4x4

[LT1 Kayker]

Ok, I saw this on Monster Garage a long while back, and I know it's possible. Im just wondering how effective it is, how much power it robs, maybe a website that sells em or something, how costly and time consuming and hard it would be to do...I dunno...any facts on it would be great.
I am pondering a 4X4 conversion for my rear wheel drive 4X2 89 C1500. Isn't it just a chain driven dealy that goes onto the driveshaft with a second driveshaft that goes to the front wheels? I know theres more to it, but I would love to hear any info on it, I wanna see my beater truck with big mudders and it being a 4X4. That would be awesome, thanks!

[goinbig]

You would need a whole new front end (one with a differential), a 4x4 tranny (or see if you can simply swap the tail of yours out for a 4x4 one), a transfer case (the chain driven dealy), and a front drive shaft.

Just to let you know, it most likely be cheaper to sell your truck and buy one with 4 wheel drive already. But yes, it certainly is possible.

[LT1 Kayker]

Ill run over to the junkyard near here this weekend. You can get a whole suspension with both axels and differentials for like $300 or something, I dont remember. Thanks for the list though, i promised my uncle i wouldnt sell her, so this was something just to think about.

[scoutinkeith]

actuailly, this would be a good opertunity to go to a solid front axle.
you can pick the axles, T-case, and everything else that you want, and if you use leaf sprigs it should be prety easy to get it all set up.

[LT1 Kayker]

Yeah it has leaf springs. I just hope I have enough couch cusions to dig through to pay for all that stuff, if I even find anything.

[goinbig]

Youi should be able to find everything alright. Theres a lot of those trucks out there!!

[LT1 Kayker]

How hard would that be? Im sure I could scaveng up the time after I ship the Camaro. All I would need is a jack, and then the wrenches and such to pull the whole old suspension+axels off. Im thinking of just taking off both axels and jamming in a whole new 4X4 setup under it.

[goinbig]

It really wouldn't be all that hard, just be sure to set aside enough time for it. You'll also want to have at least 2 jack stands to help you out. Having a buddy or two around definatly makes things go a lot faster!

If you get the parts off of the same exact style truck as yours, everything will simply bolt right into place of the 2x4 parts.

[LT1 Kayker]

That would be awesome, would it have to be the same year and C model, or would the same year K or different year C1500 within a certain range work too? Just in case they dont have the same truck.

[LT1 Kayker]

Could I use the same driveshaft and tranny and all that? im looking at just the axels and suspension. or whatever I need for the whole deal.

[LT1 Kayker]

Ive been thinking, im going to get a 350 for the truck, but will the stock tranny be able to hold up with all that, along with only a 350?

[goinbig]

To make things easier, I would just look for axles from what ever range of years is the same as yours.

I'm not sure what exactly is the difference on the K model, so I can't help you there.

Some 2 wheel drive trannies allow you to swap out the tail shaft for one from a 4 wheel drive. I'm not sure if you can on yours though (maybe someone else will know). When this is done, it might affect the distance between the tailshaft and the rear end, so you might need a different driveshaft as well.

What tranny do you have? Is it a TH350 or a TH400 (not sure if any others were offered that year)? If it's either of these, it will hold up.

Also, make sure that the gear ratio in the new front end is the same as what you already have in the rear.

[skipr]

I can't anwser your 4 x 4 questions, but your transmission should hold up to a 5.7 litre ( 350 cid) just fine whether it's a TH350, 400 or even a 700R4. The 400 can even handle a 454 big block just fine. You probally have a 400, being that it's a HD1500. 400's where standard on 3/4 and 1 ton's, but if you have an overdrive it's gotta be a 700R4 (I think).

[LT1 Kayker]

Its an overdrive like 4 speed. being the 4th gear is overdrive. It wont let me shift into gear one, but it lets me go to 2 d and overdrive...well thats a whole nother problem. Im almost sure its only a 4 speed though.

[goinbig]

TH350 came behind 454's as well. A TH400 is extremely strong and will handle a ton of torque and power.