Biggator

I almost got the truck stuck this weekend, I put the boat in without a ramp and got buried in sand. I had to disconnect the trailer to rock the truck out, come time to leave I couldn't get enough traction to pull the boat out with a strap, the guy with the Duramax/4wd came over and pulled the boat out...

I thought about getting another truck that already has 4wd, I know that will be the easiest/cheapest route, however I am very happy with the one I have now. I bought it from the original owner, it is clean and has no hint of rust anywhere(always been in a garage and in Florida). So, how much do you think the parts would cost and how difficult an install is it?

My truck is a 89'D250 with the 3 speed tranny.

Thanks!

MikeThomas

Well...thats a good question. How much do you love your truck? It can be done, but it will not be the easiest thing in the world. Probably the best thing you can do is find a complete parts truck. Its easier to just have things available to look at as opposed to scrounging. Giving the condition of everything, you can swap bodies or if you have the skills, swap components. Ive never studied a 2wd frame so I do not know what provisions may be in place to facilitate 4x4 stuff. There are several guys here who has done it...im sure they will chime in.

simplysmn

Like he said above it can be done but its not really easy .cross member has to be changed out all 2 wheel drive stuff has to come off you will need a 4x4 cross member front hanger mounts for your springs ,Back hole mounts for front can be cut into frame easy then bolted .you would have to convert your tranny over to 4 wheel drive and then find a front end a good dana 60 runs roughly 800 to a grand .I have done this swap but my truck is a crewcab long bed so it was fun plus helpful to have as a 4x4 hope this helps
The main thing that helps is haveing a donor truck side by side to swap parts over .

Micaiahfied

Biggator, i was in the same place as you a while back. considering putting a LSD in the rear with a winch up front and so on. The 92 that i had and have was purchased new by my wife's grandfather so there was no way it was leaving the family and i feel that converting it to 4x4 would be just as bad so i searched and searched until i found a deal on my 91. especially if you have one truck that is cherry, buy one with a rotting body, who cares, let it be the lake truck. That's my opinion...

ronnie

I would suggest putting a posi or a locking differantial in. The 4 wheel drive on mine gets stuck on when used on a boat ramp. Really should not use 4wheel on paveing. More often then not I put it in 4 wheel but do not lock the hubs just to get low range. Sooner or later I'll put a locking rear in, have it in all my other trucks and love it.

Biggator

Yeah, I thought it would be too much of a hassle. The locking diff or posi is a great idea, why didn't I think of that?

Thanks!

swampthang

REPOST I GOT A INFACTION FOR ADVERTISING IN THE FOURM any way here it is again with the EDIT'S



i am getting ready to do this on a crew cab i just bought to replace my reg cab truck so i will be doing a step by step on it if you have the time we are looking at about a month to tear all the front out and replace you can get all the brackets from a donor truck or buy them from dodge as they still sell them except the engine crossmember but they are a bad design i will be doing custom brackets that i have done on three other trucks it is alot of work but can be done what kind of tools you got ?? grinder air hammer chisles welder torch just to name a few you will need them or be able to use them to make this go alot smother now as far as your $$$$$ question it all depends on if you use the stock parts or aftermarket/custom parts i can send you the template for the spring mounts if you can weld the engine crossmember can be built or you can get a stock one


here is a list not complete but gets you close of what you wil need



engine crossmember 4x4 stock or custom
dana 60 front axle
205 t-case
4wd transmission
front spring hangers stock or custom
front rear spring hangers stock or custom
front springs
rear spring block to bring the truck up to level or new spring hangers for the rear
4wd steering stock or cross over



pm me if you want more info on this like i said this will be the 7th truck i have done the 4x conversion on i do alot of work with the first gen"72-93" dodge trucks not just the diesels

had to word diffrent so i dont "advertise in the fourm"



JC

bgilbert

Keep in mind you'll also need the rare Dana 61 front with 3.07 gears to match your rear Dana 71. Just forget it, buy a 4wd, keep this one.

rbrettctd

Yes listen to bgilbert. Im about to wrap up a tranny swap in mine. Mind Im only swapping tranny from 727 to Getrag. It started out as $600 to buy everything for the swap from a guy on craigslist. Well as I began it, I went for the oe dodge hydraulics, Southbend clutch, ended up rebuilding tranny, other odds and ends...all said and done my $600 swap is nearing $2k. I will never buy a truck without it being exactly what I want now, cause there is really no cheap swap, and in my mind the only reason for doing any swap now is for something custom, like a crew cab, or something really unique.