4x4 conversion

[off_road_since_82]

O.K. so intended vict...errr I mean recipiant for the surgury is the "swamp buggy"- 1975 3/4 ton 2wd supercab camper special. I was wondering if anyone has converted one of these monstrositys to a 4x4, up north on the farm a 2x4 ain't a heck of a lot of good unless I put a round bale in the back. So my question is a) is there anything that would bolt up? or B) is there another truck out there that the frame is a close fit?
I'm kinda leaning towards the body swap because my frame is... not shot but getting real close.
(I call her the swamp buggy for a couple reasons: )
1. the body looks like it spent the last decade or two in a swamp.
2. thats about the color she is

ANY imput would be very much appreciated, thanks.

 

[off_road_since_82]

oh... something else, I dont plan on keeping the factory 460/c6 so that could ether make life more simple, or open a whole nother can of worms...

 

[LEB Ben]

A) Not a bolt up deal at all. Not impossible at all either to swap and fab the stuff needed for the conversion. Would be best to have a complete donor truck though.

B) By far the easier option...swap the body and worst case senario drill some holes for mounting locations. Problem here is if you can find a dentside SC 4x4. Then what you have to decide is whether you want to get a reg. cab and cut your bed to fit...flat bed it or lengthen the frame.

 

[off_road_since_82]

thanks, Had tossed around the idea of hacking up the bed a bit, mostly the truck will be hauling gooseneck trailers, the occasional tag trailer. so bed length doesn't really matter that much. I've been following the "trucks t.v." build up of a 6th gen crewcab dropped onto a 1997 dodge frame. I thought that was a pretty neat idea. especially with the condition my frame is in... ok the condition the whole truck is in. but the frame was my biggest concern. In any situation I have to boost my springs, the trailers may occasionally be in excess of 17 000 lbs. In the long run I probably will go to a flat deck, just so I dont have to rebuild my bed. I have a burnt out standard cab f350 dually that was boosted to handle 20,000 lbs trailers so suspension is taken care of... thinking of calling it frankenstiens monster when its "done"

 

[LEB Ben]

^^^No harm in throwing the body on something more modern either. All it takes is time, skills and some money. Biggest issue for me would be making the electrical compatible.

 

[off_road_since_82]

you know, (looks sheepish) that hadn't even crossed my mind. I've got a few months to decide though. I'm started on my body work now, so I can just finish that and run it as is for a while. I really dont have a set plan except to get it street legal, then go from there. Thanks though, its reasuring to know I'm not that far into the outfield
"floors? we dont need no stinking floors, this is a ford!"

 

[78F250SCCS]

If have the know how, chop the front end of the frame off. Find a 4X4 frame and do the same, and weld the 4X4 front end onto your truck.