2wd to 4wd swap

[jareeb]

hears something i just started thinking about after my truck wouldnt know when i was trying to leave my neighbor hood. whats all different from the 2wd to the 4wd like in the front end, would it just bolt in or what? like if i got the same year parts as my truck for the 4wd would engine size matter cuz ik there isnt to many 4wd 2.3 out there, or if i could a decent 4wd v6 and swap it to a 2.3?

[Foolee]

2WD and 4WD's have different frames. If you were going 4WD on a 2WD frame a SAS would probably be easiest Early Bronco/Jeep. 4cyl 4x4 Rangers are very rare to say the least.

[jareeb]

2WD and 4WD's have different frames. If you were going 4WD on a 2WD frame a SAS would probably be easiest Early Bronco/Jeep. 4cyl 4x4 Rangers are very rare to say the least.

yeah they are, one more question what is SAS?

[Foolee]

Solid Axle Swap

http://therangerstation.com/tech_library/sas.html

[jareeb]

yeah that does look like it will ever happen haha, thanks for the help man

[Tr00b]

If you use an NP205 divorced style transfercase, which came on several trucks both Ford and Chevy in the 60's/70's, you can utilize your m5od or whatever other trans you want to use with a 2wd config.

For instance, I have a 1974 F250 "highboy" which has a divorced transfer case. The disadvantage of these t-cases is that they require custom mounting and 3 custom driveshafts. I am also fairly sure you would have to get a fuel cell, the mounts would probably interfere with the gas tank.

They did come in 1 ton trucks so they are very strong, and will def handle everything a turbo 4 can throw at it. I've seen them from $500 to $100 on craigslist. Since the ford units trucks also used a Dana 44/60, the driveshafts are on the right side to use the popular-already-narrowed Dana 44 solid front axle, from say a Jeep TJ.

After I saw the Jeep TJ front axle conversion with the 4 link, I was hooked and wanted to do it....

If someone had some money, they could actually buy parts from a lift kit for a TJ that has the "new" stronger mounts/long control arms...

Buy a truss/spring bucket kit/ control arm kit for an 8.8 to mount to a TJ... (a common place swap in the Heep world) weld it up on an Expo 8.8.

Mimic the control arm mounting points on the frame, front and rear from a Jeep TJ, using the stronger bracketry provided in the lift kit parts.

Install the control arms, the axles. Measure up for coilover shocks...

[jareeb]

yeah, i was just seeing how it would be for my dd, how hard is it to swap lets say a swap a 94 2.3l in to 94 v6 4x4?

[Tr00b]

First off, why don't you just keep the V6?

The reason you can't bolt them up is because the bellhousings are different and I think the input shafts are different, 4cyl being smaller... If at very least the bellhousings are different, and you adapt it somehow you'd still have to wire it and plumb it. Which is probably not worth the fuel savings or the time, unless it was going to be a turbocharged 4/performance build... IF it can be adapted. If I all that time laying under my truck staring at my transmission has served me well, I think the bellhousing on the M5od is cast into the body of the trans. You cant just change the bellhousing on them like you can on alot of other transmissions. If that was the case, I'm sure SOME crazy fool from Michigan would be making lima bellhousings for the M5od...

[jareeb]

yeah, just thought it would have been done before

[Tr00b]

Suzuki Samurais also had divorced transfer cases with a ton of aftermarket support. If you can find one cheap it would work also.

[jareeb]

alright