4R44E 4x4 conversion? ?

[frisbey7]

I have a 2000 2wd 2.3 ranger that id like to convert to 4x4 and finding a 2.3 4x4 transmission seems to be near impossible. Does anyone here know if I can swap the tail of a 3.0 or 4.0 4R44E onto mine?
id love to use my b2 but its way to nice to take out on the trails!

 

[exbass94]

Converting an automatic to 4wd is more involved than just swapping out the tail housing. Check out this thread: http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32742
Note what he did to the transmission to convert it. BTW, you have a 2.5 engine, not a 2.3. The 2.3 wasn't introduced until 2001.

 

[cp2295]

2.3 was introduced in early rangers then in 98 they put the 2.5 in then in 2001 they put the 2.3 duratec in if I'm not mistaken

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[don4331]

The simple answer I believe is: Swap your 4 cylinder bell housing onto the 3.0/4.0 4x4 4R44E transmission; reinstall the torque converter and bolt the new transmission back under the truck. That gets you a transmission with transfer case.

But there are some other considerations:

The standard question: Does your Ranger have coils or torsion bars up front?

If it has coils, you are looking at SAS (or a LOT of work).

If it has torsion bars; the link exbass94 provided is a good start. Note in picture 4, the welded bracket to hold the differential (needed by all non-4x4s to install the Dana 35 SLA)

Also, note: 04 EDGE used a live SLA from Explorer/Late model Ranger (no PIA vacuum hubs).