home f-250 conversion to 4x4

mr.stay@homedad · 02-08-2007, 11:37 AM

Hello and thanks in advance for any help. I have a 1990 with the 5.8 litre and auto transmission.I have access to a local junkyard where i get all the pats I like extremely cheap and mostly free as I have given them a good # of crushers, kind of a good barter situation.Anyway my truck came with the big expensive wheels and tires and I need a 4x4, this truck was just such a great deal and it runs fantastic(only 101,5xx miles) I had to buy it.I was wodering how difficult to convert a 2 wheel to 4 wheel is?Have a nice day!!!

75K30 · 02-08-2007, 01:57 PM

Welcome to the site.
You have a couple of options here, both are gonna require some fabrication skills, and some time. The biggest decission is going to be the type of front suspension you are gonna use. Either keep the coil spring design, or installing leaf springs. Either way, you are gonna have to change everything you have so it does not matter which way you go. Knowing this helps with front axle selection. If you decide on the coil spring set-up, then you will want to find a Dana 44 from an early full size f-150 truck or bronco. (this will be a 5 lug front end, but you can easily change to 8 lug so you can keep those wheels.) Most guys buy a complete lift kit for the early truck, and simply install it on the later model truck. The bigger kits will come complete with radius arms, and drop brackets that you can install under your truck. Be prepared to make some brackets, and a panhard bar to keep the axle located from side to side. Your existing spring buckets can stay, they will accomodate the new springs.
The second option is to go with leaf springs. Find an axle , any front axle that has the diff on the drivers side (all fullsize Fords), and buy a set of front springs for a slightly later model F-350 that would have had a solid Dana 60, (none of the D44 TTB, or D50 TTB). Install a shackle reverse kit for any 82 through 97 Ford f-250. or f-350, and this will provide a place to hang the springs properly. This will bolt on, and most of the bolt holes are already in your frame.
That takes care of the axle, and suspension. You will want to buy a crossover steering kit for either axle that you purchase. This gives you a way to tie in you existing box with either of the two axles. This is very simple, and the crossover is the only way to go here. Steering is not a place to get cheap on, or find any short-cuts.
Last is the transfer case. You can find a BW 1356, or Bw 1785 (same case, different years, and output) , and install it to your transmission. You may also find an early NP205 divorced case, and install it behind your existing transmission with no modifications, and call it good, then have a pair of driveshafts made, (three if you use the 205) and you are on the road, or off, cuz now you have 4x4.
This sounds very easy,and really it is, unless you did not recognize any of the terms mentioned above. If you are a first timer trying to fab, or do suspension work, this might be a bit much. You can always keep your shiny wheels, and sell the truck, and buy one that was born a 4x4. Or wait for a 4x4 to go to the scrap yard that is in need of a body, and switch all of your stuff to it.
Lots to think about.

02-08-2007, 11:37 AM	#1
mr.stay@homedad Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1	home f-250 conversion to 4x4 Hello and thanks in advance for any help. I have a 1990 with the 5.8 litre and auto transmission.I have access to a local junkyard where i get all the pats I like extremely cheap and mostly free as I have given them a good # of crushers, kind of a good barter situation.Anyway my truck came with the big expensive wheels and tires and I need a 4x4, this truck was just such a great deal and it runs fantastic(only 101,5xx miles) I had to buy it.I was wodering how difficult to convert a 2 wheel to 4 wheel is?Have a nice day!!!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
95 Chevy Conversion Van	Mckheean	Truck Classifieds	7	07-08-2006 07:31 PM
Martha Stewart's home confinement extended (Reuters via Yahoo! News)	trucknews	Truck News (headlines)	0	08-03-2005 07:30 PM
4X4 fans pile on the power at home show (Queensland Times)	trucknews	Truck News (headlines)	0	06-24-2005 05:30 PM
FORD TRUCKS AND THE HOME DEPOT HELP CUSTOMERS SEIZE THE SUMMER AT DEALERSHIPS AND STORES NATIONWIDE (The Auto Channel)	trucknews	Truck News (headlines)	0	05-29-2005 01:30 AM
Truck smashes into unoccuped Spokane home (The Spokesman-Review)	trucknews	Truck News (headlines)	0	02-03-2005 01:30 PM

02-08-2007, 01:57 PM	#2
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	Welcome to the site. You have a couple of options here, both are gonna require some fabrication skills, and some time. The biggest decission is going to be the type of front suspension you are gonna use. Either keep the coil spring design, or installing leaf springs. Either way, you are gonna have to change everything you have so it does not matter which way you go. Knowing this helps with front axle selection. If you decide on the coil spring set-up, then you will want to find a Dana 44 from an early full size f-150 truck or bronco. (this will be a 5 lug front end, but you can easily change to 8 lug so you can keep those wheels.) Most guys buy a complete lift kit for the early truck, and simply install it on the later model truck. The bigger kits will come complete with radius arms, and drop brackets that you can install under your truck. Be prepared to make some brackets, and a panhard bar to keep the axle located from side to side. Your existing spring buckets can stay, they will accomodate the new springs. The second option is to go with leaf springs. Find an axle , any front axle that has the diff on the drivers side (all fullsize Fords), and buy a set of front springs for a slightly later model F-350 that would have had a solid Dana 60, (none of the D44 TTB, or D50 TTB). Install a shackle reverse kit for any 82 through 97 Ford f-250. or f-350, and this will provide a place to hang the springs properly. This will bolt on, and most of the bolt holes are already in your frame. That takes care of the axle, and suspension. You will want to buy a crossover steering kit for either axle that you purchase. This gives you a way to tie in you existing box with either of the two axles. This is very simple, and the crossover is the only way to go here. Steering is not a place to get cheap on, or find any short-cuts. Last is the transfer case. You can find a BW 1356, or Bw 1785 (same case, different years, and output) , and install it to your transmission. You may also find an early NP205 divorced case, and install it behind your existing transmission with no modifications, and call it good, then have a pair of driveshafts made, (three if you use the 205) and you are on the road, or off, cuz now you have 4x4. This sounds very easy,and really it is, unless you did not recognize any of the terms mentioned above. If you are a first timer trying to fab, or do suspension work, this might be a bit much. You can always keep your shiny wheels, and sell the truck, and buy one that was born a 4x4. Or wait for a 4x4 to go to the scrap yard that is in need of a body, and switch all of your stuff to it. Lots to think about.