU HAVENT FOUND THAT PERSON YET!!...BUT YOU WILL!! KEEP LOOKING. but if i was you i would sell it and start with better chasis...if it was me i would break out the torch and grinders!!! GOOD LUCK AND WHEEL ON'  

good luck bro on this by the way. if you live in a state where the car has to get smoged you can forget about that. the check eng light will never go off.  for 6700 sell S10 and by a 88ish 4runner for 3k and use the rest for upgrades. only way a 4x4 upgrade is worth it is if the vehicle will never see raod again  
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You know I love you all (in a manly non sexual way) Spawn_X

dgman300:
ok...first of all, i would like a bigger truck with 4wd. my dad bought me the s10 cuz it was $6,700 and he could afford it. neither i or my dad can afford to buy a different truck. if i could afford a different truck, obviously i wouldn't be asking questions about conversions. if your not going to answer my question, then dont respond to the question. i know there are other people that might have done this on an s10 and might know what they are doin. so if your not gonna help then let other people help me on this...or buy me a new truck and then i wont have to convert mine.

No need to be a little *** about this.  You asked for advice and help, and I gave you the truth.  Don't be upset because you don't like the answer.  Nobody here will disagree with what I have said because it's the truth.  FACT: This is going to be EXTREMELY EXPSENSIVE.  FACT: You don't have the skills to pull this off by yourself.  The truth hurts, deal with it.  

DJDIESEL:
Well i agree with both responses! But i have not performed a 4x4 on a s10 so no response to tech. On the other hand i love the no giveing up attitude with 17 year old!!! of course were all 17 at heart!  When i started my conversion which was easy compared to your situation i went to a trade school where i was trained on welding mig,tig,brazeing and cad cam metal fab. What i found out is welding with a good mig with gas is easy and only takes a little practice so if your gonna do the damn thing keep searching for some one who has done it and im sure they would love to tell you how....down to parts....custom parts....measurements and placements of parts and overall peformance of there setup..IM SURE SOMEONE HAS DONE IT. keep googleing it and find someone with a great conversion for your type of wheeling and copy there setup... the internet is a great thing for shareing info and pics....   BUT THE POINT IS...IS IT GOING TO COST ALOT....YES...MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR YOUR TRUCK-?...PROBALY NOT....PURPOSE OF COPYING SOMEONES SETUP TO SAVE TRIAL AND ERROR OF DESIGNING YOUR OWN CUSTOM BRACKETS WHICH TAKE SERIOUS KNOWELDGE...WHY YOUR PISSED''CAUSE YOU HAVENT FOUND THAT PERSON YET!!...BUT YOU WILL!! KEEP LOOKING. but if i was you i would sell it and start with better chasis...if it was me i would break out the torch and grinders!!! GOOD LUCK AND WHEEL ON'

Rock on!!!    

i have a question, I need new tires for my 2000 dodge ram 1500 quad cab 4x4, the tire  size are 265/70r/17, will it matter if put 275/70R/17 on my stock rims  

Nope, it'll be just fine  
My current ride:
1992 Ford Explorer

thanks for you help  

i am very interested in collecting info on doing a solid axle swap.
my truck is an 04 ford superduty crew cab short box with the 6.0 diesel 2wd, it also has the coil springs up front.
i would like to slowly convert it to 4x4 but most importantly to me would be the solid axle up front even if i ran without a driveshaft and transfer case for awhile.
my main purpose right now it to be able to acheive a lift higher than 6".
im not sure if i should stay with coil springs or go with leafs, i like leafs better but being that i have coils now does it make for an easier swap?
do you know if i can run leafs? i dont know if my truck frame is ready to recieve the front shackle mounts or the rear for that matter.
some have told me its all ready to just bolt in and they say ford only produced one frame for both 2 and 4wd.
is there an axle setup that will make this swap a dropin bolt on install?what year doners should i look for?
my other thing is i heard i would have to change out the steering, is this true?
im aware of the tranny problem with the output shaft deal so i will run with out it untill i can afford to get a differant tranny and purchase the transfer case.i read you found a 04 4x4 with leafs, but i thought the went with the coil setup starting in 04?  

