98+ 4wd vs 2wd Transmission Crossmember

[Dave18]

Hi everybody,
Are the transmission crossmembers different between 4wd and 2wd for a 2002? I have the M5OD. If so, how hard is it to weld/bolt on the 4wd version?
I've got the 4x4 transmission and transfer case sitting in my garage ready for the swap, and I'm trying to make sure I have everything before I start disassembling.
Thanks!

 

[adsm08]

Transmission crossmember is the same. Engine crossmember is different, front suspension is different, the mountings for the axle are not there. Unless you have an Edge.

 

[pjtoledo]

do you have coils or torsion bars ?
will the swap be short-long-arm, or full front axle?

 

[Dave18]

Sweet, that is a relief. I had measured the best I could under the truck (with a loose 4wd extension housing) and it looked the same but I wasn't sure. I have the torsion bar suspension (dual sport/edge) so that should simplify the front-end part of the swap... But honestly what I found I need the most off road is low range. Phase 1 is just to get the transfer case mounted in with the new trans to achieve that. Eventually the plan is to mount a regular old SLA axle up front...
Thank you guys very much!

 

[pjtoledo]

sounds like a good plan. manual shift transfer case?

 

[Dave18]

Yep! I finally found the linkage and everything. This is a project I've been waiting to try for almost ten years haha. And asking people on this forum for advice for about that long too! It's been very helpful!

 

[CasusBelliEUIV]

Not to hijack the thread but are the tranny crossmembers also the same for a second gen? I've a 1997 2wd that I put a dana 30 under and I'm getting ready to get the 4x4 tranny in.

 

[JoshT]

Not to hijack the thread but are the tranny crossmembers also the same for a second gen? I've a 1997 2wd that I put a dana 30 under and I'm getting ready to get the 4x4 tranny in.

Next time start and thread instead of reviving a 4 year old one.

Yes they should be the same.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Not to hijack the thread but are the tranny crossmembers also the same for a second gen? I've a 1997 2wd that I put a dana 30 under and I'm getting ready to get the 4x4 tranny in.

Although I'm with Josh the transmission mount is in the same spot regardless of 4x4 or 4x2 (on the TIB and TTB suspensions) so the crossmembers are the same in your situation

As for anyone searching on the original topic on a '00 4x2 vs 4x4 it really depends on if it's one of the oddball 4x2 torsion bar Rangers or the much more standard coil spring 4x2's, the coil spring Rangers used the same style transmission crossmembers as all the previous years but the torsion bar suspension uses a transmission crossmember that goes between the torsion bar brackets which are "conveniently" just shy of the width of the 4R70W transmission in the V8 explorers which makes trans removal "fun"

 

[JoshT]

Although I'm with Josh the transmission mount is in the same spot regardless of 4x4 or 4x2 (on the TIB and TTB suspensions) so the crossmembers are the same in your situation

As for anyone searching on the original topic on a '00 4x2 vs 4x4 it really depends on if it's one of the oddball 4x2 torsion bar Rangers or the much more standard coil spring 4x2's, the coil spring Rangers used the same style transmission crossmembers as all the previous years but the torsion bar suspension uses a transmission crossmember that goes between the torsion bar brackets which are "conveniently" just shy of the width of the 4R70W transmission in the V8 explorers which makes trans removal "fun"

May have given him some flack, but I thought I answered the question. Maybe I wasn't clear enough, I be that way some times.

I'd posit that the coilspring was the oddball of the 98+ Rangers, and torsion bar was the more standard 2wd. I say this based on the fact that the suspension began use in the 1995 Explorer, that was three years before the Ranger and all of those were torsion bar.

All that said, it never occoured to me that the coil spring crossmember in those years would be different than the torsionbar crossmember. Having recently installed the 4R70W in a 1999 torsion bar Ranger, I can't say that it matters much that the gap is narrower. From what I could tell it is only narrow on the bellhousing, the body of the transmission fits through there just fine and you don't seem to need to slide it back that far to drop it out.

 

[scotts90ranger]

True, splitting hairs... , sploders used that suspension from '95-01 and Rangers from '98-11, there's likely more 4x2's than 4x4's in Rangers and 90% of those had coils not torsion bars but there's probably near as many sploders in that year range as Rangers, not sure...

On my Explorer I don't remember what was the clearance issue but I'm sure the 4 catalytic converters and Y pipe didn't help the situation... getting the trans cooler lines in was one of the suckiest parts, that and the trans dip stick tube that I forgot one of the times...

 

[don4331]

Against the original subject, while the transmission cross members are the same, a torsion bar 2wd Ranger is missing the rear bracket for the front differential. You need to cut it out of a 4wd frame and weld it in (the slot to install the bracket is in the frame, the bracket just wasn't installed.

For the current subject, as new poster is installing a Dana 30 solid axle, he won't care that the '83-97 2wd engine cross member is different from the 4wd one (and the engine cross member is welded in place, so not easily swapped.