Convert my 3.0 L 2wd to 4wd

[justinp21]

Ok heres my situation.

I own a 2008 Ford ranger sport.

Its got the 3.0 L and is only 2wd.

I really want to convert it to 4wd

What would I need to do and what parts exactly would i need?

Does anyone have info for this type of application?

 

[cappin90]

Ive only seen that done in yotas and older 70's trucks, you would have to get a t-case beefier transmission and probably would have to straight axle it. Really unless you want to go big it would be cheaper to just sell it and buy one thats already 4wd

 

[justinp21]

Ya that may be the problem is selling it. I still owe quite enough and for me to sell it will probally end up losing way to much money. And I kinda work in an Auto factory so my jobs sitting on the edge right now :S

 

[cappin90]

Well 2wd trucks can go where most 4wd's can if you put some aggressive tires and a lift on it. You might be best with just a prerunner lift 33's and a locker from a cost/effective standpoint, or, you could put a EB D44 in the front and a Ranger T-Case and make it 4wd but that would run ya probably 1500 at least, and take a lot of fabrication.

 

[justinp21]

I got some tires on it now, the michlin ltx at2s. The fronts got and inch some lift on stock suspension. I want to go 3 inches all around and 1500 is better than losing well in excess of 3000 trying to sell it. I just need to find a beater so that thte ranger could be off the road til the fabs done.

 

[koda6966]

Trust me, it's way too much trouble to convert to 4x4 on a Ranger. I've done a lot of research on the topic.

 

[Kdawg532]

there was a thread on here where a guy converted his EDGE/Sport to a 4wd and said he only had to weld one bracket in place. the Sport 2wd frames are practically identical to a 4x4 frame in every way except no pumpkin up front and no T-case. the fuse box in my 2wd 07' sport has fuses in it for 4wd for some reason idk why, but as for the tranny it might be easier to go buy one out of a junked ranger that was 4x4

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Most of the time Rangers are difficult to change from 2wd to 4x4 and the easiest method is to get a 4x4 trans and t-case and swap it in, then tear out the entire front suspension and fab in a straight axle. Plus doing such a thing might void your factory warranty.

I did a 4x4 conversion on my 89 Choptop Bronco II. But it's insanely easy to convert 2wd Bronco IIs into 4x4s... you change one bracket in the front, swap the 2wd beams for 4x4 beams, pull the DUMMY transfer case out and swap in a real one and add in the front drive shaft. I've been told that '83-'88 BIIs are even easier than that because you don't have to change the bracket in the front. For Rangers, they don't use a dummy case and they use a different frame. Don't ask me why they did it that way.

 

[JohnnyO]

Been discussed here many times. Not worth the expense and effort. Trade it on a 4x4.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Been discussed here many times. Not worth the expense and effort. Trade it on a 4x4.

Thats usually the consensus.

However, THIS GUY <Clicky is the one to talk to.

I'm doing one on mine, but I live in Michigan. And despite mine being 11 years old and 197,000 miles it's pretty rust free. And that will not be the case for just about any other truck out there.

That and I like the damn thing too much.

 

[justinp21]

Im not sure if its worth trading or doing the convert... for now.

Trading it I will end up losing way to much, and doing the convert means that it will be outta service for a little bit.

Im going to have to figure this out, specially since it probally will void my warranty

 

[Hawker]

Would be insane to ruin your warranty by trying something like this on an 08. How will your financial's be after the 36 months are up regarding doing a trade is what you need to be considering. If you just can't wait that long, then you're almost going to have to bite the bullet and trade for what you want.

 

[04 EDGE]

Im not sure if its worth trading or doing the convert... for now.

Trading it I will end up losing way to much, and doing the convert means that it will be outta service for a little bit.

Im going to have to figure this out, specially since it probally will void my warranty

warranty? whats that?

anyway, i am not sure on the new sports but if it has torsion bars then its a easy swap. well for me it was.

i have a total of maybe 800 bucks into my swap.

cheaper then buying it new with 4wd. that would have added almost 5k to the price of my truck.

 

[justinp21]

Would be insane to ruin your warranty by trying something like this on an 08. How will your financial's be after the 36 months are up regarding doing a trade is what you need to be considering. If you just can't wait that long, then you're almost going to have to bite the bullet and trade for what you want.

Ya i may need to wait a bit. Im working for honda and since the auto industry is in a slump I dont know how certain my job is after feb.