2x4 to 4x4 questions

[prefab08]

well i got a real good deal on a 1994 ranger 2x4 regular cab like 200$ , so i bought it. but now i was wondering how hard it would be to convert to 4x4 using a donor 1996 that the body is screwed on but the 4.0L , trann and diffs are good to go. o would just swap the bday but the frame on the 1996 is like swiss cheese. so has any one done this or seen it done?

 

[Captain Ledd]

So the 4x2 body is good and the 4x4 body is shot? I'm not entirely sure what is what.

It's incredibly difficult to swap 4x4 and 4x2 in terms of the frames, you need to be very confident in your fabrication skills, even if you're bringing it back to stock.

You can swap body parts all day, but making a 4x2 frame into a 4x4 frame will take some work.

Oh, and you don't need to bump quite so often, only when it gets father back, like page 2 or 3 or something or after a few days.

*edit:

The swap would involve at the least a swap with a 4x4 transmission and transfercase. some minor trimming may need to be done and likely some wireing projects but it shouldn't be too complicated as long as you have a complete donor vehicle.

Then the engine cradle bracket wold have to be cut out. It is riveted in several places and I believe welded as well. You need to spread the frame rails (body is completely off obviously) and wedge the old one out, wedge the new one in, and be able to make sure it will go back straight again.

You'd need driveshafts, new front axle some of the obvious stuff and alot of back breaking work just to have a stock 4x4.

I'm going this route on mine mostly because it has sentimental value. Not because it was the cheapest option.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

SAS would actually be easier in this case...

 

[simonsays]

i have a 2x frame and i made it a 4x.. built my own cutsom ttb brackets for it.

 

[prefab08]

well i am confedent in my skill's. i was just touching on the subject to see if any one has done it befor and problems that they may have encountered, im trying to get a feel if whether a ttb or sas is a better option based on cost and hours of over all work that would have to be done. i am kinda partial to the ttb set up cause in the future i would like to do an f150 beam swap.

 

[Ozwynn]

how do you turn a 2x4 into a 4x4? nail two 2x4s together

 

[Captain Ledd]

how do you turn a 2x4 into a 4x4? nail two 2x4s together

I was really close to saying that, but I figured he was still kinda new and I'd cut him a break

 

[simonsays]

i wouldnt do the work to build ttb brackets for the dana 35 then later try to switch it to the dana 44.. if your doing the work just do it once and be done with it.

personly i say a straight axle belongs in the back.. always indipendent up front.. but thats cause i use my truck for prerunning as speed is very important, hard to get a straight axle to preform like ttb

 

[stegomon]

all you need to do is change the motor cross member.....ooo 4 rivets and move the damn engine out of the way....

 

[simonsays]

or make a new tube one that will be 100x stronger

 

[prefab08]

bah!
BDAB you just made my day!!
hey simonsays you wouldent have any more pics of that tube cross member set up eh? that could be a place to start with a ttb 44. if you guys want have a lok at some pics of some of my rangers and my j 10 iv been building for some time http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=33102&id=505601863&l=dee05

 

[simonsays]

i dont have that many good pics of the cross member..

here is what i have.. everthing else is in my build thread that is in my signature