2WD to 4WD

[zukirider21]

really dont want to go through pulling the cab. and im pretty sure the frame is shitty on this 91.

basically i was ASKING how much work it would be. because while yes, it is a pain in the ass to swap crossmembers, ill be taking both trucks totally apart up front and now's the time to do it. if it were just a matter of cutting rivets and nothing more, it would be worth it for me.

 

[scotts90ranger]

there's welding involved, in order to do it you would have to basically take the cab off to separate the frame to stick the crossmember in, if you are going to that trouble, steal the tranny and transfer case and do a D30 SAS swap, sell the leftover parts from the donor to get an axle, put it on craigslist and maybe you can do some horse trading for one...

 

[zukirider21]

sell the leftover parts from the donor to get an axle, put it on craigslist and maybe you can do some horse trading for one...

yessir thats the plan as of now

 

[04sd]

If you want to put in the TTB axle just swap the crossmember. Guys have done it. Just pull the cab mount bolts on one side to allow the frame to spread a little bit. Don't listen to all the guys that say it's not worth it, just buy a 4x4, etc. If you're willing to do the work just do it. FWIW, my '84 Ranger is on a 2 door Ex chassis, was it worth it, probably not to most people but I did it anyway.

 

[straycat]

If you want to put in the TTB axle just swap the crossmember. Guys have done it. Just pull the cab mount bolts on one side to allow the frame to spread a little bit. Don't listen to all the guys that say it's not worth it, just buy a 4x4, etc. If you're willing to do the work just do it. FWIW, my '84 Ranger is on a 2 door Ex chassis, was it worth it, probably not to most people but I did it anyway.

Every magazine and every 4x4 shop has said it a thousands times before and will say it a thousand times more...if you want a 4x4 just buy one and don't wast your time or money conveting one!!!!!!!

 

[04sd]

Every magazine and every 4x4 shop has said it a thousands times before and will say it a thousand times more...if you want a 4x4 just buy one and don't wast your time or money conveting one!!!!!!!

I could "waste" my time on lots of things but building toys is more of a hobby so I don't think it's wasted time. We're talking 20+ year old trucks here, not to much money involved. I paid $300 for my '84 and got about half of that back selling parts I didn't need. 1st generation Explorers can be had for scrap value plus a few bucks if you look around, that means almost free parts. So I don't see where I "wasted" to much money. To me paying money and spending time to go play golf would be a waste. And what do I have to show for my "wasted" time and money....

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[straycat]

I could "waste" my time on lots of things but building toys is more of a hobby so I don't think it's wasted time. We're talking 20+ year old trucks here, not to much money involved. I paid $300 for my '84 and got about half of that back selling parts I didn't need. 1st generation Explorers can be had for scrap value plus a few bucks if you look around, that means almost free parts. So I don't see where I "wasted" to much money. To me paying money and spending time to go play golf would be a waste. And what do I have to show for my "wasted" time and money....

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That is really nice looking, Bro. I do like it. I had an 83 4x4 Ranger that I bought 3 years old for $6,000 in California and kept it for 17 years. I bought it with 21,000 miles on it. It was the long bed model. It had the V6 with standered trans and overdrive. I never had an issue with it. I drove it back and forth to Florida and back to California 6 times with 33x12x5 tires and a 4 1/2 lift.
But I am sorry. I can buy a really nice 4x4 here for under $2,000 and it will last me for years and I don't have to convert it. I don't have to to anything to it but gas it up and go!!! I have better things to do as go out on a vacation for 3-4 weeks and wheel and camp with any of my 4x4's and enjoy my time to myself. If somebody has nothing better to do then go for it. I just can't see doing the cost and labor since you can buy a nice used 4x4 for such a great price. Here is a couple of photos of my Ranger:

 

[04sd]

Your old truck looked nice.
My point was some guys like to turn wrenches and build stuff, not just go buy it. The original poster had an '89 with a 302 in it, so he's likely not the "look at the truck I bought" type of guy
I couldn't buy a nice 4x4 Ranger for what I have in my '84, plus my truck is different. The bed was shortened 6", it's got a 4.0, dana 35, 8.8 rear, Explorer dash, tilt, cruise.

