Notices
Silverado & Fullsize Pick-ups The Silverado has been one of the best selling trucks in the US for decades, and is truly proven to be "like a rock".

2014 Chevy Silverado
Platform: Truck, GMT 400, 800, & 900

2wd to 4wd Conversion

Old August 20th, 2012, 10:12 PM
  #1  
CF Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
KGJC616's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Northern, Indiana
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Question 2wd to 4wd Conversion

ok well i searched the forum and i couldn't find anything on this. i might have just searched it wrong but any help would be great.

Ok so i have a 1989 Chevy Silverado 2500 2wd with a 350 and 4L60 trans. Now i'm buying my uncles 1995 GMC K1500 4wd with a 350 and I think a 4L60E trans.

now im wondering how hard would it be to do conversion what all parts would i have to change, would i have to weld any parts or anything like that. i know i would have to get a new drive shaft because my 2500 is a long bed and the 1500 is a short bed. any help would be great thanks.
Old August 20th, 2012, 10:19 PM
  #2  
CF Active Member
 
chevyboy1993's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Minot, North Dakota
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

i'm doing the same thing on my truck except 4wd parts from an 83 suburban. you need to swap over rear axle, take your control arms off and have to swap over those parts, preferably the whole front axle assembly as one and swap transmissions. parts you need to cut off and weld onto the 2wd chassis is the crossmember for the torsion bars
Old August 21st, 2012, 6:33 PM
  #3  
CF Active Member
 
spyncycle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

Can it be done? YES

Is it cost effective to do so? NO!

If you want a 4WD, then buy a 4WD truck.
Old August 21st, 2012, 7:43 PM
  #4  
CF Monarch
 
kevinkpk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: kevinkpk
Posts: 5,917
Received 138 Likes on 130 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by spyncycle
Can it be done? YES

Is it cost effective to do so? NO!

If you want a 4WD, then buy a 4WD truck.
And you better make sure the gear ratio is the same on both, just to add. I also would buy a 4x4 instead.
Old August 21st, 2012, 8:00 PM
  #5  
CF Veteran
 
maxxman04's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: kentucky
Posts: 1,851
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

aside from yours being 2500 and uncles is 1500, what is difference in trucks? it would be alot easier to just swap rear leaf springs from your truck to uncles. voila. 2500 now. i do agree tho that it is far far far from cost effective, time effective, smart effective to swap everything. by time you get done, you'll have more money into it than it would cost to just buy a 4wd. plus, with all the work involved, you do run the risk of losing interest, which would leave you with at least one, if not two trucks tore up.
Old August 21st, 2012, 8:45 PM
  #6  
CF Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
KGJC616's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Northern, Indiana
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

ok well i dont see what would really cost me that much i already have both trucks and all the 4x4 parts are on the truck already. all i would have to do theoretically is swap 4x4 parts over.

well the 1500 is a short bed and mines got a full sized bed. im not a fan of the short beds.

also i dont think im going to be using the k1500 anytime soon though a tree fell on the cab of the truck and crashed it. so it has become nothing more then a parts truck.

time isn't a big problem right now since neither are in driving condition, im waiting on parts and the other one the engine needs a rebuild. i have another vehicle to drive though. so its basically a project car.
Old August 21st, 2012, 9:01 PM
  #7  
CF Active Member
 
chevyboy1993's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Minot, North Dakota
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

swap your body and bed onto that chassis
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
botts2k6
Silverado & Fullsize Pick-ups
20
October 3rd, 2023 11:15 PM
Sliguy40
Tahoe & Suburban
3
October 16th, 2022 9:10 AM
isaias_1
Tahoe & Suburban
12
October 29th, 2021 8:15 AM
Texcowboy
General Tech
10
June 8th, 2010 10:23 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: 2wd to 4wd Conversion



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 8:12 PM.