The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 4x4 conversion?

Just out of curiosity, can or has anyone converted there AD or Art Deco to 4wd without a donor frame/drivetrain? Is it feasible to swap in a different axle, steering box, and a divorced transfer case? Perhaps a mild lift for clearance issues? I know the later trucks used the dealer NAPCO conversion. What did that take to accomplish. Have fun with this.

I'm currently working on a 1950 Chevy that I'm making into 4-wheel-drive. Here's the short list:

1950 Cab & front sheetmetal & frame
1983 Chevy dually rear axle
1965 Chevy 292 engine
1991 Chevy 5-speed transmission & transfer case
1979 Ford F-250 front axle (because of 1991 transmission driver-side output shaft)
1979 Ford front spring assembly - much fabrication neccessary to fit to the tapered frame - essentially lifted the front of the truck 6-8 inches!
'80s chevy truck steering box, power steering pump, bracketry etc.
2004 Dodge dually bed (narrowed 10.25" in width)
1974 Good Old Fashioned Yankee Ingenuity!!!

Not done yet, but getting there slowly.

Craig

That's quite a cocktail chevoldsmoyota. How about sharing some pictures.

I have not taken any measurements or made any plans, but I have been eye-balling the early 1990's Dodge Dakota. It seems those axles are pretty close to the right width.

I've got some pics from when we mocked up the bed. If I get time and can figure out this computer, I'll post them soon.

The Dakota axles would probably work great, but I'm keeping the heavy suspension under mine and plan to use it to pull a skid loader and a dump trailer.

Craig

By AD do you mean art deco or advance design? Napco did make running gear for the advance design.

The Napco running gear for my truck included the front axle, new front leaf springs (one more leaf than stock), divorced transfer case (Spicer 23), and drive lines. Also some lift blocks for the rear axle, so that it sits level with the front.

Here is my photobucket album showing the bed and 4x4 mock-up. I don't think it looks too bad. The front fenders are kind of square-round with round wheel well openings, and the Dodge fenders are square-round with round wheel well openings. The front of the bed contours around the cab nicely (along the side of the cab as well as around the back of the cab!) Granted, it doesn't look vintage/stock, but I have always thought that the square bed with a rounded cab and fenders seemed incongruous.

Take a look at my pictures and let me know what you think. I have thick skin, so don't be afraid to be honest!

http://s605.photobucket.com/albums/tt138/capedcat/1950%20Chevy%20with%20Dodge%20dually%20bed/

Thanks,

Craig

I like it, one of a kind and will turn some heads.

Try looking at an early Wagoneer axles. My truck is sitting on a '63 Waggy frame and if you can adapt the axles to the stock frame, I think they should work well. I think some of the later axles will work as well, and maybe better. The later models will get you away from the closed knuckles on the front axle and will come with front disc brakes. The earlier waggys (they made a body style change in about '75 that made the axles too wide) have a track width that is close enough that you can make up the difference with rim offset. Serious Jeep types will sometimes swap out the stock axles for something stronger, though most of us will never treat our rides the way they treat theirs. These early Waggy axles have a passenger side drop so you can use a pre '88 chevy drive train.