I have owned my 93 f150 300ci, M5R2 trans 2wd for a couple weeks now and really hate getting stuck in a dusting of northern snow. I am strongly considering doing a 4x4 conversion and need any heads-up advice I can get. I have an 88 4x4 donor truck with a 4 spd/302 setup. (both trucks are std. cab long bed) Now I have read these TTB setups are easy bolt on swaps? My three concerns are the gearing in the axles, the front and rear driveshaft compatibility and what transfer case to use and their compatibility as well.... I am not sure which trans or transfer case the donor truck has but know it's a 4 spd T18 or T19. So would I be able to install a transfer case on my M5R2 without cutting, grinding or opening the trans? Or would I need to find an M5R2 with a transfer case? And the does the gearing have to be the same as the rear or very close? This will not be a full time wheeler just the occasional woods trip or for heavy snow.

 

y not just swap bodys..put ur 93 body on ur 88 n call it a day

 

As for the diffs you'd be fine if you've got both on the donor...or jus check the tags on them and see what ratio you've got. Ill bet their all 355s. Not sure if it's all just a complete swap for the ttb...never done one so I can't answer that...from the looks of them it should but... Yer trans prob won't work tho, I'll bet the output shaft is longer on the 2x than the 4x. It's prob a 1356 tcase so you'd either have to get a 4x trans with the adapter or just go with the 4sp in your donor.

 

You might consider just adding an LSD. My 635CSi has an LSD and goes through 6-8 inches of snow with no issues. In fact, ground clearance, not traction, is really my limitation.

 

The body swap would not be a good idea because first the truck is not mine it's a friends whom is scrapping it due to the frame rotting out and breaking almost in half. He is being nice enough to let me pull the front axle and driveshaft. He is keeping the motor and trans for another "good frame" roller. I suppose i could ask about the rear also but would it really hurt anything if I swapped the 3:55's in with a 2:73 rear? I wouldn't be rock crawling with this rig.

 

Uh yeah thats not gonna work...my trucks got a 355 rear and 354 front, thats how it came from the factory. They gotta be the same ratio...otherwise your diffs will be turning at different speeds and that obviously will not work. If yer gonna do it...do it right. Half assing it just causes you more headache and problems down the road.

To be honest, if you cant get it geared right and cant get all the parts round right away, i'd do what the other guy said, put a limited slip carrier in the rear and put about 500 pounds in the bed to get you around till you can get everything to do the swap right. I think the diffs are the least of your probs, your 2x trans prob wont work, so you'd be looking for one of those too.

 

My 4x4 will push snow that is up to its grill, since I sit two inches higher than you and have only two tires pulling I think that is a large improvement over a limited slip.

 

I realize 4x is gonna get a guy around way better than 2x. But if he's gotta spend a grand to get it done, not everybody has the cash and time to drop on a project like that. LSD is affordable and last I checked you could get a pile of dirt for the back for free.

 

There is no question that 4WD is more capable than RWD w/ an LSD, but he's in Jersey. He'll never see snow to his grill.

Also, an LSD will make the truck much better in the rain.

 

Right on that tazerproof, we got 26" in less than 12 hours in '09 and THAT was bad for us. Course I had a lifted XJ at the time with 32's on it so I got around good. Okay, here is what I've collected so far...

Complete hub to hub, D44 TTB front axle assy. with dual shocks.... FREE!

M5R2 trans and BW1356 T-case.... $200.

Front driveshaft.... FREE!

T-case shifter assy. and linkage.... $80.

So now I'm on the hunt for a 133" wb 4x4 rear driveshaft. (rear flange yoke)

As far as the gearing I've had many tell me to replace the rears or nothing but problems will occur. I got that, understood. Now will my current trans crossmember work for this? And how the hell do I get out those lower coil studs? They look like sh*t. And how do I know what gears are in the front? The tag is missing.