4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/4x4 conversion.

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Expert: - 5/8/2005


Question
i have a 1979 ford 1/2 to truck with the 351/400 modified engine. i am the second owner and i smokes slightly at start up. i have access to a 1989 7.3 deisel froma ford van. i would love to put it my truck for working purposes. i can take care of the suspension thats not a problem but i have a granny low 4 speed and the van has an auto. i want ot keep my 4 speed. do you know of any sources for a bell housing and flywheel to convert this setup or am i spinning my wheels thanks

Answer
Jamie,

The best place to start, would be Advance Adapters.  They supply kits for just about any type of conversion you might think of.  I would contact them, and see what will match up, or what kits might be available.

Carl

Advance Adapters, Inc.
P.O. Box 247
4320 Aerotech Center Way
Paso Robles, CA  93446-0247
1(800)350-2223
http://www.advanceadapters.com

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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