I converted my '84 to 4wd about a year ago and i don't think it's really as difficult as everyone makes it out to be. yes the hardest part is getting the engine crossmembers out of both vehicles, but after they are both removed it's a piece of cake from there. it's just a bunch of grinding, torching, drilling and beating to get the crossmembers out and then everything just bolts back together for the most part. i already had the 2wd truck with a fairly fresh motor in it and i got the donor vehicle for $75. I probably have $75 or so in bolts, torch gas, and other odds and ends and another $100 in having a driveshaft lengthened so i've got about $250 in the swap and somewhere in the neighborhood of 16 hours of labor and i couldn't have bought a 4wd for $250 more than what i could sell my truck for. i drove it through the snow, and hauled firewood out of the timber all winter and drive it when i need to haul something during the summer and haven't had any problems and don't really have any complaints other than i wish i had put a l/s in the rear earlier, but i did it a month or so ago, now i'll probably wish i put one in the front as well, but that'll just have to wait. not everyone has the money to sell their truck and buy a 4wd and i think it was well worth the work to save the money i would have spent buying one.
mike