[Colewright12v]

Sooo I have a 1996 2500 club cab long box and I love my 12v.. but, I wana get 4wd it’s a clean frame and has what I would consider low miles I want to just get a front axle right? idk if everything will mount up correctly and steering blah blah… but before I do anything for the powertrain like bigger turbos, wheels, fuel and oil pump sh1t, I want a 4x4 first. I’m alright getting a different trans because I have the 4-speed manual, with overdrive… there’s two plates on the side of it. I think for a pto? Idk if it’s for a transfer case or some goofy sh1t. And getting a frame is hard too because it’s a long box..

 

[bigfish95971]

You will be money and time ahead if you just sell it and buy a 98.5 to 02 4x4. Plus you get the Quad cab doors and a lot better dash. and rear disc if you get 01/02.

 

[Diesel Duo]

You will be money and time ahead if you just sell it and buy a 98.5 to 02 4x4. Plus you get the Quad cab doors and a lot better dash. and rear disc if you get 01/02.

While I do understand your points & reason. If I understand the OP he (like I) own a 12v & understand that desire.
@Colewright12v I have a 1994 regular cab 4x4. If any pictures I could provide would help. Let me know.

 

[bigfish95971]

My mistake I thought I read he wants a 24v, Too sleepy to be typing. But the principle is the same he should sell it and buy what ever year he wants. Was there really a 4 speed man available in 96? Best place for a PTO on a 4x4 is on the tranfer case 241DHD in put gear, Not available on DLD TC.

 

[Colewright12v]

While I do understand your points & reason. If I understand the OP he (like I) own a 12v & understand that desire.
@Colewright12v I have a 1994 regular cab 4x4. If any pictures I could provide would help. Let me know.

Anything behind the front axle, like too the gearbox, trans, and steering columns just how shits hooked up down there. (Mounting points for the frame is what I’m mostly worried about.)

 

[Colewright12v]

You will be money and time ahead if you just sell it and buy a 98.5 to 02 4x4. Plus you get the Quad cab doors and a lot better dash. and rear disc if you get 01/02.

Not a bad idea. I just can’t, this truck has too much emotional attachment with me. I wanted to show it too my old man so badly before he died… which ******* sucks because literally 2 days after buying it he passed.

 

[Antonm]

I can be done, but it’s NOT going to be a direct bolt on, there will be cutting and welding involved.

If you’re not a really good welder, then you need to take it to a fab shop, welding suspension parts on is not for a novice ( if the welds holding the front suspension/ axle under the truck break while driving down the road, death is a very real possibility).
.
.
.

 

[LorenSD]

You can read the story of my 4x4 conversion here: Good Cheap Tow Vehicle - The BangShift.com Forums Good yes, cheap; not so much, loosely covers the work involved in a stock-style conversion and of-course there needs to be a donor which was in my case a crashed V10/auto. There really aren't many people I'd recommend a task like that to.

 

[GreyWhale]

I'm 74 and doing a conversion. Unless you are a heck of a good welder/ fabricator and like doing it you need a 4x4 frame. I'm told must be diesel or V10 frame as the frame engine brackets are different. Mine is maybe at 1/2 way point and it is a TON of work. The V10 donor I bought, the axles are wrong ratio (I suspected that) and lucked out buying a "steal" on a "too short" frame that provided the proper transfer case and front axle--3.54 ratio in mine.

I have an outdoor 2 post hoist and no shop. And I have an old (little) Farmall with a loader
Link to one thread if you can access it

https://phantombullet.net/threads/dont-know-if-im-up-for-this-at-74-cummins-2wd-2500-to-4wd-conversion.18516/#post-518589

Small glitches I've run into so far between the 97 donor frame and my original 01 2WD: Parking brake cable anchors are different mount to frame, there is no holes in rear of frame for the rearmost exhaust pipe hanger, and front bumper bracket bolt hole pattern is different. And, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, there is a 3 bolt (each side) pattern for the hitch receiver and between frames the middle hole spacing is about 3/16" DIFFERENT. Go figure. There are some differences in brake line routing/ anchors. I figure to eliminate the rear load valve for the brakes.

This is one of the "heaviest" projects I've ever done.