Stupid question of the day: front-wheel-drive-only truck?

[FORDification]

I just had a strange idea, haven't even thought it through yet, but here goes anyway.

If someone were to remove the rear driveshaft on a 4WD and just drive on the front differential, essentially creating a front-wheel-drive truck, would there be any repercussions? I don't know enough about how 4WDs are set up, so it's just an off-the-wall question.

Here's why I'm asking...

There have been many cases of folks taking older Oldmobile Toronados, which are front wheel drive BTW, and building a custom car hauler. They'd cut off the back half of the cars frame and essentially weld on a custom trailer, complete with heavy-duty trailer-type axles. Here's a pic of one example at 442.com:



(If the pics don't show, go to http://www.442.com/tech/hauler.html)

I have some spare truck parts, and just thought it would be interesting to toss around the idea of creating something similar out of a Ford truck. I'm just curious if it might be better to graft on the front half of a front-wheel-drive chassis or if it could be done with all Ford parts and still be reliable and sturdy. I'm not sure if the factory 4WD parts would hold up in such a vehicle.

Any thoughts?

[Redcap]

The problem with running FWD only on a t-case type setup is the fact that you are running on half a gear.

[oldfordnut]

well sure it would work i blew out my rear end in my 79 ford 4x4 and drove it home with the front tires then lost a u joint on the rear driveshaft and drove it 10 miles home off the front tires (after i picked up the drivshaft of course) so yes you can do it but the gears are set up for torque so you would have higher rpms and be louder in the gear box... just my 2 cents

[72hiboy4x4]

2 things-
I drove my 4x4 from LAS VEGAS to PORTLAND, OR on the front driveshaft after I blew the rear end (twice on the same trip!). it was loaded with 3 spare engines and tools at the time. but we disconnected the car trailer. did just fine.

they do make a chevy truck version of the pics you posted, Keith. look in the national truck trader type books and you will see them. and they are front wheel drive

on a side note, I saw a setup once that blew my mind.
imagine this- you have a 4x4 van. you cut the rear off it, and install a BIG-A** boat carrier and boat. then tie the living quarters of the boat to where you can access it from the van
so you are left with a front-wheel-drive boat carrier/ motorhome, that can launch the boat without a trailer. kinda hard to explain, i'll see if I can find a pic of it somewhere. I actually saw one of these in Las Vegas once.

[binder56jd]

cool rig jd

[Comet]

All manufacturers of older 4wd vehicles state limitations on speed in 4wd. Yes you can do it, but it is not good for front drivetrain components. 4 wheelers do it to get you home when rear parts break all the time, but it is not recommended for extended periods of time, and certainly not with loads (front diffs are usually not as strong as rears-the exception perhaps is the 1 ton HP d60, which is comparable since it's not riding on the coast side of the gears like a low pinion is in the front). Finally, it is generally also not recommended to engage 4wd on dry pavement. Not only is your turning radius impacted, but again, very hard on front diff parts.

[turbocharged400sbc]

yeah i've had to go front driveshaft only on a few jeeps...usually after wheeling

on a side note i think people have been doing that sort of thing for a while...i saw an OLD (late 40's early 50's) primer cabover truck with and eldorado drivetrain under the cab...complete with 500 caddy power...his flatbed backhalf height was like 14 inches deck to ground and was adjustable with airbags...dana 70/80 rearend with the pumpkin removed from the tube...that was a sick car hauler

[FORDification]

Hmmm.....well, thanks for the input guys. I guess if this is something I decide to try some day I'll have to find an Eldorado or Toronado and adapt a Ford cab and front sheetmetal to the front part of the chassis.

[flyboy2610]

I used to have a '78 Chevy K5 Blazer. I busted a rear U joint and drove on the front shaft for about two years!
It would do 65 on the Interstate with no problem!

[Comet]

Keith, I have a better idea. Make a looong ramped wedge trailer out of an F250. They look cool and work much better. Do you know what I'm talking about? Just make sure to have extra strong and secure means of attaching the vehicle and make it a frame to ramp attachment, not an axle to ramp.

[hutch1973]

I had a Jeep CJ that had different gear ratios from front to back (didn't know it when I bought it) and after I blew the fourth driveshaft I drove it on the front axle for months. Actually drove it through a decent amount of mud to go help my brother when he burried his truck. I doubt it's good for it but I didn't have any issues. I was really impressed what that Jeep got through with only one axle.

[willowbilly3]

I have seen variations of it with front only all turned around to make a mid engined rwd. I also have ran on the front only for short periods and at highway speeds with no real problem. Cosider the old full time (203) which always transferred power to the tire with the least traction when in the open position. They almost always spun a front tire first, so the front was packing a good share of the load at all times. Really it's all just parts, gears and bearings so what could go wrong? The 44 front ends are a little weeny for hard use but if you used the high pinion it should be transferring power off the correct side of the ring and pinion. (I think the old low pinion would be driving off the reverse side).
And the reason you weren't supposed to use 4x4 on dry pavement was the binding caused by all 4 tires being driven and that wouldn't be a problem with just one (open) axle.

[flyboy2610]

I'm pretty sure my Blazer had an NP203 in it. That was the chain driven unit, as compared to the gear driven NP205, correct?

[Comet]

Yep flyboy that's the 203. POS t-case good for scrap and that's about it. The range box makes a nice doubler though.

[mrung0wa]

You've got my vote!

What for I really don't know?


Lawrence