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How bout a 2x4x4?


creepinjeepster

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
250
City
Radcliff, Kentucky
Vehicle Year
1990 and 1991
Transmission
Automatic
Just curious if anyone has tried. Anybody ever considered half way converting a 2wd to a 4wd? What I mean by this is installing on a 2wd the transfer case part of the 4wd, so you would get the lower gear ratio when locked in 4x4, but would still have 2wd truck as there would be no front axle or driveline connected. I would believe it would work for pulling power and such as I basically did this to one of my Jeeps once, but it is a 4x4. I did some work on it and had to lock my manual hubs in when putting it back together. Well when I finished, I forgot to unlock them. Long story short, next time I went wheeling in it, I locked in the 4x4 and spun the manual hubs to lock them in without looking and actually UNLOCKED them, so I had the gearing of the 4x4, but only 2wd as my front hubs weren't locked in. And I still went everywhere the other Jeep I was with went without problem.
 
i did see this once on a 2wd truck used to pull hay wagons.....used a divorced transfer case from a 4x4 so it could "crawl" even slower with the granny low in the manual tranny

if ya really wanna keep up with stock 4x4's in a 2wd get a locker for the rear:icon_thumby:

l8r, John
 
i did see this once on a 2wd truck used to pull hay wagons.....used a divorced transfer case from a 4x4 so it could "crawl" even slower with the granny low in the manual tranny

if ya really wanna keep up with stock 4x4's in a 2wd get a locker for the rear:icon_thumby:

l8r, John

What's the point?
The donor vehicle will have to give up the transmission and the transfer case (unless divorced is used.). The crossmember, rear drive shaft comes with it.

Which also means the front axle is available also (most likely).
My '72 Dodge already had mounting holes for front spring pivots.
A torch made quick work of the 2-wheel drive front crossmember and a-frames.

Most folks who understand torque division will know the lowwer ratio in 2-wheel drive can easily break one axle (in 4x4 the torque divided front to rear).
 
Good points. Any others? Mainly curious if it would be worth it to try. Plus it makes it unique as not everyone runs around in a truck with a transfer case for 4x4 without a front axle. Know it would be more money and time compared to a locker.
 
take all that time and money you would spend doing that and make it 4wd
 
Yeah, but without the front axle I still get the better gas mileage. :)

not by much, if really at all....

most 4x4's have lower gears in the diffs to begin with, so that is the main culprit to fuel mileage

the other culprit is weight, the only things really different between your 2wd and the 4wd is the transfer case and front diff....you still have a TTB front end in your 2wd...

l8r, John
 
What's the point?
The donor vehicle will have to give up the transmission and the transfer case (unless divorced is used.). The crossmember, rear drive shaft comes with it.

Which also means the front axle is available also (most likely).
My '72 Dodge already had mounting holes for front spring pivots.
A torch made quick work of the 2-wheel drive front crossmember and a-frames.

Most folks who understand torque division will know the lowwer ratio in 2-wheel drive can easily break one axle (in 4x4 the torque divided front to rear).

definantly wouldnt have to get the trans out of the donor , 4 blots removes the 2WD tailhousing , then bolt the trans to t-case adapter in its place , and boom , i have done this a few times , for friends that have bad trannies in their 4x4 and i had a 2wd tranny layin around
 
definantly wouldnt have to get the trans out of the donor , 4 blots removes the 2WD tailhousing , then bolt the trans to t-case adapter in its place , and boom , i have done this a few times , for friends that have bad trannies in their 4x4 and i had a 2wd tranny layin around

I've always heard the 2wd output shaft is slightly longer (too long). This is the first time I've seen where this may work.

Not calling you a liar by any means, but I'm a little skeptical until someone else chimes in.
 
You can't swap over the tailshaft housing on any trans used in a Ranger based vehicle.

The 4x4 output shaft is shorter and uses a smaller spline.

So unless you go with a divorced T-case you will have to switch transmissions.

as far as running a 4x4 trans and T-case on a 2wd ranger?
Yes, I did it because I didn't like incinerating my cluch backing
my 1900lb Dovetail trailer into it's uphill parking spot.

AD
 
Last edited:
I've driven around on the street in 2wd low range pushing 15psi to my engine (around 200hp) on a 7.5" axle (4.10 gears and 31" tires) and no issues, so that torque multiplication thing isn't too much of an issue, low range is VERY nice for traffic jams, just leave it in first gear and idle around, saves your clutch foot.
 

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