2wd to 4wd conversion

88_chevy_s-10 · 04-19-2007, 02:00 PM

OK i've been thinkin about this for a while i've got a 1988 Chevy S-10 2wd 5-speed with a 2.5 4cyl. standard cab and i was hoping to be able to convert it to 4wd and im not totally sure about how to do this or if it is even possible so if anyone can help it would be appreciated.

Thanks Mike

bobbys10man · 04-19-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 88_chevy_s-10

OK i've been thinkin about this for a while i've got a 1988 Chevy S-10 2wd 5-speed with a 2.5 4cyl. standard cab and i was hoping to be able to convert it to 4wd and im not totally sure about how to do this or if it is even possible so if anyone can help it would be appreciated.

Thanks Mike

search around there are many threads here about that...
I think it would be cheaper to just trade in your truck on a 4x4...

Rinkrat456 · 04-19-2007, 04:39 PM

It would be cheaper to take your body off, and put it on a 4x4 frame. The only real economical way to make a 2wd 4x4, is to engineer your own suspension and do a solid axle conversion. It's how I'm going about making my 2wd Sonoma into a 4x4, same with many solid axle swappers unhappy with 2wd.

CustomS10 · 04-19-2007, 04:43 PM

2wd and 4wd have different frames.

shiftit · 04-19-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rinkrat456

It would be cheaper to take your body off, and put it on a 4x4 frame. The only real economical way to make a 2wd 4x4, is to engineer your own suspension and do a solid axle conversion. It's how I'm going about making my 2wd Sonoma into a 4x4, same with many solid axle swappers unhappy with 2wd.

i got an 89 4x4 s10 blazer with a rebuilt 4.3 ill sell for $1000. you will have way more than that in parts when youre done.

bobbys10man · 04-19-2007, 08:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by shiftit

i got an 89 4x4 s10 blazer with a rebuilt 4.3 ill sell for $1000. you will have way more than that in parts when youre done.

My point exactly

monkeymouse · 04-19-2007, 09:46 PM

Like already stated, if the body and everything else is mechanically sound; do a SFA swap.

Snafu Pimp · 04-20-2007, 02:56 AM

2wd s10's are optimal for a sfa swap because the spring pockets are already there for coils!

fordktpjoe · 05-11-2007, 12:16 PM

Please excuse an ignorant noob, but what is an SFA swap?

I have a 2WD extended cab with a really really sick, but still running 2.8L (200,000 miles) and need (read that "want") a 4X4, but because of children have to keep the extended cab. Have access to several regular cab 4X4's but just found out here that that is a no-go.

We've had this truck since almost new and dearly love it, and the body is perfect, although it could use paint. You guys reckon I oughta just keep hunting for a wrecked or rusty extended cab 4X4, and then just swap the cab and bed?

this is a 1992....any ideas what years will work?

Sorry this was so long and thanks in advance for any help!

Joe

monkeymouse · 05-11-2007, 01:42 PM

SFA is strait front axle.

shiftit · 05-11-2007, 03:42 PM

SFA = Solid Front Axle, same idea though

SAS = Solid Axle Swap

not to be a dick just for reference

gusdaman · 05-11-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Snafu Pimp

2wd s10's are optimal for a sfa swap because the spring pockets are already there for coils!

Rink,
Are you using the spring pockets to mount coils for your front axle??
GUS

NC4x4 · 05-11-2007, 11:59 PM

Spring pockets? Never heard of those. Did you mean Spring buckets or something?

04-19-2007, 02:00 PM	#1
88_chevy_s-10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1 Location: User is: OffLine	2wd to 4wd conversion OK i've been thinkin about this for a while i've got a 1988 Chevy S-10 2wd 5-speed with a 2.5 4cyl. standard cab and i was hoping to be able to convert it to 4wd and im not totally sure about how to do this or if it is even possible so if anyone can help it would be appreciated. Thanks Mike
	[Reply w/Quote]

04-19-2007, 04:08 PM	#2
bobbys10man Registered Dreamer Age: 29 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 546 Location: Lafayette, IN User is: OffLine	Re: 2wd to 4wd conversion Quote: Originally Posted by 88_chevy_s-10 OK i've been thinkin about this for a while i've got a 1988 Chevy S-10 2wd 5-speed with a 2.5 4cyl. standard cab and i was hoping to be able to convert it to 4wd and im not totally sure about how to do this or if it is even possible so if anyone can help it would be appreciated. Thanks Mike search around there are many threads here about that... I think it would be cheaper to just trade in your truck on a 4x4...
	[Reply w/Quote]

