2wd to 4wd....i need help

[Got Lift?]

its for my BII...i got it free from my grandpa....88 Eddie Bauer 2.9L with 51k miles one it... i have heard of such stories as a dummy t-case and all u have to do is bolt up a t-case from a 4wd b2 and i think i need a front suspension....thats where i need help, i have heard the early model explorer axles will fit but i have to grind of rivets that hold the reverse plate on...anyways my question is am i on the right track? because i can get a bII 4wd but doesnt run but all the 4wd stuff works, for 500 buckes. i want to put the BII t-case and front suspension and stuff on there and a explorer axle and front diff...would this work?

also my other question is could i put the suspension from the 2wd b2 on the 4wd b2 and sell it as 2wd?

 

[Alec]

What's the condition of the non-running 4x4 vs the running 2x4? If the body and interior are good on the 4x4 then I'd put the engine and trans from the 2wd in that, instead of the other way around.

As for converting the 2wd to 4wd, definately doable if you have a full 4x4 donor vehicle.

 

[410Fortune]

Though I already answered this on the other board (ORR) I can help again.

Yes the D35 TTB from an Explorer is a direct bolt in replacement for the weaker D28 (that came on Rangers and BII's until 1990).

The T case from the same Explorer or Ranger will also work. The only difference between a BW 1350 T case (Ranger and BII up to 90) and a BW 1354 T case is the yoke for the front driveshaft.

Here's the deal:

UNbolt the dummy t case from your 2wd BII
Remove the entire front 2wd suspension
Bolt in the new 4x4 stuff.

there may be a few rivets you need to cut, but these are the same rivets you would cut to install a lift kit anyways, so you mine as well get it over with, a 4" disc grinder will make shirt work of them

You will want to get EVERYTHING from the donor vehicle.
front axle hub to hub including calipers, hubs, rotors, axles, etc. You will want the front and rear driveshafts from the donor, the transfer case, the shift linkage or all of the electronic shift system, including buttons, under dash mounted controller, wiring harness, and shift motor.

This is not a conversion for the faint of heart, if this is the first time you have ever tackled a project like this, get some help from friends.

Again the absolute best way to do this conversion is to purchase the ENTIRE donor vehicle.
Bonus! If you buy the entire donor (say a 93 Explorer that has been rolled) you can also get the 4.0L engine, transmission, interior, and rear axle.........get it all over with at the same time.

Youcan find BII's for $200 if they dont run that would make good donors if you just want to swap in the weaker D28 front TTB and BW 1350 t case. That will get you going, but why not spend the same $$$ towards the stronger D35 now?

Good luck! Like I said before, the 2wd BII is probably the easiest truck ever made to convert to a 4x4 because they already have the correct engine cross memeber and the dummy t case........

 

[Got Lift?]

k thanks...yeah 410 my thread got lost on the other forum...i bought the bII last night and lets say the body is a pos...so tonite im gonna start talkin the front suspension off on the 2wd and hopefully tomorrow put the transfer case in

 

[John_Rock]

I'm thinking of doing the same thing to get a short wheelbase 4x4. My friend knows of a BII 2wd that's been sitting next door to his work that has a non functional tranny.

I think I would want to build it up like Jim's Bunkin' Bronco II. With the solid front axle. Has he posted any details on his axles and suspension setup?

Thanks,
John

 

[Got Lift?]

ok when doing the swap what is exactly everything i need to take off...i need a list if i can get one, of every part that is needed (ie i beams,coils,whatever else i might need)...im thinking of trying to put in a d35 instead of the 28 that is on my parts bronco.

 

[Got Lift?]

btt...anyone?