is it possible to swap a 2wd for 4wd

[92rebel]

ok heres the scoop i have a 92' 2wd ranger and would like a 4wd dont really have much money to be spendin so what i was wonderin is would it be possible to buy and ol beater 4wd ranger for cheap and swap the part and make mine a 4wd. i was gonna turn my ranger into a prerunner but that stuff gets kinda spendy so i thought i would change my ideas.....ANY SUGGESTIONS PLEASE ALL WILL HELP

 

[4x4junkie]

Possible? yes.

Practical (on a Ranger)? NO

To do it, you'll have to swap out the crossmember underneath the engine for the axle brackets to fit (not exactly a weekend job). The other option is to use a 4WD straight beam axle from an old early Bronco or Jeep Wagoneer, in which case you have to fab up new mounts for the front suspension.

I would sell the truck and get an actual 4x4 truck if that's what you want. You'll need a 4x4 transmission too along with the transfer case if you were to convert yours.

Sorry for the bad news

 

[Bent Bolt]

I think this should be stickied. We get a lot of newbie's asking this same question and the answer is always the same.

Or maybe a FAQ ????

 

[AllanD]

THE issue with a Conversion of a 2wd TIB suspension ranger to a TTB 4x4 is the difference in the engine crossmember.

By comparison to the difference in the engine crossmember all other considerations are
as trivial as what color backlighting you should base your choice of car stereo on.

The crossmember on the 4x4 is wider front to back.
It is riveted and tack welded to the frame.

It IS possible to get it out and swap it over, several people have done it.
Hell I swapped a 1993 Explorer crosmember into my 1987 supercab.

But I had the luxury (if you can call it that) of having the truck apart for over a year

Why did it take a year? winter and two other major projects involving
building TWO F-250's from parts, kinda got in my way).

Also "delaying" things was that I replaced ALL my body mounts, creating an
integrated 1" body lift (wrench clearance more than anything else) in the process
adding a second gas tank behind the axle (NOT a factory Aux tank)
and replacing all the fuel lines and brake (with stainless steel hard line)
lines on the truck... replacing my 2.9 engine with a 4.0 and replacing
the flood dammaged interior.

So is it possible?

the example I use is that I've seen a Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engine
installed into a '57 chevy, so yes, it's possible.

Is it practical?

that's really a judgement I can't make for you.

Generally speaking it's probably a lot easier to swap your cab
onto the donor 4x4 frame.

That gives you the change to do the "full urethane" treatment to the frame (suspension bushings and body mounts (BTDT) "scale" all the rust off the frame shoot it with phosphate solution ("rust converter") and paint it to inhibit further corrosion, all BEFORE
you swap your cab (and more importantly title and VIN tag) onto the 4x4 frame.

"Practical" is simply not a judgement we can make for you.

Technically we can tell you HOW to do something, but
I should point out that most of us will only take the time to do so
ONLY after you take the time to educate yourself on the subject
sufficiently to ask intelligent (on- point rather than general) questions.

"Practical" is an issue you are on your own to determine.




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