The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline AD truck on Task Force Frame

I know it sounds stupid, but I want to build a vintage style 4X4 '52 Chevy 3100. I doubt if anyone has ever swapped an AD truck to a Task Force frame, because it's not much of an upgrade.

My reasoning is:
1. I don't want the wide track axles under the truck that stick out on each side... a dead givaway for a late model swap.

2. I have a '58 NAPCO 4x4 frame ready to go.

3. Both frames are relatively flat, except for the hump above the rear axle.

4. The wheelbase is only 2" different between the trucks (AD is 116"- Task Force is 114").

I also have a '75 Blazer that I've owned since 1980 that I could use parts from, but I think a NAPCO swap would be more of a vintage look. Does anybody have any tips, or things to think about on this project? I appreciate any help.

Thanks, George

If I wanted to do something like that I would ask you for advice. Go for it and share pictures. I would think that the 58 parts would be much closer to work with than the 75 parts too.

I'm pretty good on knowledge of the NAPCO stuff, but I don't know a lot about AD trucks. If it wasn't for the tapered in frame on the AD, I'd just hang NAPCO axles on the original set up. The spring perches on NAPCO axles are cast into the housing and can't be moved. We'll see how it goes.

George

I did some research about possibly converting my 59 1/2 ton to 4wd. I had a Napco before and didn't want to go that route. I also didn't want to have tires that stuck out of the fenders.

The Dana 44 open knuckle fronts can be cut down 2 inches on each side giving you a front end that is 63.5 inches wide wheel mount to wheel mount. I wouldn't know where the perches would line up on an AD truck, but on a Task Force or blue chip truck, the factory chevy perches line up. This setup could give you disc brakes and a 6 lug pattern or 8 lug pattern

Ultimately I decided to keep my 59 1/2 ton a 2wd because I estimated the 4wd conversion would lift the truck 6 inches in front and 4 inches in the rear. I didn't want to be up that high.

John

A Jeep Wagoneer front axle from '74 and up is a Dana 44. They are about 61" wide (wms) and the same 6 lug pattern as GM trucks.

'74 to '79 are passenger side drop and '80 and up are driver side drop. These housings are set up for a spring under application. To convert to spring-over a flat spot needs to be machined on top of the housing for the spring seat.

Or a full width D44 axle housing already set up for spring-over could be narrowed to Wagoneer specs and you could use off the shelf Wagoneer axles and not have to have a set custom made.

I have future plans to convert an AD truck to 4x4 and have been collecting parts. I will be using a '79 Wagoneer front with pass. side drop and a Dana 20 transfer case with a Novak adapter to bolt it to my SM420.

Sounds like you've got a good plan. I hit the junkyard today to take some measurements and I checked out a couple wagoneer's. I might have to give them a closer look.

Thanks, George

It's early in the process, but I figured I'd add some pictures. I got the bed of the '52 swapped over to the '59 NAPCO frame and I think it looks natural. I removed the front clip today and I'll try to work on pulling the cab tomorrow, if the weather holds up.

Once I get all the parts of the '52 swapped over to the 4x4 frame, I'll do a mock-up and get all my mounting points done. Once that's done, I'll disassemble the truck again and work on mechanicals and sheetmetal.
'52 Chevy NAPCO 4x4 Conversion

Here are some links to some questions I had on the same lines.

4x4 Conversion

and

Jeep Axle

There is one issue I can see being a problem. while there is only 2" difference in the wheelbase, with the TF having the shorter wheelbase, you may find that the rear wheels will be too far forward in the wheel openings. In stock form, the AD trucks rear wheels are roughly 2" forward of center, so couple that on top of the wheelbase difference, you end up being 4" forward of center. Just something you might want to keep in mind during the conversion. You could try to lengthen the TF wheelbase to correct, or you could like a 3800 AD truck that's local to me is. The owner of this truck put the cab abd bed on a Blazer chassis, but shortened the bed and runing boards to match the shorter frame. It is noticable, but at first it's somewhat difficult to put your fnger on what's not quite right. Perhaps what you culd do, instead of shortening the bed, is to move the fenders forward a bit, and shorten the running boards accordingly. Not a lot, just enough to make it look good.

looks good brother George!

Bill, Thanks for the input. I've been wondering about the length as well. I've always noticed how the AD rear axle was forward of center... just didn't know the exact measurement. Even though the Task Force has a shorter wheelbase, it has a longer frame, so I might be able to slide everything forward. I can leave the rear 2" forward, like a stock AD and offset the front by 2". I won't know how it looks until I mock it up. Thanks again for the input.

Sweet- Thanks brother. It's almost time for a junkyard tour advance recon!

George