04-19-2007, 04:39 PM	#3
Rinkrat456 Lifted Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 986 Location: Woodbury, MN User is: OffLine	Re: 2wd to 4wd conversion It would be cheaper to take your body off, and put it on a 4x4 frame. The only real economical way to make a 2wd 4x4, is to engineer your own suspension and do a solid axle conversion. It's how I'm going about making my 2wd Sonoma into a 4x4, same with many solid axle swappers unhappy with 2wd.
	[Reply w/Quote]

04-19-2007, 04:43 PM	#4
CustomS10 No more switches Age: 30 Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 13,451 Location: Western Mass User is: OffLine	Re: 2wd to 4wd conversion 2wd and 4wd have different frames.
	[Reply w/Quote]

04-19-2007, 06:08 PM	#5
shiftit cool to the tool Age: 28 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 680 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 2wd to 4wd conversion Quote: Originally Posted by Rinkrat456 It would be cheaper to take your body off, and put it on a 4x4 frame. The only real economical way to make a 2wd 4x4, is to engineer your own suspension and do a solid axle conversion. It's how I'm going about making my 2wd Sonoma into a 4x4, same with many solid axle swappers unhappy with 2wd. i got an 89 4x4 s10 blazer with a rebuilt 4.3 ill sell for $1000. you will have way more than that in parts when youre done.
	[Reply w/Quote]

04-19-2007, 08:28 PM	#6
bobbys10man Registered Dreamer Age: 29 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 546 Location: Lafayette, IN User is: OffLine	Re: 2wd to 4wd conversion Quote: Originally Posted by shiftit i got an 89 4x4 s10 blazer with a rebuilt 4.3 ill sell for $1000. you will have way more than that in parts when youre done. My point exactly
	[Reply w/Quote]

04-19-2007, 09:46 PM	#7
monkeymouse I hate my truck. Age: 25 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,747 Location: Buffalo, NY User is: OffLine	Re: 2wd to 4wd conversion Like already stated, if the body and everything else is mechanically sound; do a SFA swap.
	[Reply w/Quote]

04-20-2007, 02:56 AM	#8
Snafu Pimp On tha grind Age: 26 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,028 Location: Manitoba, Canada User is: OffLine	Re: 2wd to 4wd conversion 2wd s10's are optimal for a sfa swap because the spring pockets are already there for coils! Last edited by Snafu Pimp; 04-20-2007 at 02:58 AM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-11-2007, 12:16 PM	#9
fordktpjoe Registered User Age: 48 Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 106 Location: Bloomfield, Kentucky User is: OffLine	Re: 2wd to 4wd conversion Please excuse an ignorant noob, but what is an SFA swap? I have a 2WD extended cab with a really really sick, but still running 2.8L (200,000 miles) and need (read that "want") a 4X4, but because of children have to keep the extended cab. Have access to several regular cab 4X4's but just found out here that that is a no-go. We've had this truck since almost new and dearly love it, and the body is perfect, although it could use paint. You guys reckon I oughta just keep hunting for a wrecked or rusty extended cab 4X4, and then just swap the cab and bed? this is a 1992....any ideas what years will work? Sorry this was so long and thanks in advance for any help! Joe
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-11-2007, 01:42 PM	#10
monkeymouse I hate my truck. Age: 25 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,747 Location: Buffalo, NY User is: OffLine	Re: 2wd to 4wd conversion SFA is strait front axle.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-11-2007, 03:42 PM	#11
shiftit cool to the tool Age: 28 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 680 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 2wd to 4wd conversion SFA = Solid Front Axle, same idea though SAS = Solid Axle Swap not to be a dick just for reference
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-11-2007, 06:31 PM	#12
gusdaman Registered User Age: 26 Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 343 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 2wd to 4wd conversion Quote: Originally Posted by Snafu Pimp 2wd s10's are optimal for a sfa swap because the spring pockets are already there for coils! Rink, Are you using the spring pockets to mount coils for your front axle?? GUS
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-11-2007, 11:59 PM	#13
NC4x4 Registered dumbass Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,225 Location: North Carolina User is: OffLine	Re: 2wd to 4wd conversion Spring pockets? Never heard of those. Did you mean Spring buckets or something?
	[Reply w/Quote]

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