4x4 Conversions

>>16712859
Just buy a truck that was 4x4 originally

>>16712859
>I've read several articles
and this is where you end up?

>>16712859
From what I've read, the Ford trucks can be converted from 2WD to 4WD pretty easily.

That doesn't work on GM trucks. GM trucks actually use a different frame between 2WD and 4WD models. This makes a 4WD conversion on GM trucks virtually impossible.

In short, it depends on the truck.

Anyways, if the Ranger is anything like the F150, a 4WD conversion should be fairly simple provided you have the parts. sister vehicles for the Ranger include the equivalent year Ford Explorer, Mazda Navajo, and Mazda B-series.

>>16712859
the only time a 4x4 conversion is worth it is when you are doing speshul snowflake drivetrain swaps.

if you want a 4x4 ranger, just buy a 4x4 ranger.

>>16712859
It's not worth the time and money. Just buy a 4x4 truck.

>>16712859
sell 2wd truck but 4x4 truck
save tons of time and headaches

>>16712859
If you're as mechanically inclined as you say, you wouldn't have to ask how much work it is.
Assuming you aren't a sixteen year-old kid with his first car, you will need the transmission, crossmember, transfer case, both driveshafts, front suspension, front differential, possible all other front suspension components.
It's not worth it, considering it's a shitbox ranger anyway. Just drive the goddamn explorer.

>>16712966
>you will need the transmission, crossmember,
the transmission and crossmember are the same for 2WD and 4WD models.

>>16712983
How sure are you? Usually the transfer case bolts to the rear or the transmission, and 90% of transmissions don't just have flanges for shit like that. I know for a fact that the 5 speeds don't.

>>16712983
>>16712994
Also you would have to change the crossmember, considering the 4wd rangers have torsion bar suspension and not coils.

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>>16712859
>first time on the board
>asks an incredibly stupid question
>doesn't ask it in QTDDTOT
>says he did research

>>16712994
>>16712999
That's why you swap the tail shaft and not the entire transmission.

>>16712999
If the ranger in his pic s the generation ranger he has, he has the twin I beam suspension. I own a torsion bar ranger so I don't know how easy a ttb swap would be.

File: 131-0712-01-z+1997-ford-ranger+front-view.jpg (54KB, 660x440px) Image search: [Google]

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>>16712983
actually this is incorrect for ford rangers and explorers of this vintage 2wd versions use a different tail shaft than the 4wd/awd variants, also the cross members are different.

>>16715059
m8 in order to do this on these transmissions
(a ford aod/4r70w or a 5R55E/5R44E) you basically have to dissemble the whole trans. The tail shaft is one of the first items ford put on these tranys so its one of the last items to come out. This just adds a shit ton of work onto a already lengthy 4x4 conversion process.

Just buy a 4x4 version of the truck these things are shitboxes and are dirt cheap now a days not worth the hassle and time required to do the swap