4wd to 2wd conversion

[desertrunner]

hello all

so im new to the site, new to prerunning, but not new to offroad by any strech, im unemployed, almost broke, got 6 kids between myself and my wife and ive decided its about time to start building a prerunner

so ive been searching around for a good platform that is already started to trade for a 95 mustang gt convertible that i have but no luck...no biggy. so i found a truck that i think will be an awesome platform but its a 4wd, not that its a bad thing or anything but its not what im lookin for due to expense and limited travel from what ive read. i did a search earlier on this site about converting a 4wd to a 2wd and i found a tread that said its nothing more then removing parts and reinstalling parts, is that correct?? seems too easy for some reason

here is the ad for the truck ive got my eyes on, $600 bucks

92 Ranger Supercab 4x4, 4.0, manual, 4.56 Gears, 8 1/2" Lift (5 1/2" suspension 3" body) 35 x 12.50 BF Goodrich Mud Terrains on 15" Black Wheels (there is also a spare 35" tire in the bed)...

This truck has been parked for 2 years because of engine and transmission issues that I can't afford to fix. Its been suggested that both the engine and transmission be rebuilt or replaced. it is currently not running due to a dead battery and no fuel.

for now my priority is to remove the engine, trans, transfer, then install a fuel injected 5 liter out of a fox body along with a aod trans. ive got some 33's that ill prolly throw on it, 35's seem like a overkill for what my goal is. after that im not sure and id like some suggestions where to go from there on what is the best money spent first and so on.

is a 3 inch body lift too high for a prerunner? i read that a body lift helps with having a v8 but will 3 inchs be a overkill and a big concern at high speed for raising the center of gravity?

for the rear end i have a 8.8 id like to eventually link but for now is it cost effective to go the route of the long deaver spring with the flip shackle till then? or is it better to just put towards something else or save for the link set up since thats my ultimate plan?

for the front end im totally confused about, i want as much travel as possible and i want it be reliable but looking at the camburg kits i dont know which one i will truely need. are there other companys i should be looking at that are more cost effective and just as good of quality or is it one of those things thats either go big or go home?

my desires are to have a truck that i can take over pretty serious jumps at pretty decent speeds, im not lookin for trophy truck speeds and jumps but i do want to rip around with ease.

thanks in advance

 

[fx2prerunner]

start with safety, roll cage, seats, 5pt. harness, lose the body lift completely, there are good long travel kits for 4x4 trucks there is one on cardomain with 17" of travel, I dont know much about the 2wd conversion. prerunners can get very expensive, if your not financialy ready I dont recomend trying to build a long travle suspension truck

 

[desertrunner]

what i was planning is a lengthy project in stages to spread out the expenses.

i havnt looked too much into the 4wd long travel stuff as i read in a few places it was a more expensive route. ill look more into it

no go on the body life huh, good to go, im assuming its a good idea to leave it on while installing the 5 liter for more clearance and lower the body back down afterwards?

i just got done reading the postings about the rough riders, gave me a few paint scheme ideas, would i be a poser if i had the best never rest on the truck?

 

[Beanmachine7000]

The only problem with a 4x4 long travel setup is you start running into binding of the front axle shafts... But, the problem with a Ranger is that the 2wd and 4wd is way different... You'll need to pull the motor and swap in a 2wd crossmember... If you still want to do a 2wd swap I'd be willing to trade you might 2wd beams from my Explorer and everything you'll need (except the crossmember) for your 4wd stuff...

 

[desertrunner]

here is the link to the thread where i got that information from, after looking at it again i just realized they were talking about a bronco II and at the end of the thread someone mentioned that they have different crossmembers

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10970

id be interested in the trade but my stepson has a 90 ranger 4x4 so all the parts i will be removing will just end up as spares for his truck if not in it.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Yeah, BII's and Explorers are a direct swap 4wd-2wd, Rangers have different engine crossmembers, but since you are pulling the 4.0 anyway, I don't see that big of a deal... For some reason Ford made it harder for Ranger guys... I'd just buy a junk 2wd truck and swap it all over...

 

[desertrunner]

are 92's and 93's the same by chance? i know of a 93 that was rolled once so the body is afu but the undercarage is still good to go, also has a brand new set of 33 bfg's on it

 

[dave@threat]

Swapping to a 2wd will be cheaper. For a desert truck it is a good idea to try to simplify as many potential problems as possible. Bottom line is if your hard on the truck you will break something at some point in time. Keep it simple and build it strong. You don't need 4wd in the desert. Build up a 9" rearend and put a full spool in it. Here is a truck I am building for a friend. It used to be a 4wd and has been converted to 2wd by using custom equal length beams.

 

[desertrunner]

dude that is flippin bad! thats what i need right there. you are here in socal right?

 

[desertrunner]

7am california time, im about to go look at this 600 dollar truck in person, taking a dolly with me incase shes a keeper. ill post some pics if i buy it when i get back to the house

 

[fx2prerunner]

I know your leaning towards 2wd conversion but I thought id put this up http://www.cardomain.com/ride/343881

 

[bobbywalter]

keep the rear axle, sell all the 4x4 stuff and lift, use 2wd b2 or exporer beams or mod van beams/arms.

i would be tempted to scare up some stx brackets for the tib and run e series arms and relocated radius arm brackets with some e coils as well.

i probably could make money on this swap with a bolt on funmoblie.


if you want what dave has you better get to be goooooooooood friends with dave

 

[bobbywalter]

7am california time, im about to go look at this 600 dollar truck in person, taking a dolly with me incase shes a keeper. ill post some pics if i buy it when i get back to the house

if you get it for 4-6 hundred youcan definatly accomplish your goal with a shit ton of gas money to waste playing in the sand between parting the stang and ranger.


that or break even with a cage ect

 

[Bryan22]

find someone with a 2wd and trade them, someone would probably even put in some extra cash to trade you! easiest route i see not to mention if you're going to go pre-runner with the truck, you're not going to want the lift that's allready installed on that truck. Most likely has drop brackets, you'll want extended beams or at least bent beams. autofab makes some pretty decent kits at a reasonable price.

 

[dave@threat]

7am california time, im about to go look at this 600 dollar truck in person, taking a dolly with me incase shes a keeper. ill post some pics if i buy it when i get back to the house

Were you the guy that stopped by the other day?

if you want what dave has you better get to be goooooooooood friends with dave

Not sure what you mean by this can you explain?