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So I have a 1991 f150 2wd I’m gonna be converting to 4x4. Before anyone slanders me this is a family truck it was my grandfathers then my mothers first truck and passed to me. It has 36 thousand miles on it factory and looks brand new and was always garage kept. I ended up finding a 1988 f150 that is identical to mine, inline 6 with 5 speed manual trans but with 4x4. I’ve been doing extensive research to the best of my ability and from the looks it’s a direct bolt in. Was looking for clarification on a few things. I’ve been putting off ordering new tires because I want to go to 33 inch or 35 since I have 4.11 gearing (I’m gonna regear the new front dif and rebuild the whole axle so that’s not a problem) and want to do a 2.5 or 4 inch lift but as I recall the 2wd has 2.5 inch wide leafs and the 4x4 has 3 inch wide leafs. Can I order a 4x4 lift kit and it’ll go right in as my truck sits 2wd setup so I can order tires now or do I need to wait for 4x4? Can I keep my 2wd rear leaf or do I need to take the 4x4 rear leaf’s? If anyone else has done this swap can you let me know some of the struggles you dealt with in the process so I know what to look out for. I am gonna do all the work myself I can do it easily and I have my own shop to do it in so I’m not having to deal with labor thank god since it’s either gonna swap easily in a few days or I’m gonna snap bolt after bolt and take months. Gonna try and get this done by winter hopefully. Here’s pics of my 2wd and the donor I just got. Thanks anyone for the help and those who wanna say go buy a 4x4 can respectfully keep there mouth shut.
I see 3 different trucks, assuming the 2 tone on the trailer is the donor and the black one is the project?
Why not just swap the body onto the 4x4 frame, assuming it's in good or repairable shape. You would be able to address rust and any other problems while it's apart, though it may not be as nice as your current frame.
Having both trucks makes it easier to see how viable the project is, I would start with pulling the donor apart first.
Way to respect the family truck heritage by turning it into some stupid thing.
my entire family has been looking into 4x4 for it for years I am just the one that has the mechanical knowledge to do it. As for how it looks right now it’s going back to factory look in a couple months when I get a new commuter/daily I put the lights on cuz I am in the mountains year round at night especially for snowboarding and want to safely see I put them all on without drilling holes anywhere so I can take them off and go back to factory when it was time
Body Swap. Easiest and most economical means since you have two complete trucks. That is what my son and I did for his 96 Bronco where the structural body panels were compromised with body cancer.
Afterwards, part-out the donor and scrap what you can't sell.
Body Swap. Easiest and most economical means since you have two complete trucks. That is what my son and I did for his 96 Bronco where the structural body panels were compromised with body cancer.
Afterwards, part-out the donor and scrap what you can't sell.
AK4wheeler
the frame on the donor is shot but the drivetrain in it is solid I got it for 50 bucks and a case of beer my nice one the underside doesn’t even have a crusty bolt hence why I’m gonna sand and rebuild the front axle from the donor to put in since it’s a direct bolt on and since there both cafe trucks the frames are the same I just need the 4x4 pieces from the donor my biggest concern right now was if the 4x4 suspension and 2wd suspension is the same since I’m trying to lift it a little so I can put new tires on and not worry about bottoming out. I have 4.11 gearing and would like to stick with that gearing but can’t go any tire smaller then 32 or I’ll be at redline at 60-65. I’d like to lift it while it’s 2wd and not have to buy another lift kit when it gets the 4x4 so mostly just wondering if the suspension is all the same minus the rear leaf I know there’s a half inch difference there.
4x4 conversion
