Moparts

4x4 to4x2

Posted By: ric3xrt

4x4 to4x2 - 09/14/06 11:24 AM

picked up a 4x4 400 Ramcharger a couple of months ago, wasn't going to go this route but in looking the truck over & figureing out what direction to go with it( restore or just beat the crap out off) I found that the front spring mount(front & rear ) were shot everything was either broken or re welded wrong.
Soooo I decided to convert it to 2wheel drive .
so these pics are for those WHO SAY YOU CAN"T DO IT THE FRAMES ARE DIFFERNET. what world are you from...
In the past 12 years I've done 10 trucks this way , this will be 11 ..

Attached picture 2920408-Frontxmembergone.JPG
Posted By: ric3xrt

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 09/14/06 11:26 AM

This pic is off the 4x2xmember preped & ready to install, in prepeing these xmember to go in, you MUST REMOVE THE ENGINE MOUNTING PLATES...its not hard, if you realized how badly welded they are from the factory .... we just won't go there.

Attached picture 2920415-2xmemberpreped.JPG
Posted By: ric3xrt

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 09/14/06 11:42 AM

ok last pic for today
Xmember installed , the upper to bolt hole line up perfectly , the 2 in the bottom of the xmeber will not line up , so they have to be redrilled in the frame, not a big deal use 7/16th bolt & your good, I always put a tack weld on all of it anyway ..can't be too carefull
This xmember is out of a 87 Ramcharger , after 88 the xmembers are silghtly different , thats a whole other ballgame
For the more creative & adventious people ... yes you can lower a truck this way by notching the frame 2 inches...don't try 3inch too much crap to over come, its not fot the faint of heart or the mechanically challanged
I have a 77 440 4x4 warlock that I'm going to convert over in october ( I tried to talk the guy out of it , BUT ITS HIS TRUCK) I'll get more indepth with the whole Photo & step by step thing.
And yes this was all done whille the engine was supported by the hoist & yes the rans & transferr caes are still in the truck. they will be removed this weekend.

Attached picture 2920431-2wheelxmemberinstalled.JPG
Posted By: 3XCHARM

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 09/14/06 07:45 PM

WOW GLAD TO SEE SOMEONE ELSE BELIEVES WHAT I BELIEVE !
I am actually considering this with my 75 RC since it is smog excempt, and really like the idea of a 2x4 cruiser with a removeable top.
Good job and hope you keep the pics coming if there are anymore I am interested to see the finished (and in progress) product.


Good Luck
Posted By: RUNCHARGER

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 09/15/06 03:10 AM

Thats pretty cool to know. The factory manuals always pointed out that the frames were different. Nice to know a switcheroo is possible.

Sheldon
Posted By: 3XCHARM

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 09/15/06 08:36 PM

The only difference that I have noticed is if you are going from 2wd to 4wd as you have to measure and cut the hole in the frame for the shackle mount and add the spring hanger for the front spring, besides swapping in a 4x4 crossmemeber.
Posted By: ric3xrt

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 09/15/06 11:04 PM

oK here the Passenger side with the upper & lower control arms att , & the strut rod xmember installed.
Sunday or monday I'll have the Rotors & brakes..the rotors I bought are 83 small bolt...so after I put them on that should put the mistery to rest.

Attached picture 2924122-2xmembercomplete.JPG
Posted By: ric3xrt

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 10/09/06 01:54 AM

She's on her wheels , with the 400 installed ,

Attached picture 2977444-8.8.1.JPG
Posted By: 3XCHARM

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 10/09/06 02:55 AM

Lookin Good! I am still up in the air about mine though.
Posted By: Magnum

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 10/09/06 03:23 AM

Quote:

Thats pretty cool to know. The factory manuals always pointed out that the frames were different. Nice to know a switcheroo is possible.

Sheldon



I've seen part numbers change because of one hole drilled different. That could be the reason.
Posted By: 3XCHARM

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 10/09/06 03:38 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Thats pretty cool to know. The factory manuals always pointed out that the frames were different. Nice to know a switcheroo is possible.

