converting 2wd to 4x4

[domiNATE]

Hi

I have an 1984 Ranger 2wd, and I'm thinking about finding a 4x4 parts ranger on craigslist and converting mine over.

I have a pretty good idea of what I think has to happen, but can anyone give me some advice that might help me out later down the road? Like maybe some one that has done it before.

BELOW ARE SOME ?'s I have:

I have a c3 auto transmission, and I'm assuming that'll have to go so I can get a trans that will engage the 4wd and give room for the transfer case. I want to put in a manual anyhow.


The transfer case will bolt right up won't it?

Are there any significant differences between older 2wd and 4wd Ford Ranger frames that might cause a problem *i.e. the straight axle not bolting up or the trans mounting spots seeing as it'll have to come back to make room for the transfer case*


One last thing, if I find any 80's ranger 4x4 are all the parts essentially the same in terms of putting them on either truck. Like if I bought an 85 I can still expect that underneath it'll still work with my 84. They weren't really changed much throughout the years were they?






Thanks

 

[mjonesjr]

Do a search, this topic has been discussed 1000 times.

The hardest part is going to be changing the engine cross member. You will have to take the engine out of the truck, remove the rivets holding the cross member in, spread the frame, remove the cross member, repeat the same steps on the 4wd truck, and then install the 4wd cross member into the frame of the truck you are converting to 4wd.

In other words, you would be better off buying a 4wd that was usable and driving it.

 

[dangerranger83]

I'm told putting a SAS is easier to put on then a TTB when doing this kind of conversion. Whether you using coils, leafs, D30, D44, etc... is up to you. Leafs are easier to put under the truck if you are a novice at doing a SAS, like me.

Basiclly do your research and know what your buying and what your doing and going to be doing before you do anything.

I'm still doing research before I do my SAS on my truck. The easier part for me is mine is already 4wd and my D30 HP was given to me, plus a D35 rear end with goodies in it. And above all take your time doing it!!!

 

[domiNATE]

What does SAS and TTB stand for?

 

[BlackBII]

SAS - Solid Axle Swap - Dana 30, 44 etc

TTB - Twin Traction Beam - Ford's silly front axle design on stock RBV's

RBV - Ranger Based Vehicle

 

[4x4junkie]

Silly or not, it does work though.

I would agree however, it would be easier to put a straight axle under a 2WD truck than to try to swap the crossmembers over.

All the rest of it (transmission/transfercase) should bolt right into your 2WD frame fine. Most you should have to do is relocate the transmission crossmember further back a bit because some transmissions (later ones in particular) are longer.
The best stickshift trans is the Mazda M5OD, used on 4-cyl trucks starting in '88.

 

[dangerranger83]

4x4junkie does make a good piont it does work.

Like people will say it depends on how you are going to use your truck and that will help you determine what to put on it.

 

[domiNATE]

did they make a lot or rangers with the solid axle front end back in those days?

to do a SAS i wouldn't have to mess with the engine cross member then?

My 3rd and only concern for right now is does the SAS bolt right on up with the leaves etc.

Thanks to everyone for their help

 

[mjonesjr]

Ford never made a Ranger with a solid front axle.

A SAS is NOT bolt in. It requires welding, cutting, building, etc.

 

[dangerranger83]

Basiclly you have to have fab. skills or know somebody with them to do this.

When the ranger came out in 1983 it had the D28 TTB front end and a 7.5 rear end and was like that for years.

Using leaves eliminates the need to fab. up a 4 link.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Basiclly you have to have fab. skills or know somebody with them to do this.

When the ranger came out in 1983 it had the D28 TTB front end and a 7.5 rear end and was like that for years.

Using leaves eliminates the need to fab. up a 4 link.

Using a radius arm design though (like the Ranger was designed with from the factory) will be just as easy as leaves, have a better ride, the same (if not more) articulation and your Ranger is already set up for it...

 

[domiNATE]

can you even find an RBV with a straight axle up front

 

[Beanmachine7000]

can you even find an RBV with a straight axle up front

Ford NEVER made a Ranger with a solid axle in the front... It's either a TTB D28 (beginning to 1990), D35 (1990-1997) or SLA IFS D35 (1998-current)... Ford's TTB system uses radius arms to locate and support the beams... Ford also used radius arms to position and support their earlier solid axle full-size trucks, and Early Broncos... This means that is you could find an EB (early Bronco) D44 it is "ALMOST" a bolt-in swap (read: MUCH easier than a TTB 4x4 swap)... Doing a leaf spring set-up means burning all the old radius arm/coil spring mounts off and welding in hangers... Since your 2WD truck is already using coild springs and radius arms, if you find an EB axle it is "ALMOST" a bolt-in affair... Do a search and look in the Tech Library... You've got a lot of research before you start this...

 

[dangerranger83]

The reason I'm doing a SAS is my TTB needs more money put into it then it will take to put my D30 under it, plus it looks total cool under a ranger, and I got it for free.

My truck isnt going to be seeing highways or high speed so I'm not to conserned about the handling or the ride quality of leaves, I'm going for what easy for me to do for now.