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Str8sixfan's painfully slow 2wd to 4wd SAS project


Str8sixfan

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In some ways yes, in others no. WJ axles have a different axle shaft. I'm not necessarily sure of the pros/cons with it...it is not a u-joint based axle shaft (CV shaft?).

Now if you were going to get new custom wheels anyway and swap out the rear axle like I plan to...going with a WJ axle isn't the worst idea either as they have a different bolt pattern than the ranger/explorer, but obviously then you'd have to source a rear axle with the same width and bolt pattern; I think you'd almost be limited to a jeep rear axle in that case which in turn wouldn't be a R&R affair like I plan to do when I hopefully find a 2002+ Level II ranger 8.8 with Trac-Loc and 4.56s already in it. I don't think Ford makes anything ranger width with a 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern. The F150 8.8s obviously have the 5 on 5.5, but would be wider than the WJ axle. Another option is you could swap out unit bearings on the WJ with an XJ...but I'm not 100% sure you can leave in WJ axle shafts with the XJ hubs...hence you're back to where we started, putting WJ knuckles on an XJ axle.

If I had to do it over, I would be picky with finding a front axle with the gear ratio you want. I'm thinking you might be able to find a waggy 44 with 4.10s in it already and set up for cross-over steering. This would have been a better axle from the start with little money to put towards it, and I believe in the end more economical. Then you'd still have to find a rear axle (like I'm doing anyway too) with the similar width and bolt pattern, but you'd have full widths and a better end product I believe for close to our potentially less $$. I have a feeling my D30 will have near $700 in it when all is said and done and I got the axle for free. (most of that cost is gears and new unit hubs).
 


Str8sixfan

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Got my hubs back tonight, hope to throw those back on this weekend, and maybe buy the akebono calipers and brackets too, we'll see.
 

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Went to an auto parts recycler place today and ordered my Akebono brake calipers and mounting brackets. Inching closer to wrapping this axle up for good. I didn't take into consideration that they may have to pull them from the vehicle (based on their TV ads I assumed they had most components off vehicles and inventoried), so I'll have to go back soon and pick them up.

Also got the go ahead from my wife to not hesitate on a good deal if I find the right 4x4 ranger. (like this one, only when I contacted the seller it was sold: http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/4421790905.html) if the price is right.

We're about to get a new car, which would mean we'd have 3 vehicles between the two of us...which means I can finally tear into a ranger! I'm hoping once we get the new car to find a 4x4 ranger, so then I'm doing a SAS instead of that plus a 2wd to 4wd conversion. I will then sell my current ranger. I'll probably keep my BW1350M in case I want to make a doubler on down the road.
 

Str8sixfan

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Got some updates, hope to have pics up this week.
 

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Hurry up

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Str8sixfan

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Ok, but only because you said Escort



Picked up some Akebono calipers from an auto recycler...just under $100; and because my axle gets heavier and heavier and hard to pull out from under its nesting spot in my garage when I want to work on it, I made a caddy for it, and my back is happier for it.

 

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When are you going to get that axle under the truck?
 

Str8sixfan

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When are you going to get that axle under the truck?
This is where it gets interesting. Actually last night I took a significant step towards that downhill slide.

Last night my wife and I became owners of a 2010 Ford Taurus SEL. Which means my truck can finally retire as a daily driver and I can put it up on jackstands for a few weeks and my life won't be inconvenienced. You see we bought it straight up without trading in our other vehicle a 2004 Mazda3. It's been a great car. 212k miles on it, and it's been so low maintenance. We've had it since about 34k miles. So I'll assume that thing as my driver while she gets the heated leather seats in the Taurus.

However, my wife and I have been talking, and now that we have the new 'drivers' she thinks I should sell my truck too and find one that's already a 4x4, which I think I might do. If you follow CollinRMitchell's conversion, converting the 2wd auto to a 4wd auto isn't an exact proven science. So over the summer, if I get my architect's license (and pay bump) and she gets a new job she's going after (another pay bump), she said I could buy the truck I want.

So if I do that, the SAS will be much more affective much more quickly rather than me doing the SAS...it being 2wd for awhile...then trying to convert the tranny with who know what success rate?

If those other things are fortunate enough to happen, the good news is, I'll have a 1350M transfercase laying around and an output shaft and tail-housing laying around that I think can expedite my way to a SAS plus doubler.
 

Str8sixfan

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A non-update, update: Our finances are currently kicking the crap out of us, so I'm still on hold with buying parts for the build. We had a home improvement project that ended up being more in material cost than anticipated at the same time we were planning a mini-vacation to RI and Boston as one of my ole college roommates got married up there. So we have some credit card issues to catch up on there. So with all of that trying to tread lightly with expenses then Friday I drove home and our third car (2004 Mazda 3 with 214k miles) overheated on me. Got it home alright to only then find out our deep freeze quit working.

All of that being said, I'm hopeful we'll be back in the black by the end of August, as my wife starts a new job tomorrow. Her salary is now going to be nearly 10k over the previous job so I'm guessing we can get caught up pretty fast.

If I can get the Mazda fixed relatively cheaply then I'll still probably look at selling my truck and buying a 4x4 93-97 ranger.
 

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really no news here on the project, but...I did just finish up all the requirements to become a licensed Architect, so the paycheck may just be getting fatter soon, that some more mod money may free up!
 

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Cool. Congrats.

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Str8sixfan

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Thank you! I am blessed at my new job to get quarterly bonuses. So that just came in, so I ordered a new component. Hope to have pics to share with you guys next week!
 

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showed up on my doorstep today!
 

Str8sixfan

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So I still exist. Unfortunately not really any real update to give.

I recently did purchase a Tie Rod off of eBay. I decided not to go for the go-fer-its and do the 1-ton TREs. I've come to the point where there's too much money wrapped up into this thing and I don't think I've gone over the top on the build. So my advice would honestly be hold out for a D44. Remember I got this axle for FREE! So anyway it's just a stock WJ tie rod with TREs.

as for the 2wd conversion itself, as you know when my Mazda3 last summer ended up blowing a head gasket, I had to rely on the Ranger to be a DD still. So now I've convinced my wife to let me set aside my quarterly bonuses to buy another Ranger. So the plan now is to hopefully let the purple 4cyl last me until September or so. I've got one bonus banked and each paycheck I throw $10 into that bank account to keep the totals going up. Slowly but surely. Should have another bonus coming up April 1, but that assumes we're still profitable as a company. Nothing in life is guaranteed folks! But hopefully I will only have to wait until the July 1 quarterly to get to where I want to be able to buy a 83-97 4x4 Ranger in good enough shape. Then I'll keep the purple ranger around long enough until I can get the SAS under the new ranger and get some miles on it to feel comfortable enough to DD it.

Then if I'm fortunate enough I will only have to do that a half year or so and be able to get another car for a DD and keep the SFA ranger for the 3rd vehicle, leisure vehicle.

Current thing taking up my time is I started a YouTube channel. If you want to search for it, you'll find it under Str8sixfan...surprise surprise
 

Str8sixfan

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I hope to have a reason to update this within the next week, stay tuned.
 

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