4wd swap

[BOHICA256]

There's a local guy that has a 2012 that has 100K on it with a blown engine. I'm wanting to do the 4x4 swap on my truck.
What are all the components I'd need? From the other threads I've seen everyone says it's easy.
I know I'll need:

Front axle
Front driveshaft
Front spring buckets and springs
Tail housing
And the power steering pitman arm I think
And the knob for the electronic shift on the fly

What else am I missing?
Any suggestions or tips?


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[sootie]

transfer case, radius arms. You are undertaking a large task to get esof to work-full vacuum system etc. It would be much more prudent to use a manual t-case. I know on the older trucks the entire engine/trans harness had to be swapped to make it work.

 

[Jacob @ No Limit]

Transfer case

 

[Jacob @ No Limit]

I'd do a manual transfercase

 

[BOHICA256]

That makes sense. A manual transfer case would be easier. But I would much rather have the esof. I kick myself all the time for not getting a 4x4..


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[BOHICA256]

So everything else stated already is what I would need minus the transfer case since a manual transfer case would be the easiest? I guess I'll just have to figure out how to mount the manual shifter with my split seats..


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[Sterling6.7]

Is the donor truck worth swapping your parts into? Maybe that's simpler?

 

[BOHICA256]

If it was clean and not a downgrade then I would lol but it's an xl work truck. Oil field work truck.

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[Sterling6.7]

Yup. Completely understand. Sorry for the stupid question. Carry on. I will go to the back of the class now...

 

[BOHICA256]

No not stupid! Lol I'll take all the questions and advice on this as I can. Manual transfer case will definitely be getting used.


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[Codydiesel]

You shouldn't need a tail housing swap since the 6r is the same rather it's 2wd or 4wd

 

[06-sixoh]

You'll need the rear driveshaft as well. The transfer case is going on soak up 10-12" of length. With the donor truck being a long bed, might be something you'll need to have made. Also need to verify its a slip yoke out of the transfer case vs a cardon. But I would put money on it being a slip yoke.

I would just pull the whole front end out the donor, and swap it. Don't worry about axles and all that. Just do a complete swap. I don't know about these new trucks, but on my 6.0 there was vacuum solenoid the hubs were hooked to. need to verify there isn't a separate module for ESOF.

I am not too familiar with the transfer case systems on these trucks, if this were a jeep, I might be more use. LOL If you were just looking for "lazy" shifting, and not necessary the factory electronic shifting, I would figure out how the transfer case actually shifts. Im assuming is with a harness. Im wondering if you can just kind of, make your own. Grab a couple switches, wire to transfer case, and just have separate fuses or relay to each function. As far as the hubs go, grab you some WARN manual hubs, and just leave them locked. My vacuum system went out on my 06,and ran it with the hubs locked for thousands of miles before I actually had it fixed.

What do I know though, I could be completely wrong and might get boo'd off the stage.

 

[BOHICA256]

You shouldn't need a tail housing swap since the 6r is the same rather it's 2wd or 4wd

That's good to hear. I wasn't sure.

You'll need the rear driveshaft as well. The transfer case is going on soak up 10-12" of length. With the donor truck being a long bed, might be something you'll need to have made. Also need to verify its a slip yoke out of the transfer case vs a cardon. But I would put money on it being a slip yoke.



I would just pull the whole front end out the donor, and swap it. Don't worry about axles and all that. Just do a complete swap. I don't know about these new trucks, but on my 6.0 there was vacuum solenoid the hubs were hooked to. need to verify there isn't a separate module for ESOF.



I am not too familiar with the transfer case systems on these trucks, if this were a jeep, I might be more use. LOL If you were just looking for "lazy" shifting, and not necessary the factory electronic shifting, I would figure out how the transfer case actually shifts. Im assuming is with a harness. Im wondering if you can just kind of, make your own. Grab a couple switches, wire to transfer case, and just have separate fuses or relay to each function. As far as the hubs go, grab you some WARN manual hubs, and just leave them locked. My vacuum system went out on my 06,and ran it with the hubs locked for thousands of miles before I actually had it fixed.



What do I know though, I could be completely wrong and might get boo'd off the stage.

This is a first for me. So that was some useful information. I'll keep it in mind on the transfer case.

What do you mean by just taking out the whole front end of the donor truck and swapping?


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[06-sixoh]

Since you have a 2WD now, you wont be able to use your existing axle housing. So you'll need to completely remove the axle tubes with differential, and essential just move all the moving front end to your truck. With that being said, you should also check to make sure the track bar location and everything else liens up. keep in mind, I have no idea what it take to convert one of these trucks to a 4WD unit. So Im shooting from the hip. Also, now that I think about it, you need to make sure the gear ration in the front end of the donor truck, is the same as YOUR gear ratio. I don't know if the 2WD's are geared similar to the 4WD units. Not having these in sync will cause a big bang, and a lot of cussing. I wouldn't think the spring rate would be any different, so you should be able to use your current coils; I don't see why not. The load doesn't change any, even though the service does.

