2wd to 4wd swap

i want to take my 95 2.3 2wd and swap it into a 4wd and i was wondering what it would take to do it right
any info would be great
thanks

There are three ways to do it.

1)Swap your body, powertrain and wiring onto another frame.
This is the "Easy way".

2)Convert your exsisting frame to the 4x4 configuiration.
This involves more than simply bolting the proper pieces to the frame,
because on 2wd Rangers the engine crossmember is physically different
(the 4x4 crossmember is longer front to back)

To do this job REQUIRES unbolting the cab from the frame and lifting
it sufficiently so that the frame rails can be spread apart to install the
new crossmember. this REQUIRES a "donor" crossmember from a
1993-97 Ranger or a 1991-94 Explorer.
The actual hard part of this job is not what you'd think...
It's getting the "new" crossmember out of the donor vehicle without destroying it.
It is both riveted and welded in place.

Now I personally believe that when it comes to doing precise
artistic stuff with a cutting torch that I'm a "****ing Michaelangelo"
but even so it took me three tries to get a crossmember I was happy with.

Yes, I convered my 1987 supercab by this method.
the actual 4x4 conversion took me about a week
total working time, but that "week" was stretched
over about five months because I was working outdoors
and was rather rudely interrupted by truely vile weather.
(winter in pennsylvania certainly fits that description)

I was completely prepared to do the job by "method 1" above
(I still have the othe frame as a "spare")
but realized I had done some mods to my original frame that I didn't
have the meterials, or the time and money, to duplicate, so I made
further modifications to my exsisting frame in a "follow the path of
least resistance (and minimum additional cost)

The ONLY part of the job I didn't consider myself competent to handle
was the welding, but I have a friend, an aerospace certified welder,
that wanted to show off his new TIG machine

But this was all part and parcel of a massive overhaul of my truck that
wasn't simply a 4x4 conversion, I swapped in a 1993 4.0, did a body lift,
(STEEL 1-1/4" integral with new body mounts

That brings us to method #3

3) convert a 2wd to 4x4 via a Solid axle swap.

Frankly, and at the risk of insulting, someone I think that only a real
asshole chops up a perfectly good stock 4x4 truck to make a Solid
axle 4x4 when there are SO MANY perfectly worthless 2wd trucks
to do it to...

Why? because you can usually sell a working 4x4 for enough more than
a 2wd truck will cost to finance most of the conversion.
and increase the number of 4x4 truck in the universe in the process.

Years ago I let my subscription to one of the major 4x4 magazines expire.
Why? Because int he letters to editor the editor was patronizing and dismissive
about converting a 2wd Full size chevy to a 4x4.

Yet ON THE VERY NEXT PAGE was an 8 page artical about doing a
solid axle swap to a full size chevy.
Ths swap being "articaled" required the same level of work that was
being PooPoo'ed on the previous page.

The ONLY items being different on the two vehicles being
that the guy who wrotethe editor would have needed to swap
out his 2wd transmission and add a T-case that the exsisting
4x4 truck going to an SAS wouldn't require.... I can tolerate only
tolerate so much Hypocracy, and I can't tolerate the
stupid kind at all.

So the question you must ask yourself is can you physically do the job.
And that meansm not only an indoor place to work (unless you live
somewhere with a perpetually warm and dry climate)

but can you handle the physical and technical parts of the job yourself
with limited help. Frankly if you need someone to explain the job in step
by step detail then it's a project you don't even want to start, because
you probably won't finish.

Whatever you choose, good luck... you're gonna need it.


AD

Thanks for the info man
it was really helpful, but i think ill just sell my 2wd and go and look for an older model 4wd
seems a lot easier