2-wheel drive to 4-wheel drive

[RangerBoy350]

Will the transmission, transfer case, and front end from my 1986 ford ranger fit in my 1990 ford ranger? I'm wanting to make my 1990 a 4x4 but not sure if it'll all bolt up. I have ran into many differences when trying to swap out other parts such as blinker switches, steering, ect.

 

[Captain Ledd]

it depends, there's a couple ways to go about it.

1. Frame swap, this will work of the cab/bed configurations are the same, ex: Ex-cab, short bed > Ex-cab, short bed. Or, std.-cab, long bed > std.-cab, long bed, etc. A body swap would be basically the same thing.

2. Cut the front frame rails off just behind the engine crossmember and weld the new ones on

3. Cut the 4x2 engine cross member out and weld the 4x4 one in. They're different 2wd to 4wd.

4. Each engine has it's own unique engine bolt pattern and each transmission will only fit one type of engine. The ONLY exception is the 2.9L to the 4.0L, those will actually swap.

4b. You can get a transmission to fit whatever you're using in 4wd trim, t-cases all physically fit regardless. depending if 1350 or 1354 transfercase you will need the front driveshaft for that particular model case.

That should do it for the general outline of 4x4 swapping. Unfortunately there is little "bolt up" 4x4 conversion short of a whole frame/body swap.

Other than that, go for the gusto and do a Solid Axle Swap, which is generally accepted as actually being easier.

 

[brokecanadianstudent]

http://www.broncoiicorral.com/library/2wd_to_4wd_conversion.htm
This should tell you what you need to know about the suspension aspect. As far as tranny/transfer case, you need to make sure the transmission from the older truck will bolt to the newer engine(unless you do a full engine swap)

 

[Captain Ledd]

http://www.broncoiicorral.com/library/2wd_to_4wd_conversion.htm
This should tell you what you need to know about the suspension aspect. As far as tranny/transfer case, you need to make sure the transmission from the older truck will bolt to the newer engine(unless you do a full engine swap)

AAaalmost.

BII's use the 4wd crossmember with different brackets. Rangers (for whatever reason) use an entirely different crossmember for 2wd, and the 4wd brackets won't fit, the entire engine crossmember has to be changed.

If that wasn't silly enough, 2wd BII's also used a "dummy" transfercase. Where they had the entire normal t-case housing (just left unmachined in a few spots), completely empty with a straight shaft running through the top to the normal rear output.

Now that I think about it, there was someone making custom brackets for mildly lifted applications (2-4" lift) that would convert a 4x2 Ranger to 4x4, but I haven't seen or heard anything about it in a long time.

 

[rangeron33s]

im not sure about ranger swaps but i did one with an f150 and used 3/4 ton front end, transmission,transfer case, and driveshafts. the donor truck also had the same motor though. but nothing needed welded everything was just a bolt up swap.