Questions: need info

[ERA_Evil]

Questions: need info on 4x4 swap (Mexican crew cab model)

hey guys, i have a mexican 2006 Ranger XL Crew Cab, 2.3l I4

my questions are as follows:
Did these ever come out in 4x4?

if not, i would like to convert it to 4x4, and i have read most of the posts saying its better to just sell and buy a 4x4, but i have neve seen a 4x4 Crew Cab, so i really would like to make a conversion.

So i want to ask, what is the easiest/best way to do the conversion?

do i buy a 4x4 ranger and transplant everything over? if so, what are the wheelbase lenghts, as will everything fit? Also its a 2.3l DDuratec engine with a 5speed manual transmission, would this work? (transfercase wise) or what mods would it need?

i also read a Danna 44 would fit, also that a solid axle is an easier swap, so what would be better/easier? a donor truck or a rebuild with a Danna 44?

so basically i find these 2 ways, donor or Danna, so what is the parts list for each conversion?

Thanks all in advance, hope i dont get flamed wanting to do this

 

[alaskan155]

is it coils or torsion bars on the front???


torsion bars = easy to convert, just need the front parts from a ranger(98+), 2nd gen explorer, or 1st gen sport trac.

Coils= PITA have to cut the frame and rebox it just to do a SAS


the mexican ones are just gen 4s for the US with extra doors and a diesel option.


as for the transmission you just need to swap the output shaft to the 4wd one, i believe the duratrac is the m50d-r1 so you should just need a donor from any 4wd ranger with the m50d and use the output shaft, extention housing and transfercase.

or run a divorced transfer-case setup.

 

[Kealel]

He has a 4 cyl. That means it is coils.

 

[ERA_Evil]

forgot to mention that, torsion bar setup, also rear diff has been swapped from the stock mexican one to an explorer american dunno what gen, and by the tag on it its an 8.8" with 4.20 gearing i think (if im reading the tag correctly), previous onwer swapped it due to lack of repair parts on the original mexican diff

 

[Kealel]

I glanced right ovee the Mexican part of that... Oops, beautiful truck!

 

[pjtoledo]

nice looking truck
whats the wheel base? 126 inches/3.20m?
it appears the bed is shorter to make room for the crew cab on an extended cab frame.

 

[ERA_Evil]

yup i just measured it, aprox 3.2m
so by your post, i basically have an american extended cab frame huh

so after some research, my trans an Eaton Fuller FSO-2405D can be made into a 4x4 by changing the rear housing, found a service manual.


this is the SS of the manual well it shows the different rear housings


this is my current trans


and this is the 4x4 trans, same model just different rear housing

so as of this point, i need to find that rear housing and what transfercase bolts to it, as in mexico apparently there arent no crew cab 4x4, only in south america. or is there any other option to do this swap?

im open to suggestions

i cant seem to find a 4x4 with this motor/trans setup(wether it be single, extended or 2+2 extended), which makes the idea of buying a 4x4 one and transfering everything over hard if not imposible.
i also cant seem to find the info on wich cars have this trans in a 4x4 setup, if anyone has or know this info would be awesome to know

 

[ERA_Evil]

after more research, i foung that if i can get the rear housing changed on my trans, to that of the 4x4, a Borg-Wagner 1354 would fit, as it is the same bolt pattern, so all i would need to get is the rear housing and the output shaft, if i am correct.

 

[alaskan155]

after more research, i foung that if i can get the rear housing changed on my trans, to that of the 4x4, a Borg-Wagner 1354 would fit, as it is the same bolt pattern, so all i would need to get is the rear housing and the output shaft, if i am correct.

thats what it looks like on the diagram you posted. but we dont get the eaton here so i am not 100% sure what else you need.


also since your torsion, i forgot to mention, there should be a third bracket on the d/s frame rail, i know ford didn't weld them on the EDGE 2wd rangers(or 2wd explorers cant remember) so you might have to weld one on.

 

[ERA_Evil]

thats what it looks like on the diagram you posted. but we dont get the eaton here so i am not 100% sure what else you need.


also since your torsion, i forgot to mention, there should be a third bracket on the d/s frame rail, i know ford didn't weld them on the EDGE 2wd rangers(or 2wd explorers cant remember) so you might have to weld one on.

currently i know i need the output shaft and the rear housing to bolt up the transfer to the trans, after that, i could buy or get a donor for the rest of the parts, assembly up front is mildly straightforward, a bit of fab work and such but i can get the front done. hopefully i can find the driveshafts in the right length.

i ant seem to find that rear housing, but luck of mine, i have a friend over in argentina, and i know they get these trans in 4x4 over there, so im a ask him of he could get the the housing and output shaft and send them over, that takes care of that, which seems to be the hardest parts to get, then the rest i could get a donor explorer/ranger/sport track etc, also a few mazdas have that warner transfer case if im correct

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't know about your trans but the transmissions we get the output shaft is about the first piece in and the last piece to come out... so it isn't just switch the rear housing and shaft to convert.