1980 f100 4x2 to 4x4 swap

[jaycluckey1313]

im looking to turn my 2 wheel drive 80 f100 into a 4 wheel drive anyone know of a conversion kit for it??? if so let me know cause i cant find one anywere 

[betterbeaters]

why not find a 4x4 frame

[Captn. J]

x2

[jaycluckey1313]

Cause im broke and thought it would be cheaper

[Captn. J]

if u want go that route  u will have to find  front leaf springs from a donor truck that is 4x4 and measure and weld into ur truck which might be alot headache than just swapping parts onto a 4x4 frame ... your call

and i never seen a conversion kit for doing that.

[jaycluckey1313]

Ok well if  do do the conversion should I use a truck from the same era as mine or does it Not matter and whats a good all around axle just for lil mud holes and daily driveing ??

[old school truck dude]

All kinds of headaches doin that, its ok if you got a donor 4x4 truck but you still gotta cut a hole in the floor for the tcase shifter and the list just goes on and on. I dont know on fords, but many chevy 2wd cabs dont have a big enough floor hump for the tcase and gotta have a body lift just to get the tcase into the truck. You would be much better off to sell your 2wd and buy a 4wd in my experienced opinion. I converted my 2wd GMC and it still aint done, lots of things end up havin to be replaced that you dont figure on in the beginning and it ends up bein way more expensive and time-consuming than what you might think. With your truck bein in MI and bein an 80, its gonna have some rust issues somewhere on it, and thats where the problems begin, rusty bolts that gotta be cut out or ground off etc.

Hit this link to see some of what I did on mine

http://wegotmud.com/forum/index.php?topic=53954.0

[jaycluckey1313]

Its got a 3in body lift already and its from tenn so it aint rusty idk what im going to I think im going to try and find one to trade thanks for tge opions u guys probly saveing me some cash in the end

[4x4xdodgeman]

the cab on fords are the same. chevy is the only one that 2wd cab and 4wd cab.

[jaycluckey1313]

So a ford 4wheel and 2 wheel are the same is what ur saying?

[Captn. J]

yes i used a 2 wd cab on a 4x4 frame no problem

[old school truck dude]

I wonder if the 2wd frame is pre-drilled for spring shackles

[jaycluckey1313]

That I do not know ill check when I grt home from work

[4x4xdodgeman]

the frames are not the same. 4x4 is one, 2wd is one.

[jaycluckey1313]

 But could I still drill holes for the shacle mounts and convert it cause ive been looking and vb i havent found any 4 wheel drive single cab step sides the same as mine

[Jthomas]

cutting torch, welder. get the shackles off another truck. then weld to yours. this is really the only way to do it. but not as simple as i just listed. you have to have accurate measurements. if not: first off, nothing will line up, second, you will burn through more tires than you can shake a stick at, third, poor handling.

just be smart and dont cut corners and im sure you will be fine. youtube it, somtimes its nice to see what someone else has done and learn from it and just do some research.

wish ya luck

[Jthomas]

I wonder if the 2wd frame is pre-drilled for spring shackles

no you have to cut them.

[jbexc]

A 1980 frame is the worst frame you can use,they had weight saving circular holes down both sides.They were very weak and ford changed them in 1981.

[Jthomas]

A 1980 frame is the worst frame you can use,they had weight saving circular holes down both sides.They were very weak and ford changed them in 1981.

x2

[jaycluckey1313]

I was watching on speed channel them boxing in the frame then cutting like 2in holes tho the metel they welded what if  I did  that the lengh of the frame would it make it strong enoght to handle the extra weight ??