CONVERTING a 2wd to a 4wd ?

[WildDan92]

I have a 1986 ford in great shape and just bought a another one 1983 for parts they both have the 2.0L and i want to convet it to 4wd.

can this be done

will it need a boat load of mod ?

what are the main parts will i need front axle and t case ? can i take them from a 2.9L

any help would be nice thanks

 

[Josh B]

I can't tell you a whole lot about it, but it seems to me you're not afraid of a little work! haha
You'll need to almost gut the front end and put a front drive axle on it. You'll probly want a 4WD for parts

 

[don4331]

I have a 1986 ford in great shape and just bought a another one 1983 for parts they both have the 2.0L and i want to convert it to 4wd.

can this be done

will it need a boat load of mod ?

what are the main parts will i need front axle and t case ? can i take them from a 2.9L

any help would be nice thanks

If you want to install the TTB front axle, you need to replace the front crossmember from your TIB one from a 4wd. So, as Josh says, you will want at very minimum a 4wd frame for pieces. (The crossmember is riveted and welded in, so trucks better be worth it, you better really want (need) 4wd and your time/skills up to it.

If you are doing SAS, then you are fine with the 2wd frame; you want to be looking lower down in the forum at off road 4x4 suspensions.

Your 2.0 would have different bellhousing than 2.9, so you would need to cross pollinate between the 2 transmissions. The actual transmission adapter would be easy part. The challenging part is you need to start at front and pull everything out to replace 4x2 output shaft with correct one to go into transfer case. Personally, I would sooner start with at later model mid/late 90's pair of transmissions - 2.3 for right bellhousing, V6 for transfercase mount (finding a 2.3 4wd transmission is like finding unicorn here in great white north.)

If I haven't scared you off yet, we can go into more detail.

 

[Dirtman]

It's really quite simple. Put 4x4 stickers on it and call it a day.

 

[bobbywalter]

you will also need lots of beer.

 

[Curious Hound]

you will also need lots of beer.

And a good, comfortable recliner in your shop. That’s for those times when you get stuck or tired and have to sit back with a beer and figure out what to do next or how to overcome the next challenge or “what the he** am I doing here?” Or “ why didn’t I just...?”

 

[scotts90ranger]

Frame swap is much easier, but as stated earlier a 4x4 4 cylinder is very difficult to come by... back in the day (2005ish) I wanted to go 4x4 and happened on a whole ranger that was rolled for $350 that was a '89 and 4x4 4 cylinder so I swapped my body and engine in (the original was down a cylinder) and wala!

If going straight axle (Dana 30 out of a Jeep is easiest) the hardest part is coming up with a 4x4 transmission I imagine... I've seen them around and kinda kicked myself for not grabbing them when I see them in the junkyard but usually don't have the time and definitely don't have the storage space...