V
08-16-2009, 01:38 AM
ok, let me start by saying, i know swapping to a 2wd to a 4x4 setup is difficult and expensive. but i dont take that into account. lol. i'll explain...
I NEED a fwd or 4wd vehicle for when im up at Ft Drum, since i ended up selling my Denali, the only vehicles i have to take up there are my SS, SKY redline, or Dodge ram 2wd Diesel. None of those would do any good in the snow we get there on at least a weekly basis. So... i looked into buying a beater, but that means another vehicle to insure, register and maintain. SKY and SS are never going anywhere and the dodge ram is staying to be able to tow my racecar around. So i started to think about making the Ram my "beater". Its low mileage(69k and 34k on trans) and runs good, tons of power, BUT the open 4.10 rear and Tq of the cummins makes it hell to drive even in rain.... And selling the Ram isnt gonna happen since its a no options truck with a lot of body work needed so trying to sell and buy a real 4x4 with equal mileage is impossible.... so now onto the project....
I looked for rolling chassis, doesnt seem to be much out there. i looked for trucks with blown motors... still nothing. I even looked for running 4x4 diesel trucks with high mileage etc to swap my drivetrain into... but those go for 4k+. So in turn im going to convert my current truck to 4wd by adding a transfer case and front axle. Yes you may be sayign to yourself, its just not that simple.. i know, gimme a break. The truck i have is a 2500 Heavy Duty regular cab long bed. It has the 8 lug Dana 70 full floating rear axle with 4.10s. First i'm gonna get a posi for that to help in the back.
The truck now has coil spring front suspension. The stock2500 4x4 front axles for 94-01 also use front coil springs. I now just need to see if those coil spring mounts up top are in the same location on 2wd/4wd models. I figure if i get a complete front axle(dana 60 would have been the stock axle for the 2500 diesel HD w/auto trans and 4.10s), with springs, shocks, brakes, track bar tierods etc(~$1,000). and mock it up in place. Then by looking at a friends 2500 4x4, weld on brackets to the frame for the track bar and the lca's. My other friend is a certified master welder who works for beer and burgers. Then i plan on getting a oem NV241D tranfser case for the auto transmission(~$650) and then getting used driveshafts for a 2500 4x4 reg cab long bed.(~300). After that its just a matter of the vacuum actuator and control switches.
I am looking for a wrecked 2500 4x4 to use as a full donor truck so we shall see. that way maybe i can get some new body parts and interior stuff too.
If anyone has pics of under the front of the truck as in the front axle of 2wd AND 4x4 2500 Rams, please post them up, so i can get some better ideas.
I NEED a fwd or 4wd vehicle for when im up at Ft Drum, since i ended up selling my Denali, the only vehicles i have to take up there are my SS, SKY redline, or Dodge ram 2wd Diesel. None of those would do any good in the snow we get there on at least a weekly basis. So... i looked into buying a beater, but that means another vehicle to insure, register and maintain. SKY and SS are never going anywhere and the dodge ram is staying to be able to tow my racecar around. So i started to think about making the Ram my "beater". Its low mileage(69k and 34k on trans) and runs good, tons of power, BUT the open 4.10 rear and Tq of the cummins makes it hell to drive even in rain.... And selling the Ram isnt gonna happen since its a no options truck with a lot of body work needed so trying to sell and buy a real 4x4 with equal mileage is impossible.... so now onto the project....
I looked for rolling chassis, doesnt seem to be much out there. i looked for trucks with blown motors... still nothing. I even looked for running 4x4 diesel trucks with high mileage etc to swap my drivetrain into... but those go for 4k+. So in turn im going to convert my current truck to 4wd by adding a transfer case and front axle. Yes you may be sayign to yourself, its just not that simple.. i know, gimme a break. The truck i have is a 2500 Heavy Duty regular cab long bed. It has the 8 lug Dana 70 full floating rear axle with 4.10s. First i'm gonna get a posi for that to help in the back.
The truck now has coil spring front suspension. The stock2500 4x4 front axles for 94-01 also use front coil springs. I now just need to see if those coil spring mounts up top are in the same location on 2wd/4wd models. I figure if i get a complete front axle(dana 60 would have been the stock axle for the 2500 diesel HD w/auto trans and 4.10s), with springs, shocks, brakes, track bar tierods etc(~$1,000). and mock it up in place. Then by looking at a friends 2500 4x4, weld on brackets to the frame for the track bar and the lca's. My other friend is a certified master welder who works for beer and burgers. Then i plan on getting a oem NV241D tranfser case for the auto transmission(~$650) and then getting used driveshafts for a 2500 4x4 reg cab long bed.(~300). After that its just a matter of the vacuum actuator and control switches.
I am looking for a wrecked 2500 4x4 to use as a full donor truck so we shall see. that way maybe i can get some new body parts and interior stuff too.
If anyone has pics of under the front of the truck as in the front axle of 2wd AND 4x4 2500 Rams, please post them up, so i can get some better ideas.