4wd swap question

[lilred_84ranger]

I have an 84 ford ranger currently a 2wd but I want to convert it to 4wd I know I have to replace the back axle do I replace the front one too and axle should I go with for the rear?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

You dont need to swap the rear axle.

Just make sure whatever axle you run up front has the same exact gear ratio.

A D35 TTB from an explorer/4.0 ranger is pry your best bet

 

[scotts90ranger]

Not on a stock 4x2, it's a bit of work, check with James Duff, I think they have a kit to bolt in a Dana 30 from a Jeep, that's the simplest way...

Like Dustin said, don't have to do anything to the rear axle other than you might need to lift it to level it out, just need to add a front axle (not a simple task), change transmissions to something 4x4 that will bolt to your engine (changes between engines but on an '84 you either have a 2.0L, 2.3L, 2.8L or a diesel), add a transfer case behind it and get drivelines to go with the whole setup...

 

[JoshT]

I have an 84 ford ranger currently a 2wd but I want to convert it to 4wd I know I have to replace the back axle do I replace the front one too and axle should I go with for the rear?

Captain Obvious here, but... You have a 2wd. You want to make it 4wd. How could you possibly do that without replacing the front axle too?

(unless you were building a 6 wheel with tandem drive axles)

I don't think you can just swap in the front 4wd Twin Traction Beam (TTB) axle, because the axle mounts are different. That said I've seen sugested in another past thread that the frame rails are the same and the 4wd axle mounts can be installed on the 2wd frame. I question this, but I don't have both available to compare. I do know that Autofab makes/made replacement axle brackets, but they ain't cheap.

As Scott said, a solid axle swap would probably be the simplest solution for a 4x4 conversion. Probably the route I'm going to take if I ever decided to do similar.