Riddle me this...2x4 to 4x4 conversion

[ryo7]

I have in my possession a very nicely preserved 1991 ford ranger xl. I love this truck, it is dependable as hell and I want to keep it...but Western Pennsylvania can be hell in the winter. I've owned 2 4x4 F150s that were all Clunker Junker Mother Funkers. This truck was owned by my mom for 5 years who took good care of it, then by my uncle for 5 more years who took meticulous care of it...The man spent 3 hours trying to remove a bolt from his starter the 'right' way rather than shear it off with an angle grinder and drill it out like I would've done after the first hour of realizing it was stripped...but be damned he did it...

All the rust is patched save for the fender and the frame was saved from getting Leprosy like most ford truck frames got in the late 80's and early 90's. So it's a great truck under and over...So I ask...what would I need to convert my 2.9 V6 5 speed 2x4 truck into a 4x4? Can I use parts from an explorer? {had a 94 explorer that was so close to this rangers it's insane}. I get parts so dirt cheap and have friends that love projects like this over a few cases of miller lite {case a night, 15 bucks a case, cheap redneck labor}. So I am wondering what all it would take. Cause I want to keep this truck the next 5 years. it's been good to me since I got it in April and with 4x4 it is everything I'm looking for in a truck...save for AC...

And now that brings me to my next question. It doesn't have AC. What would it require to convert it? Better alternator, AC compressor, new belts, Condensor, etc...anything else?

I know guys, tell me it's not worth it all you want. I've already made up my mind that it is worth it when you have a great truck. Western PA doesn't offer many options for 'good ford trucks' these days...as almost everything is rotted out from under itself. I know every owner of this truck closely and they all took phenomenal care of it...so that goes far for me. I don't care that the steering is loose as all get out that's what makes a classic ford classic and once you're used to it it's like it's not even there.

 

[1993Ranger4x4]

Your best bet is to get a 4x4 donor ranger

 

[06RangerXLT]

91 and 94 are different IIRC. get a donor ranger and do the swap.

btw, im in canada with 2wd, so dont tell me about bad snow. i can plow my 2wd through a foot of snow without even slowing down.

 

[Will]

An Explorer would work, same parts.

 

[wizkid00104]

btw, im in canada with 2wd, so dont tell me about bad snow. i can plow my 2wd through a foot of snow without even slowing down.

Do you have hills? And what happens when you come to a standstill and need to get moving again?

I had a 2wd Ranger and even with the bed loaded with sand, I was still shit outta luck in snow.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You need a front axle, driveshafts, transmission and transfer case.

Instead of pulling the engine and swapping the big crossmember that holds both the engine and the suspension beams to the truck I would put in a solid axle. Since you sound like you just want traction for snow, a D30 out of a Jeep is a common to find and find parts for reasonably priced axle. Problem with a solid axle is you have to design the front suspension and steering all by your lonesome. James Duff was coming out with a kit I think, dunno if it is available yet or not.

Either that or pull the engine and front axle out both trucks and start cutting rivets and welds and bolt and weld the new crossmember back in... that is why few do the swap.

With a set of good tires and/or chains you can go a lot of places with a 2wd, 4wd is very nice though...

 

[escort_gts]

I recommend a solid axle swap. I have done a 2wd conversion with the crossmember swap and that is no fun. Much more work than I intended to do. Check out my 93 build thread in my signature. It was a 2wd I did a d30 swap. There is a lot of info in there for you.

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