Convert F550 to 4WD

[Zytek_Fan]

Here's a hypothetical:

Let's say I get a 2WD 2008 F550 and I want to convert it to 4WD.
What all would I need? I know I would need a front axle, transfer case and transfer case shifter stuff. What else would I need? Or is it just completely absurd to do this?

[Austin G]

probably cheaper just to buy a 4WD F550

[KeepinItFord]

youd need a different tranny, or you need to get the tail shaft off of a 4wd truck to put on there.

[1tonpower]

go ahead with the swap. ever thing will be bolt on. have fun

[Zytek_Fan]

I know it'd be cheaper to just get a 4WD but I'm just curious

[Hardline]

You can convert. You need to find out what exactly is different in the tranny. Some you can convert with just a new tail shaft and a new tail housing some are completely different. I searched for a LONG!!!! time to find my newest 4x4 F550 that was exactly what I wanted. I'm cheap and would never think of dropping 55K into a new cab-n-chassis. Just so happened I came across exactly every option I wanted in a truck for 19K with only 126K miles. I am big into fabrication. I have all of the tooling and know how but still did not want to tackle this job. JJ

[KeepinItFord]

You need,
Front Axle (and all mounting hardware, Trac bar, Trac bar mount, swaybar mounts, Ect. ect.)
front Drive Shaft
T Case (and Mounting hardware, Cross Member)
Tranny, or Tail Shaft and case.
And you might need a different rear drive shaft.

Just find out what all that will cost, then add %15 and thats what the swap should cost.

[md18]

I may be wrong here, but dont the 550's have the dana 60 up front? Which is the same as a 250/350? Maybe you could just change the hub adapters on a 250/350 axle to put it in your truck. Like I said i'm almost positive that they are the same, maybe different knuckles to hold the brake calipers though. Theres a lot more 250/350 parts trucks out there than there are 550's.

Edit: Sorry i didn't see you were talking about 08s, those could possibly be different. Not to mention the fact that finding an 08 parts tranny to get the tailshaft out of would be next to impossible. And they'd probably void the warranty on the drivetrain if you changed that much stuff on it.

[fx4f150]

What about in a 05 f350 how hard would it be