 

[BOHICA256]

From the other threads I've read everything lines up exactly like the 4wd trucks. And I'm hoping the donor truck is 3.31 or 3.73 because my truck is 3.31, but I have everything needed to swap out my rear end to make it 3.73 so either of those and I'm good. So knowing that I bet it'll be 3.55.
I'm trying to find out what my coils are. I think most 4wd springs are 5200 or 5600. And I can't decide if I want to go stock height 4x4 or do the lowered look with the 4800 springs and no rear block. Because I'm pretty sure my truck currently sits really close to a lowered 4wd.


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[sootie]

You'll need the rear driveshaft as well. The transfer case is going on soak up 10-12" of length. With the donor truck being a long bed, might be something you'll need to have made. Also need to verify its a slip yoke out of the transfer case vs a cardon. But I would put money on it being a slip yoke.

I would just pull the whole front end out the donor, and swap it. Don't worry about axles and all that. Just do a complete swap. I don't know about these new trucks, but on my 6.0 there was vacuum solenoid the hubs were hooked to. need to verify there isn't a separate module for ESOF.

I am not too familiar with the transfer case systems on these trucks, if this were a jeep, I might be more use. LOL If you were just looking for "lazy" shifting, and not necessary the factory electronic shifting, I would figure out how the transfer case actually shifts. Im assuming is with a harness. Im wondering if you can just kind of, make your own. Grab a couple switches, wire to transfer case, and just have separate fuses or relay to each function. As far as the hubs go, grab you some WARN manual hubs, and just leave them locked. My vacuum system went out on my 06,and ran it with the hubs locked for thousands of miles before I actually had it fixed.

What do I know though, I could be completely wrong and might get boo'd off the stage.

Good call on the slip yoke and rear driveshaft length.

It is not possible to switch the transfer case with toggle switches.

Manual hubs and manual transfer case is the only way to go imo.

Since you have a 2WD now, you wont be able to use your existing axle housing. So you'll need to completely remove the axle tubes with differential, and essential just move all the moving front end to your truck. With that being said, you should also check to make sure the track bar location and everything else liens up. keep in mind, I have no idea what it take to convert one of these trucks to a 4WD unit. So Im shooting from the hip. Also, now that I think about it, you need to make sure the gear ration in the front end of the donor truck, is the same as YOUR gear ratio. I don't know if the 2WD's are geared similar to the 4WD units. Not having these in sync will cause a big bang, and a lot of cussing. I wouldn't think the spring rate would be any different, so you should be able to use your current coils; I don't see why not. The load doesn't change any, even though the service does.

He may need the trac bar bracket out of the donor truck also...

Easiest thing would be to park the 2wd beside the donor and spend some quality time on your back. It really isnt that difficult of a job. The most time consuming part will be drilling the coil buckets off the old frame and bolting them to the new one.

 

[BOHICA256]

What is the deal with slip yolk vs the cardon? Excuse my ignorance, every truck I've ever owned has been 2wd.

That was my game plan. To park the trucks side by side and see what my truck needs/is missing.

That's what I keep hearing, that the hardest and most time consuming is the coil buckets. I'm not really sure how I'm going to mount the manual shifter for the transfer case with my split seats.. Without getting a bench seat. Which I wouldn't be opposed to. As long as they match my interior and have the heated and cooled seats.

Just trying to gather as much info from other people as possible before I even turn a wrench.


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[sootie]

it wont be possible to do the floor shifter with a flow thru console. You will and up having to get a matching middle seat with flip down console. (they are easy and cheap to find)

The hard part for me is that my experience comes from doing an 03-05 swap so the principles are the same but not all the detail LOL

i remember Morgan at Midwest had trouble getting his rear driveshaft lined out when he swapped his regular cab over to 4wd. something about the 2wd having a slip yoke in the back of the trans...

 

[BOHICA256]

I figured that would be the case with the split seats. Oh well, I've always wanted the bench seat anyways.

You've offered up some good info so I'm thankful lol

Well hopefully he chimes in. Or I'll call his shop. Would rather him chime in so anyone else looking to do this can see all the info.
Whenever I do this I will try to take lots of pictures and post up a thread on how to do it.


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[BOHICA256]

From what I'm seeing, it looks like I can just get the center console from a 6.4 and there should be enough room for the transfer case shifter.


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