Sheldon



I've seen part numbers change because of one hole drilled different. That could be the reason.



I saw a factory thickness chart for frames on this forum for a 1990. The difference from 1/2ton to 3/4ton can vary by as much as 1/8" depending on what wheel base you have.

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/upload2/2964366-DSC00666.JPG
Posted By: ric3xrt

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 10/09/06 10:57 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Thats pretty cool to know. The factory manuals always pointed out that the frames were different. Nice to know a switcheroo is possible.

Sheldon



I've seen part numbers change because of one hole drilled different. That could be the reason.



The only difference I've seen in 4x4 vs 4x2 is just that where some of the holes are drilled, the upper a arm supports the holes line up with the 4x4 engine xmember but the rest have to be drilled.
The Idler arm holes are not in the 4x4 frame so they have to be drilled, its not that big of a deal, I'll show how to do that when I do this Warlock in the next couple of weeks.
On the trans Xmember the 4x4 uses 3 bolts to mount to the frame the 4x2 uses 2, to use the 4x2 Trans member in the 4x4 you have to use the Middle 4x4 hole as the front hole for the 4x2 & the you have to drill the back hole .
On this truck I had to elongatet ( sp) the holes in the 4x2 trans member, this is the 4th I;ve had to do this to the others lined up perfectly.
Posted By: ric3xrt

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 10/09/06 11:00 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Thats pretty cool to know. The factory manuals always pointed out that the frames were different. Nice to know a switcheroo is possible.

Sheldon



I've seen part numbers change because of one hole drilled different. That could be the reason.



The only difference I've seen in 4x4 vs 4x2 is just that where some of the holes are drilled,

( should clarify that statment) , Only in the 1/2 tons
Posted By: ric3xrt

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 10/25/06 01:25 AM

Bolted the front end sheet metal on this muttly beast tonight.
Hopefully I can get a couple of runs on this thing yet this year.
Posted By: ric3xrt

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 05/10/17 10:52 AM

Totally forgot about this thread.....
any way 1st run, crappy 400 and 727 13.90 @99 mph
last run 451 inch 400, stage 6 heads Huges HEV6368 cam ,Harland rockers
727 4.56s blah blah blah 10.47@129mph at Atco
Posted By: ric3xrt

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 04/07/18 12:35 PM

heard from the current owner , he says it'll be back on the rd this summer , it's now got a 511 inch TF head 440 in it, should run great.
Posted By: Guitar Jones

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 04/07/18 01:57 PM

Interesting. I know of many trucks converted from 4x2 to 4x4 but not the other way around.
Posted By: ric3xrt

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 04/08/18 11:53 AM

kind of had a 4x2 Ramcharger Fetish my whole life owned 8 legit Pop Top 4x2s and converted 6.
Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 04/09/18 02:50 PM

HUMM... good info on how its done. thank you! glad it come back up

I am going 4x4 to 4x2 but keeping the front leafs/steering and just replacing the diff with a straight tube axle for a gasser style truck.

I just noticed on the way to work this morning there was a 2x RC for sale..I was thinking great, I just drug home a 86 truck 4x4 chassis 100$ and a 78 new yoker with a 65,000 mile 440/727 100$

I will see what the asking price is today on the RC and may change directions with the project to get that BB gasser RC after all. only got 200$ in the project build so far. that's cheap enough a start.

I should be able to convert the RC 2x chassis to a 4x4 chassis combining the 2 chassis I have now and a 440/727 too boot!

wont have to find a cab/bed/title and already have a set of wheel tubes to tub it for fat tires.
Posted By: ric3xrt

Re: 4x4 to4x2 - 04/09/18 03:25 PM

A 4x2 Pop Top Ramcharger with a Big CI 440 , is a blast to drive, body twisting doors popping open.....seriously think about adding some cross bracing in the frame, because of it being a tub as opposed to a cab and Bed. there is a lot more flex.
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