2wd chassis to 4wd

[Ridin'GMC]

I know this thread has been brought up several times but wanted to confirm something frame related.

I have a 06 LLY that was totaled in 2017 and took it back from the insurance because I'm sentimental that being it's my first diesel truck and the best truck I've owned that I bought in 2008. It's been sitting in my yard for years and been trying to find a clean frame for it.

My truck is lifted and plan to keep it that way. I found a 2wd frame nearby me that's from Texas. From what I'm looking at my lift kit, it seems that the only thing I need to do for the frame is to drill holes for the passenger side aluminum front axle mount. The driver's side is not used as it is bolted to the lower sub frame.

Am I missing anything else?

 

[shakenfake]

Is your truck originally 4wd?

 

[Ridin'GMC]

Yes it is. Still complete as the day it was crashed, has a RCD 6" lift on it.

 

[gassux]

where are you located? if you look on FB marketplace you can find guys that bring up beds, frames, doors etc up from down south

 

[2004LB7]

I think it's a little more then just some holes drilled. The aluminum mount you referenced is not just stuck in a hole. It's a welded in bushing. And off the top of my head there is another mount or protrusion on the other side of the frame that will need to be welded on.

But if you have both frames stripped down, them cutting these off the 4wd frame and welding them to the 2wd frame shouldn't be too much work.

 

[2004LB7]

This, I believe shows the pieces needed to be cut off the 4wd frame and welded to the 2wd on

 

[TheBac]

There's a thread on here detailing converting 2wd frame to 4x4. I'll look for it.

Found it. https://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/threads/4wd-conversion.75431/post-1053064

 

[Ridin'GMC]

I think it's a little more then just some holes drilled. The aluminum mount you referenced is not just stuck in a hole. It's a welded in bushing. And off the top of my head there is another mount or protrusion on the other side of the frame that will need to be welded on.

But if you have both frames stripped down, them cutting these off the 4wd frame and welding them to the 2wd frame shouldn't be too much work.

That's my plan once I get my truck stripped down starting next spring. My lift kit doesn't require any of the drivers side mounts for the axle, just the passenger side so it's not a bad job to do. Definitely leaving the welding to my buddies, I'm not a superb welder lol.

There's a thread on here detailing converting 2wd frame to 4x4. I'll look for it.

Found it. https://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/threads/4wd-conversion.75431/post-1053064

Thanks Tom, we will be lost without you with your searching skills.

where are you located? if you look on FB marketplace you can find guys that bring up beds, frames, doors etc up from down south

I'm in MA. I see stuff like that all the time on marketplace, people up here want an arm and leg for them. I could take a trip down to Duramax diesel salvage in VA as they claimed to have several Texas rust free chassis in stock but that's a 14 hour ride each way.

I'm picking up the chassis tomorrow. From what it seems, the chassis is pretty clean for the most part despite being 2wd but not a big deal to swap it over to 4wd since the lift only shows needing brackets for the passenger side.

 

[Nate’s Dmax]

With the lift kit holding the driver side of diff the pass is all you need to worry about. And as stated it is more than just holes in the frame. It have a sleeve welded in the frame with rubber bushings that the studs of aluminum piece go through. What was circled in the above pic is the motor mount so that wont need to be messed with.

 

[PureHybrid]

Putting the hole in the passenger side of the frame and welding a sleeve in isn't a big deal. I had to also weld in the upper support on the drivers side that's up by the steering gear box, just look at the lift kit and see where the bracket bolts. Might not have to mess with that part

 

[2004LB7]

With the lift kit holding the driver side of diff the pass is all you need to worry about. And as stated it is more than just holes in the frame. It have a sleeve welded in the frame with rubber bushings that the studs of aluminum piece go through. What was circled in the above pic is the motor mount so that wont need to be messed with.

Oh, your right. And the other image I think I circled the steering box mount.

This is actually the location for that aluminum bracket

 

[Ridin'GMC]

Thanks guys!! What are you guys using for the rubber bushing sleeve to weld in?

 

[1FastBrick]

Thanks guys!! What are you guys using for the rubber bushing sleeve to weld in?

I was told the bushing was not serviceable by the dealer, They few guys that I know that have done it, have extracted it from a donner frame. Like post 17 in that thread.

4wd conversion

Hey guys I have a 2002 duramax getting ready to do a 4wd conversion before too long, have all of parts just looking for passenger side bushings but other then that everything's all good to go. Figuring out the wiring at the moment I emailed Ben at BT diesel wasn't able to get the wiring harness...

www.duramaxdiesels.com

 

[Ridin'GMC]

just brought it home. Chassis was definitely the best I've seen to find around the New England area. Now time to unload it and park the truck for the winter, got snow coming up on Thursday.

 

[1FastBrick]

Chassis looks ok from here. Should be a fun project when you get to it.

 

[Ridin'GMC]

I was told the bushing was not serviceable by the dealer, They few guys that I know that have done it, have extracted it from a donner frame. Like post 17 in that thread.

4wd conversion

Hey guys I have a 2002 duramax getting ready to do a 4wd conversion before too long, have all of parts just looking for passenger side bushings but other then that everything's all good to go. Figuring out the wiring at the moment I emailed Ben at BT diesel wasn't able to get the wiring harness...

www.duramaxdiesels.com

The issue with that is for an 18 year old truck, rubber bushings should be replaced. It won't take much longer for it to start deteriorating. Guess I'll do some hunting to see what will work. Maybe a leaf spring bushing? Hell, I may not even have to do that and fab up a new mount for the axle to eliminate the spacer between the aluminum mount and differential.

The chassis is pretty decent, I've seen much worse and have been screwed once by driving down to NJ to come find out the body mount holes were rotted off a NC truck. Rust belt problems.

 

[1FastBrick]

Leaf spring would be too large. Maybe an upper control arm bushing of sorts.

 

[TheBac]

Weld in a sleeve and then use a poly bushing on either side?

 

[Ridin'GMC]

Weld in a sleeve and then use a poly bushing on either side?

Now that would be a much better option for the ability to get replacement poly bushings in the future.

 

[1FastBrick]

Weld in a sleeve and then use a poly bushing on either side?

Could but the Sleeve would likely have to be custom made. Needs to go all the way trough the frame. Problem is that braket stud does not.

BRB I will get you a picture.