2wd to 4wd

[AllanD]

It always amused me.. actually that's incorrect, it PISSED ME OFF
when a 4x4 magazine had an editor replying to a reader's letter aboout 4x4 conversion
was giving the reader the advice that "it is impractical to convert a 2wd to 4x4"

And there when you turn the page there is full article about converting
a full size 4x4 truck to a solid axle from IFS!

If you are doing a solid axle swap there is no need to start with a 4x4 truck
and if you are doing a tube frame what the truck "was" to start with is even
less relevant.

The only thing that a 4x4 has in this regard that a 2wd lacks is that it already
has the correct trans, T-case and blocks under the rear leaf springs.

Frankly I don't see the point in cutting up a perfectly good stock 4x4 to make
a SAS ofroad truck.

Infact if you are planning on a SAS buying a 4x4 is kinda stupid,
because you are usually going to pay a premium for those parts
that you are intending to torch off and throw away!
(or sell for pennies on the dollar)

It's like intentionally buying a perfectly good 4.0 truck to do a V8 swap...
it makes no sense.

Baja_XJ, you are going about it in exactly the right way from an economical standpoint.

Has anyone ever noticed that I offer the advice "trade your 2wd in on the 4x4 you really want" either rarely or never?

Ever notice that the advice I do give sticks to the technical points
and usually concludes with "it's a big job And I don't know your abilities or the tools and equipment you have available"

To do otherwise requires me to make judgements based on things I cannot know...

AD

 

[JohnnyO]

Most people who post about 4x4 conversions are looking doing it with stock parts. IMO not really worth the cost and effort.
If you're doing an SAS with a whole suspension swap, then as AllanD says, what you start with is irrelevant and a 4x2 is cheaper.
In any event, I will move this to the Extreme Suspensions forum.

 

[Baja_XJ]

A guy down the road has a personal salvage yard in his horse pasture so I stoped and browsed through his collection and found a M5od tranny with manual shifting T-Case that he said he would take 150 for the combo. A couple others were wanting it so I gotta get out there tomorrow when I get paid. Beside his garage I saw another t-case, I looked it over...its a BW1354. He said the chain was stretched in it and he would throw it in for free so theres my doubler and tranny swap. seeing its still there friday morning

 

[kunar]

A guy down the road has a personal salvage yard in his horse pasture so I stoped and browsed through his collection and found a M5od tranny with manual shifting T-Case that he said he would take 150 for the combo. A couple others were wanting it so I gotta get out there tomorrow when I get paid. Beside his garage I saw another t-case, I looked it over...its a BW1354. He said the chain was stretched in it and he would throw it in for free so theres my doubler and tranny swap. seeing its still there friday morning

good deal!! i payed over $300 for my transmission alone. the truck has a 2.3 that you are getting your transmission from right?

 

[Baja_XJ]

yea 96 2.3 4x4 totaled but I contacted him earlier and the other guys offered him 500 for the whole truck and its all gone but I may still try to get that junk BW1354 he has for the reduction box.