4x4 to 2wd

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86chevyk20

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I might piss some people off. But my 86 k20 is an awesome truck after i was done with it but i will never ever take it in the snow or mud i just cant, after all my hard work..

Im thinking of turning it into a 2wd. IDeas and oppinions? I was suggestd to make a tube front axle so i can keep the leaf spring set up..


Thanks
 

foamypirate

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Here's the question I need to ask: What is the benefit? Why not just leave it as a 4x4? You don't drive it offroad, which is fine, but what is the point of going through the effort of converting it to 2wd? That's a lot of effort, time, and money for an end result that is neither a detriment nor a positive to your situation.
 

firebane

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I might piss some people off. But my 86 k20 is an awesome truck after i was done with it but i will never ever take it in the snow or mud i just cant, after all my hard work..

Im thinking of turning it into a 2wd. IDeas and oppinions? I was suggestd to make a tube front axle so i can keep the leaf spring set up..


Thanks

This makes no sense.. Why on earth do you have a 3/4 4x4 truck that will never see the off road?

Sell the truck and buy a 2wd if that is what you are after.
 

86chevyk20

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Had the idea of making it into a muscle truck type of deal. And I bought the truch at age 16. At that time I wanted a nasty 4x4
 

bucket

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If you like how it looks now, just leave it alone. It really doesn't matter that the truck never goes off of nice dry pavement.

But if you want the 2wd look, that's a different story.
 

kleedus

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Liam
I know exactly how you feel I have a 90 gmc jimmy that I have rebuilt from a bare frame.

all that is left is minor body work and paint. it has a 6'' lift and 33'' tires

I do not want to even take it on a dirt road cause all the work I have into it I has less than 1,000 miles since its rebuild
I am going to convert it to 2 wheel drive and lower it

my plan is a nice fuel injected overdrive tranny cruiser I will get more use out of it as a low rider


now you guys can cuss me all you want


my plan is to use the front suspension from a 2 wheel drive truck
lots of measuring and lots of holes to drill
 

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86chevyk20

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i just have too many ideas! lol
 

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Well opinions aside the frame rails are identical from 2wd to 4wd so ya you can drill holes and mount the 2wd saddle upfront or leave your 4x4 axle and springs in place and if your transfer case bothers you for some reason just mount a 2wd tranny in place with the accompanying drive shaft.

Now my opinion is just drive it !
 

89Suburban

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Some of the old International 2WD pick up trucks had leaf sprung front I-beam steer axles.
 

HotRodPC

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Some of the old International 2WD pick up trucks had leaf sprung front I-beam steer axles.

And that's exactly what I'd do If I wanted to do such a far fetched funky idea. By all means, it's your truck. Do as you wish. Put a 2wd trans in it, a 2wd length driveshaft should fit just fine. Then I'd swap the front axle to an I beam steer axle off an old truck. Even the 50's GM trucks were a 2wd straight axle. This way, it can go back to 4x4 easily also.
 

86chevyk20

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thanks guys.. just wanted your opinions.
 

rich weyand

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Note that 4x4 squares are worth more on the market than 2WD squares. That goes extra for K-20s over K-10s. Which means you can sell your existing 4x4 K-20 truck and get a 2WD C-10 in the same condition and have a nice chunk of change left over for other goodies. As it is, you are planning on putting additional money into the truck in order to make it worth less, and end up with a hodge-podge at best.
 

kleedus

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in what world is a 3/4 ton long bed 4x4 worth more than a 2 wheel drive short bed.
a 2 wheel drive short bed in good condition is almost worth it weight in gold around here

I can get 4x4 long bed 3/4 tons way cheaper and easier than a 2 wheel drive short bed



if I am going to the trouble to convert to a 2 wheel drive I would not use a leaf spring tube axle that would not be worth the work to do it.

I want to convert my jimmy to a 2 wheel drive for a smoother ride and to lower it.

I just put a new mad dog transmissions stage 2 700 r4 in my jimmy so I am thinking about clocking the t case up so it does not hang down after the
conversion or swapping in a 2 wheel drive tail shaft

my 85 low rider use to be a 3/4 ton long bed I parted it out for the cab and front clip to build the low rider
 

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