 

[zukirider21]

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:O your truck is MINT dude. im still on the fence about this whole thing. if i were to take off the core support and middle body mount bolts on one side, along with the tranny crossmember and the radius arm crossmember, would the frame rails move enough to get the engine crossmember out comfortably?

oh and straycat, you really aren't convincing anyone with your argument. if you look at it strictly from a financial standpoint, FINE, go buy a damn 4x4 cause its technically "not worth it". too bad theres people out there like myself who dont mind getting our hands dirty when ALL THE PARTS are already there in front of you.

i still gotta take a look at what kinda welds are there from the factory. if there isnt a ton of weld cutting that needs to be done for this, there's still a chance ill go ttb 4wd

 

[straycat]

Your old truck looked nice.
My point was some guys like to turn wrenches and build stuff, not just go buy it. The original poster had an '89 with a 302 in it, so he's likely not the "look at the truck I bought" type of guy
I couldn't buy a nice 4x4 Ranger for what I have in my '84, plus my truck is different. The bed was shortened 6", it's got a 4.0, dana 35, 8.8 rear, Explorer dash, tilt, cruise.

No, Bro. You have one of a kind and you CAN'T put a price on that as that was a labor of love and I think it is the cat's meow!!!! I would love to own that just to show it off. I would add a custom bumper and a bit more lift. Your truck reminds me of my early Broncos since the wheel base looks similar. If a person has the resource and skill (fabrication/welding/motor rebuilding) and a lot of time this is so cool. But, I am talking about just going out and buy a nice clean 4x4 that does not need any work (just regular type of maintenance). Some of these guys buy a crappy 4x4 parts truck to put the parts on an already crappy truck. You did not do this. You rebuilt yours the way Ford should have done one...the custom approach. You earned my respect!!! Show some more photos of that truck, Bro. Do ou have a build tread? I would love to shorten the bed of my 99 Ranger!!!

What to you think? About a foot taken off the rear? Come down and do mine!!!

 

[zukirider21]

You have one of a kind and you CAN'T put a price on that as that was a labor of love and I think it is the cat's meow!!!! If a person has the resource and skill (fabrication/welding/motor rebuilding) and a lot of time this is so cool.

this^ is exactly what im trying to get at hahaha. its not gonna become one of a kind if you dont start doin the hard work....

But, I am talking about just going out and buy a nice clean 4x4 that does not need any work (just regular type of maintenance). Some of these guys buy a crappy 4x4 parts truck to put the parts on an already crappy truck.

that^ i totally understand and agree with. but basically, my truck (the 89) is in pretty much showroom condition in terms of rust and what not. plus, it has sentimental value and i have lots of time and resources to screw around with this kind of a project. thats why im still even considering doing this.

 

[Tony Raine]

I have been wondering about the crossmembers too, but 4wd to 2wd.

why? I have a spare 4wd BII. I want a 2wd "mini me" for my 84 BII with a FW SAS. yeah, BII's came in 2wd, but they have next to no aftermarket support. switching to a 2wd ranger crossmember opens the doors to many aftermarket parts.

from what i've read, instead of spreading the frame, you can cut the crossmembers in 2 for removal and installation, and weld it back together once its in.

i just don't know if the holes all line up, or if you have to do a ton of measuring and drilling

 

[zukirider21]

that's definitely a possibility. but man, a huge weld going through the entire crossmember would scare the crap outta me. and not just any crossmember, the biggest, most important one lmao.

and i thought 2wd and 4wd crossmembers are the same on b2's?

 

[predator]

me and a buddy just replaced the cab on his 78 f-250 extended cab, well actually we swapped frames, he tweaked his lol..but any ways,start to finish, the two of us working, with hand tools and one crappy impact, pulled the front clip,motor, tranny, t-case, suspension,axles, box and cab, and installed on the new frame in about 12-14 hours with smoke breaks, food breaks and we consumed a 30 pack of beer in the process...

all of those components are easily twice the weight of ranger components.. if you could convert a 2wd to a 4x4 in 3 days of devoted shop time i would be impressed with your fab skills considering that you are scared by welding up a crossmember..i think you should quit wasting time and start asking question about swapping bodies..

i can have a ranger box off in 20 minutes..a cab..about 4 hours...just swap the bodies, it is much quicker..

 

[superds]

This thread is a week old, are you done with the conversion yet? If not, what's the holdup?