converting a 95 2wd to 4wd

[craveman85]

anyone on here converted a 93-97 2wd truck to 4x4? ive got a junkyard with several 4x4's and all the parts are very very cheap. im not looking for a top of the line thing just something fun to build. truck is also going to become a convertible with a roll cage and maybe some day a 302 in there.

 

[cammeddrz]

honestly an sas is a better option, and since you are doing it all from scratch anyway it wouldn't really be any harder to do

 

[craveman85]

i dont have access to a welder at the moment. i could grind off the rivets of the 4x4 stuff and bolt it to my frame. i do know where theres a few old bronco front axles i can get the complete setup with brakes for around 75 bucks and same for the rear. but i dont have a welder to mount all the brackets in there but the rangers 4x4 stuff should just bolt in. i can get the front end setup from the ranger for about the same price and then buy the suspension parts and the engine crossmember. tranny and transfer case are 75 each with a 30 day warranty on all parts. i would like a manual transfer case and manual locking hubs though.

 

[strvger]

might be better off finding a whole 4x4 in the jy and doing all the body stuff on that chassis. usually easier upgrading than fabing from scratch.

 

[cammeddrz]

agreed, the body swap isn't that hard to do. here's how i did it:

 

[strvger]

that must be the job supervisor in the 2nd pic. he looks all business and i wouldn't want to screw up with him watching!! lol

 

[craveman85]

well swapping a body defeats the whole purpose of me wanting to convert a 2wd to 4x4 i also considered the option of maybe putting another axle in the rear for more traction but that would definately be a pain in the ass.

 

[craveman85]

think i may go with a yj axle and leaf springs in the front. if i go with a sas then i probably wont need to worry about the engine crossmember? going to try and find an axle with 4.10's so i can throw some 31's on it and still have the 2.3 move it. anyone know how to wire the 4x4 switch so it will work? do i need a new tranny with the transfer case or can i use my old tranny and bolt it on.
found this cool thread. of exactly what i want to do. http://www.greatlakes4x4.com/showthread.php?t=145311

 

[dogboy]

My friend converted a 2wd 95 B2300 to a 4wd (with a D28 TTB). A t-case WILL NOT bolt up to your 2wd tranny. But what my buddy did for his tranny was, he and my cousin took a parts 4wd tranny from a Ranger with a different motor (bell housings are different), and they took the output shaft and tailhousing off the 4wd tranny, and put them in/on his 2wd tranny. As far as I know that is all they did.

 

[cammeddrz]

(bell housings are different)

for clarity the 2.8, 2.9, and 4.0 all share the same bellhousing