Looking at picking up a donor for the 4 X parts to convert my 2 X. My plan is to sell the original 4 X 4 back as a 2 X 4 after I have exchanged suspensions, drivetrains, etc. Is this doable, or am I looking at hacking and cutting and ending up with a parts truck that I can't re-sell? Obviously, from my lack of knowledge, I haven't done anything like this before but you gotta start somewhere! I just need guidance on wether this is do-able. The donor 4 x$ is a standard cab while mine is an xtra cab...that is why I only need the 4 x 4 components. Please advise quick!! Meeting the owner today!! Carmyne

 

Welding the front hanger on to convert you 2X4 into a 4X4 is relatively straight forward, howerver I have a feeling that putting all of the 2wd coil stuff onto the 4X4 chassis maybe a bit tricky. You would be better to find a wrecked 4X4 as a donor.

 

Honestly, I think it would be easier to switch the cabs, but the frames might be different lengths. I've heard this same question asked MANY times by 2wd owners and the answer is always the same...it's MUCH easier to just find a nice 4x4 for sale and sell your 2wd truck. Plus, nobody in their right mind wants to buy a 4x4 converted to 2wd and IF you can even get it back together and running, I don't think you would get much more than a parts truck price for it anyway.

 

The conversion to 4X4 will not be to bad, I don't know if you are going to have enough goodies to go the other way with the "old" 4X4.

 

just buy an axle (dand 60 for the weight),tranfer case and leafsprings/hangers.


the axle leafsprings could go in in a day. its quick, no big deal really. and buy a divorced transfercase so you can use your curent tranny. you can buy one out of a dodge and it will allready have a bolt in cross member.



but if you try to turn the 4x4 in to a 2x4 your gona run in to some big problems.

 

If you part out the old 4x4 you can make more than selling it whole. Ebay every little piece of it.

 

It's a little more involved than that. Is the steering box the same? Will the 2wd tranny crossmember(s) be in the way when you try to use the divorced T-case? The bolt-up T-case mount will still need to be mounted to the frame and that probably involves some basic welding/fab work. The extra length from the divorced T-case may cause rear driveline angle issues (much shorter driveline).

I'm not saying it can't be done or it's even that difficult for someone with the tools and knowledge. The key is knowing what you're getting into before you start and being prepared for "unseen" issues that will pop up along the way. First and foremost, make sure the hangars are welded on by an experienced welder who is using an adequate machine (NOT a 110 volt Craftsman flux/mig! ).

 

Here is a link to a fellow's project over on another board that I saved a few months ago:
http://www.wardogz.com/trucks/1TonProject/
The pictures show that everything is basically bolted in using 1/2" grade 8 bolts. If you examine the pics carefully you can see where the rivet heads were ground off and where the relocated holes were drilled for the new mountings. All of the spring hangers were bolted in. You have to redrill the holes from 7/16" to 1/2" for the front-front hangers. The holes are already there. I plan on doing this same project next Summer if I locate all of the parts.