4x4 tranny into a 2wd ranger

[rangerfx4man]

I have a 1994 2.3l 2wd regular cab long box ranger. The automatic tranny is on its way out. So i plan on swapping in a manual. But i was wondering how hard it would be to swap in a manual 4x4 tranny, so that way i can have
2wd low. I would like to do some mild offroading with this and figured being able to have lower gearing and more torque would be awesome. I plan on putting in a locker and lift also.

 

[LittleHorse]

Everything is the same between the engine and the extension housing - after that you'll need the transfer case with linkage or electronics (if you get an electric shift case) and the appropriate driveshaft.

The only other thing to worry about would be the speedometer cable. It connects to the transfer case output and I don't know if the parts are the same - whether it would be just a matter of bolting it into the t-case or if it's long enogh, etc.

btw, I have an electric shift BW1354 transfer case with all the electronics - control module, harness, and switches. It would also include the speedometer gear assembly so all it would take is for the cable end to be snapped into place. I have a rebuildable shift motor I'd toss in for free or you can get the motor on ebay for $50. PM me if you're interested.

 

[downzero]

2wd low is going to be useless and not worth the weight of carrying a transfer case around. In 2wd, all that reduction will just spin the tires.

Also, keep in mind that your rear axle is not rated for or designed for that much torque. 4wd Low exists only in 4wd for a reason--the stress on parts is much higher.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

2wd low is going to be useless and not worth the weight of carrying a transfer case around. In 2wd, all that reduction will just spin the tires.

Also, keep in mind that your rear axle is not rated for or designed for that much torque. 4wd Low exists only in 4wd for a reason--the stress on parts is much higher.

What? You do know that the exact same rear axle is in 4wd and 2wd Rangers right? I have a BII and it has the very same Ford 7.5" he probably has... Guess what? It's 4wd... 2wd low is very useful, I used to use it all the time to move stuff around the barn lot, easier to move stuff in tight spaces... It won't increase wheel spin anymore... Now, if you get a wheel locked up it will increase chances of breaking something, but I doubt you'd ever get in a situation like that with a 2wd...

 

[RangerSVT]

I had a 87 B2 4x4, and I now have a 96 4x4 with the bigger D35 and 8.8, I've ran both in 2LO ( 4LO with hubs free) just for the extra torque, already had traction at rear tires, just needed the torque, wheeled another time with front axle busted, didn't do any damage to anything else, I say go for the 2wd tcase setup!!
SVT

 

[rangerfx4man]

Thanks for the info guys. Now was 4x4 avalible in a 4cylinder reg. cab long bad? I was just wondering, cuz i didn't know if i could get a direct bolt in drive saft or if i would need to have my existing drive shaft cut down and rebalanced to make up for the transfercase.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I don't think they came in ext cab or long bed, so you will have to get yours lengthened... I think... I could be wrong now...

 

[LittleHorse]

If the transmission mounts in the same place as a V6 model, there's no reason you couldn't get a driveshaft from a 3.0 or 4.0 4x4 long bed.

My Bronco II's one chassis length, so I'm not up to date on the different ranger frames.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

If the transmission mounts in the same place as a V6 model, there's no reason you couldn't get a driveshaft from a 3.0 or 4.0 4x4 long bed.

My Bronco II's one chassis length, so I'm not up to date on the different ranger frames.

Haha... I didn't think of that... He's right though, any driveshaft front any 4x4 ext cab Ranger with the same rear end as yours should fit... I don't know if the 8.8" and 7.5" use the same driveshaft...

 

[RangerSVT]

My cousin had an 88 reg cab long bed 4x4, they are out there, just gotta find em. Might be easier just to shorten yours, then take it to dshaft shop and have them balance it
SVT

 

[Beanmachine7000]

My cousin had an 88 reg cab long bed 4x4, they are out there, just gotta find em. Might be easier just to shorten yours, then take it to dshaft shop and have them balance it
SVT

was it also 4cyl? I don't believe they made a Ext cab long bed, 4cyl 4x4...

 

[rangerstzz]

was it also 4cyl? I don't believe they made a Ext cab long bed, 4cyl 4x4...

they did make 4cyl 4x4 ext cab gen 2's that I've seen, very rare though, reg cab long box, 4cyl, 4x4's were made in gen 1,2 and 3, i'm guessing the ext cab long bed is a typo........

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Oh, for some reason I was thinking he had an ext cab... I agree with reg cab long bed...

 

[AllanD]

Haha... I didn't think of that... He's right though, any driveshaft front any 4x4 ext cab Ranger with the same rear end as yours should fit... I don't know if the 8.8" and 7.5" use the same driveshaft...

1988-up the engine doesn't affect driveshaft length.

Manual and auto have the same driveshaft lenght.

However on later trucks once they switched to the 4R44E and 4R55E transmissions they are longer than the manual.

And a 7.5 and 8.8" doesn't affect the length of the driveshaft eeither.

2wd low range is really nice to have particularly when backing up
and ESPECIALLY when trying to back a trailer into a parking spot.

AD

 

[Beanmachine7000]

1988-up the engine doesn't affect driveshaft length.

Manual and auto have the same driveshaft lenght.

However on later trucks once they switched to the 4R44E and 4R55E transmissions they are longer than the manual.

And a 7.5 and 8.8" doesn't affect the length of the driveshaft eeither.

2wd low range is really nice to have particularly when backing up
and ESPECIALLY when trying to back a trailer into a parking spot.

AD

Yeah, I wasn't thinking

I LOVED having 2-LO capability... Being able to use my BII to move all our tractor implements instead of having to get the tractor out of the barn is nice, plus, our tractor doesn't have A/C on a hot TN summer day