2WD to 4WD. Any tips?

[yzguy1988]

i want to make my 2wd mazda b2300 in to a 4wd. the drivetrain i have now is the 2.3L I4 and the 5spd manual tranny. whats the best way to go about this project?

 

[shadyluke]

Sell it and buy a 4x4. Otherwise do a solid axle swap but that lil 4 banger is gonna need some really tall gears to turn any sort of large size tire.

 

[410Fortune]

Find a 4x4 version of your Ranger, get all the parts off it you need, I mean everything from one donor.
Bolt it on.
Manual shift t case would be easier, but harder to find.

Make sure you check the gear ratio in your B2300 to match the new front diff.
You will need the transmission or modify your trans with the new 4x4 output shaft and tailhousing and then t case.

Big project.

 

[Bored_2wd]

When I converted from 2wd to 4wd, I got the dana35 front axle and the engine crossmember from the same truck. At least on my '93 you need the crossmember, the stock 2wd one does not match up at all - there are multiple reasons why it doesn't work, each one of which is a show stopper. We cut the old 2wd one out, and cut two slits in of the bottom flange of the frame on each side of where the 2wd crossmember was, and then heated the 'flange' and bent it outwards. We did this in order to get the 4x4 one up and in. We then heated it and bent it back up, and welded it back in place. This is the easiest way. We did need 2 new engine mounts, and I think we replaced the spring towers too. There is a difference in height between the 2wd and 4wd towers.
If you're planning on doing this, plan on yanking the motor and trans entirely. We tried to keep it all in place, and it ended up 10 times more work than if we'd have just yanked it in the first place.
--Bob