4x4 Conversion

[JuJu1289]

I know some people think the 4x4 conversion is plain stupid, and you should just buy a factory 4x4, but my dad bought my truck brand new in 87 and its somewhat of a family jewel. I orginally started working on this truck just because it was free and I was broke, now ive sunk a good amount of money and I dont want to trade it for a 4x4.

So im probably gonna do a solid front axle. Am I thinking wrong that I can just weld shackle mounts and shackles to my frame for leaf springs? I saw a 4x4 conversion thread but this guy had fab'd custom brackets.

 

[muddin'ranger]

if im not mistaken youll have to weld some brackets outside the frame because the frame is too narrow but i could be wrong.

 

[mjonesjr]

if im not mistaken youll have to weld some brackets outside the frame because the frame is too narrow but i could be wrong.

You are wrong.


Do a search of TRS for "Leaf Spring SAS". There are a ton of members who have done leaf sprung SAS (Solid Axle Swap).

 

[JuJu1289]

As far as making brackets I would like to go this route. http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/images/sas/sas_leafswap3.jpg
The only part of that I dont feel comfortable welding is the actual bracket that attaches to the leaf spring. Would it work for we to buy some belltech 6400 shackles and weld them to the square bar that attaches to both sides of the frame?