Dreaming about my '96 F-150

[Stumpy]

Hey folks. I have a '96 F-150. 5.0L V8. Automatic transmission. Approx 145K miles. 8 ft bed. Single cab. I love this pickup. It's super awesome.
And I got to thinking.
It is a RWD. I think it would be more awesome if it was AWD. I know very little about the inner-workings of automobiles.
So, is it possible to make my RWD pickup a AWD? What does that entail? What might it cost? All you truck-savvy folks, lay it on me.


Here's a pic of my truck.

Sorry, that's the only pic of my truck on my phone at the moment.

 

[TXARGUY]

No. Without putting 40 times what the truck is worth into it you cannot do that. Money gets things done but that would be one of the most epic ways to waste a bunch of money that I can think of.

If you're so inclined and if you are equipped with tools and mechanical knowledge you could buy a wrecked truck of the same model in FWD and change out parts.

Nice truck though. Got any pics of it when it's not snow covered?

 

[Rangel]

Agreed, it would cost a lot of money. I'd love to have an old square body 7.3 powerstroke. Only furd I'd drive

 

[Stumpy]

It's more of a dream than anything else, but I am interested in how it could become possible.

 

[grasshopperglock]

Gotta know the lingo and whats what. AWD isn't the same as 4 wheel drive. And TXAR is right. Used parts would wore out. The change over would deadline your truck till you bolted everything up.

 

[Stumpy]

Nice truck though. Got any pics of it when it's not snow covered?

Not at the moment, but ill get some later.

 

[grasshopperglock]

It's more of a dream than anything else, but I am interested in how it could become possible.

Its an easy swap. 4x4 on the same assm line just have more parts bolted on.

 

[Stumpy]

Gotta know the lingo and whats what. AWD isn't the same as 4 wheel drive.

If I'm not mistaken, 4WD where you select between 4 and 2, and AWD is 4 wheels driving all the time. Is that accurate?

 

[TXARGUY]

If I'm not mistaken, 4WD where you select between 4 and 2, and AWD is 4 wheels driving all the time. Is that accurate?

Correct but AWD today can automatically shift from 2WD to AWD without your knowing it. In other words it may not be AWD all the time. The on board computer decides when it needs to change.

Little known fact about AWD: You can't rotate the tires and when replacing tires you can't replace just one. You have to replace all 4.

 

[Stumpy]

Well, what would be more appropriate for my truck, and why? 4WD or AWD?

I'm still learning all this stuff.

 

[TXARGUY]

4WD. Duh.

Sell it. Take that money and buy a 4WD truck. There are plenty on CraigsList for you to choose from.

 

[TXARGUY]

If it was a 350 I'd be a buyer. I'd make it a farm truck.

 

[Stumpy]

The whole point is for it to be the same truck, just AWD or 4WD.

 

[TXARGUY]

I understand that. Re-read my first post then.

 

[TXARGUY]

I'm not trying to be an ass. Just giving you advice from someone who has been there and done that.

 

[Stumpy]

You pimped out a '96 F-150?

 

[TXARGUY]

No. But I did do the same job on an '85 Toyota truck. Bought an 85 Toyota truck (2WD) that a guy had used only to pull his airplanes around for $200.00.

Bought a wrecked 85 Toyota truck of the same model but in 4WD and swapped out the parts ($300.00, go figure the wrecked one cost more than the perfect condition one).

About a year later and about 45 hours of work and a new carc paint job I had exactly what I wanted.

I'd post pics but I don't have any on my phone but there are pics of it here that I posted last year. I posted pics of the entire project.

 

[Offcamber]

Correct but AWD today can automatically shift from 2WD to AWD without your knowing it. In other words it may not be AWD all the time. The on board computer decides when it needs to change.

Little known fact about AWD: You can't rotate the tires and when replacing tires you can't replace just one. You have to replace all 4.

Also you cant use the space saver spare tires. The spare has to be the same diameter of the oem tires.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

 

[Ericstac]

unless the explorer is the same platform as the f150 it would be easier for a 4WD setup since the f150 came that way..

you are talking entire front end, tranny, transfer case, springs, blocks, shifter assembly, drive shafts blah blah blah.

why do you want 4wd? if it ride height? just do a 2wd lift.. if for traction do a locker with good tires.

 

[Stukaman]

More money than it worth to do it trust me.