Probably your best bet would be to call your local Ford service dept and find out from them which year the Super Duties went with coil springs for the 4wd trucks.  Scratch that, better yet ask them plain and simply if the 04s had coils or leafs, period.  If they tell you leafs, then ask them to look up the part number for a 04 front axle and see if the part number differs from the introduction of the Super Duty in 97.  If they are the same part numbers, then you can use any axle from the front of a Super Duty from 97 to 04.  Then have them do the same with leaf springs and drive shafts and steering box and every part you can think of.  If the numbers are the same between the years, then you can use any year part for your truck.  If any of the part numbers differ, then be safe and stick with the 4wd counter part for your specific year.  Then, you can start hunting the salvage yards for parts and if the frames are truly the same, then the whole deal will be a totally bolt in affair.  Arm yourself with the knowledge you need by doing the proper research with your local Ford service dept.  Chances are that no one on any forum will be able to answer the question on all those parts and their interchangability.  

DJDIESEL,,,,I am very interested in collecting info on doing a solid axle swap.
my truck is an 04 ford superduty crew cab short box with the 6.0 diesel 2wd, it also has the coil springs up front.
I would like to slowly convert it to 4x4 but most importantly to me would be the solid axle up front even if i ran without a driveshaft and transfer case for awhile.
my main purpose right now it to be able to acheive a lift higher than 6".
im not sure if i should stay with coil springs or go with leafs, i like leafs better but being that i have coils now does it make for an easier swap?
do you know if i can run leafs? i dont know if my truck frame is ready to recieve the front shackle mounts or the rear mounts for that matter.
some have told me its all ready to just bolt in and they say ford only produced one frame for both 2 and 4wd.
is there an axle setup that will make this swap a dropin bolt on install?what year doners should i look for?
my other thing is i heard i would have to change out the steering, is this true?
im aware of the tranny problem with the output shaft deal so i will run with out the t-case untill i can afford to get a differant tranny and purchase the transfer case.i read you found a 04 4x4 with leafs, but i thought they went with the coil setup starting in 04 on the 4x4 version?  

WYJAX,,,,,i really wanted to thank you for the reply, although any ford dealers i call dont want to give me the time of day having them look up parts that is for a conversion they wont touch.
DJDIESEL stated on page two of this thread that he did this conversion to his 99 2wd f250 w/coils and used a doner 04 f350 w/springs for a drop in conversion.
i was hoping for a response from him as he's already done this.
any one with any piece of info would be nice and maybe i can piece the parts together.
thanks  

djdiesel u wouldnt have any pics of this swap would you i just traded my 1500 ram for a all black full 4 door 2000 v10 f250 my dreamtruck cept is 2wd so im really thinking about doing the f350 swap like yours any info or advice or anything would be appreciated thanks man  

56type1:
i am very interested in collecting info on doing a solid axle swap.
my truck is an 04 ford superduty crew cab short box with the 6.0 diesel 2wd, it also has the coil springs up front.
i would like to slowly convert it to 4x4 but most importantly to me would be the solid axle up front even if i ran without a driveshaft and transfer case for awhile.
my main purpose right now it to be able to acheive a lift higher than 6".
im not sure if i should stay with coil springs or go with leafs, i like leafs better but being that i have coils now does it make for an easier swap?
do you know if i can run leafs? i dont know if my truck frame is ready to recieve the front shackle mounts or the rear for that matter.
some have told me its all ready to just bolt in and they say ford only produced one frame for both 2 and 4wd.
is there an axle setup that will make this swap a dropin bolt on install?what year doners should i look for?
my other thing is i heard i would have to change out the steering, is this true?
im aware of the tranny problem with the output shaft deal so i will run with out it untill i can afford to get a differant tranny and purchase the transfer case.i read you found a 04 4x4 with leafs, but i thought the went with the coil setup starting in 04?

you might want to go with rear coil springs and use longer shocks in the front. that might work, well for me.