Matted NP435/NP205 conversion into an F250 4X4?

[heep70]

Has anyone done, tried or seen a matted (married) NP435/NP205 in a 67-72 F250 4X4?

I am thinking about trying this in the sometime future. I would like to get rid of that low hanging Spicer 24 T-Case. The only mods I can see are drive shafts, linkage and mounts to frame. I am also wondering if there will be tunnel clearance issues.

I am also throwing around the idea of re-clocking the Spicer 24 up into the frame more on that one side.

I've built and done many Heep (Jeep) conversions and I keep looking at that big iron drag under my truck, telling myself "that needs to be dealt with."

Any ideas or input from you 4x goons? Greg

[willowbilly3]

I agree that the low hanging T case needs attemtion. And those things flop around like a bass on the bank.
My advice tho is to switch to the high pinion front axle when you make the switch. If you go to the married 205 you are moving the T case foreward and up when the driveline angle on the stock set up was barely tolerable. If you keep the low pinion front axle it would be a good idea to carry a couple extra front driveshafts if you ever go 4Xing.
If I was building my ideal highboy I would have the married 205 with a high pinioin Dana 60 front
And while the stock 44 front will survive in modest, sensible 4Xing, they are just too fragile for serious off roading. My first highboy was a new 74 when I was young and a bit of a thrasher. I cratered several front ends in the year and a half I owned that truck. It doesn't take much of an impact to break one in two and just a couple wheel hops with the steering cranked will take out the spiders and everything else inside. I did own several more highboys over the years after I got all that offroading out of my system and never broke a front end on any of those. Just my 2 cents.

[heep70]

Yes, the high pinion frontend is on the list of mods. I have also considered using the stock crossmember and doing some mods to it to raise and reclock the stock T-Case. I like the long front driveshaft. I don't do any hardcore 4xing in this rig. That is left up to the real 4xs, short wheelbase jeeps. Its kinda different 4x country up here, lots of tight turning narrow trails.