how much work would it be to make a C series pick up 4wd?

[WiMiMc]

i ask this because heres the deal, i want a 4x4 truck, more specifically a 67-72.

now when i peruse the classifieds almost all of the K trucks are in much need of work, or out of my price range.

however when i look at the C trucks, they're all pretty much everything i want (except 4wd) and they're in my ideal price range.

so what i wanna know is how much work would would it be to make one 4wd?

[Blacdout96]

id say buy the C series, and buy a K series. tkae off the C series cab and bed, and swap it onto the K chassis. you'll have to modify s few area's like the floor pan, but other then that, I couldn't see much difference between the two.

[WiMiMc]

i could do that i didnt really think of it. it would be an ASAP thing to do, i wouldn't mind driving it as is for a while. (but at the same time i dont want to wait years to do it.)

[r0nin89]

I typed the rest of this post before this part. If you want a factory looking 4wd truck then dont bother converting one. Its more work than its worth. Now if you're just looking to make a truck into 4wd and dont care about it looking factory then go for it.


Swapping cabs is NOT easier than doing a 4wd swap. You need to cut out the IFS brackets. If you want to run no lift then the engine crossmember will either need to be trimmed and reboxed or swapped for a 4wd one.

Front spring hangers are readily available. Its quite simple to make a hanger and weld it into the front of the frame. Shackles hangers are also out there. This whole process is the same as tackling what known as a solid axle swap or SAS in the 4wd world. Google can net you a LOAD of photos of what it takes to mount a solid axle under a frame.

Now the transfer case is the only other issue. If you've got a long bed truck you can use whats known as a divorced transfer case. Basically its a tcase that stands alone where as everything now a days is whats known as married or mated to the transmission. It uses a driveshaft between the 2wd trans and the transfer case and allows you to retain the stock transmission.

Now if you use a married tcase you'll need to replace the trans. Either way you'll need a new rear shaft and to make a front shaft. If its a shortbed truck you really need to go with married case because there isnt enough length.

At the AC show today there was a beautiful rust free 69 c10 with an 8 foot bed for like $6000.

Personally if I was gonna pick up one for a driver and not a diehard offroader I'd put 52in long springs up front, 350/700r4/208 transfer case, 10bolt 8 lug front axle, 14bolt semi floater 8 lug rear, 63in rear springs, 2in of lift with 33in tires.

If you bought a truck with a good motor your could do the conversion yourself for about $2500 in parts. 3/4ton rears are abundant in the 4x4 world and can be had for about $300 a set. Figure $300 to freshen them up. $400 for a 700r4/208 combo and $800 for a full rebuild of both. Springs can be had for about $50 a pair. The hangers are reasonable and them and the steel to mount the front axle should be about $100-$150.

52in springs up front and 63in springs out back will ride really really well despite being leafs.

[donnj]

" like a rock"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHdV1KuLnU