Has anone here actually done a 4wd to 2wd conversion?

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jjester6000

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So as some of you may know, the 4L60E in my Suburban went out for the 3rd time, and I promised myself I'd manual swap the truck if it happended again.

Well I don't have a whole lot of money to do the swap, and finding a 4x4 NV3500 complete with T-Case is proving very difficult.

I know of a 2wd one I can get very cheap, and I'd actually be willing to give up 4wd for a manual transmission.
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My question stems with if the driveshaft would interfere with the Torsion Bar crossmember. If someone has actually ever put a 2wd trans in a 4wd truck, can you tell me how you did it?
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I'm no stranger to crazy transmission swaps having successfully swapped a 4l60E for a Th350 in my '95 Suburban.
 

Caman96

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I can’t imagine swapping in the correct transmission wouldn’t be easier than changing 4x4 to 2x4. What if you’re stuck in a culvert, a tornado is barreling towards you, and no 4x4?
 

jjester6000

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I can’t imagine swapping in the correct transmission wouldn’t be easier than changing 4x4 to 2x4. What if you’re stuck in a culvert, a tornado is barreling towards you, and no 4x4?
I knew I would get people saying that.

Either I pick up a 4wd NV3500 complete with T-Case for $2000, or I get a 2wd one for $200, and get a driveshaft from the junkyard for $40.

I'd rather do the former, but that's a lot of money.

I just need to know if the Torsion Bar Crossmember would interfere. If it does, the 2wd swap is completely off the table for me.
 

Orpedcrow

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I’m only speculating but wouldn’t the 2wd suburban have a 2 piece drive shaft? So maybe the front half would clear it because it’s parallel
 

jjester6000

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I’m only speculating but wouldn’t the 2wd suburban have a 2 piece drive shaft? So maybe the front half would clear it because it’s parallel
A 2wd Burb has a 1 piece I know that for sure since I used to have a '95 C1500 Suburban.

The issue is that 2wd's don't have Torsion Bars, so no crossmember.

The thing is that I have heard about people doing the 2wd conversion on these trucks, but I can't confirm it.
 

HotWheelsBurban

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All the 2wd half ton Burbs I've seen, have a one piece driveshaft. It's real big around, and made of aluminum, though they had covers on them to begin with. Most have come off by now ....
 

Just Nobody

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A 2wd Burb has a 1 piece I know that for sure since I used to have a '95 C1500 Suburban.

The issue is that 2wd's don't have Torsion Bars, so no crossmember.

The thing is that I have heard about people doing the 2wd conversion on these trucks, but I can't confirm it.
I have seen two 2wds converted to 4x4, they were both solid axle conversions.
 
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