4wd-2wd... & tranny question

[BMXunleashed]

well im building my truck slowly as a desert truck and im planning on doing coilover up front and deavers rear....4.10 gears, limited slip, etc etc


but i dont really see a need for 4wd and the only reason im considering 2wd is cuz it would be 500-1k+ cheaper if i skip drivetrain stuff up front (gears, ltd slip, manual hubs, manual T case, etc) and my buddy with a ranger says he RARELY gets stuck with his 2wd and thats only climbing sandy steep hills....


so my question is.... could i just cut and turn my 4wd beams and trim the side with the pumpkin down and just use the outer axel shafts? while removing the diff and othe 4wd drivetrain parts? or would i be better off finding a 2wd ranger from pick-ur-parts yard and putting that stuff on there?

ok and for tranny if i go manual tranny i know the M5OD is the way to go but if i want to keep an auto with my 4.0 OHV engine wich should i go with, i know there are like c5 or c7 im not sure what the numbers are, but they are bronco trannys? i wouldnt really be bother by losing overdrive.....

 

[410Fortune]

4.0L with C5 automatic (3 speed, no overdrive) you will need the 2wd version of the C5 trans as it is quite different from a 4x4

Find yourself a 2wd beamed ranger, ditch the TTB stuff if you dont want 4x4.

4x4 is ALWAYS a bonus if you can find a way to keep it.

My question for you would be why try to start with a 4x4 and build a 2wd? Why not get rid of the 4x4 and start with a 2wd?

Lots of research to do.

 

[BMXunleashed]

well i was looking for a 2wd explorer but it didnt seem like there were too many on the market and i was in a bit of a time crunch to find a vehicle to drive and i found a 94 eddie bauer 4x4 with 80k miles on it and in mint condition for $3600.... so i went with that

i know 4x4 is nice but for the type of offroading im doing i dont really see a need for it

maybe ill look into finding a 2wd..... but its the same tranny isnt it? so i'd still have to swap it maybe? and i was planning on doing beam/tranny/t-case work anyways so i figured why not do 2wd conversion, since i already did exhaust/intake, wheels/tires, and sound system on my current ex.....

thanx 410....again...haha

 

[410Fortune]

the transmissions are similar but not the same, the output shaft and tailhousing are different, in order to convert a 4x4 trans to 2wd and vise versa the entire trans must be taken apart and output shafts swapped.

I vote if you have 4x4, keep it.
Make a long travel TTB setup and then when it is needed you will have it.

4x4 can outperform 2wd in all off road conditions, it is a bonus, especially with a heavy Explorer.

But research is the key to understanding what you want to accomplish, why, and how to get there.

 

[CodePoet]

Listen to 410, when it comes to ttb's he knows his stuff!

I'd cut and turn the beams. I'm having nasty little urges to buy myself a ranger and turn it into a pre-runner type rig with my now useless d35 and 8.8

I'd try to do everything I could to keep the 4x4, don't buy a lift kit, modify the current beams. There are tricks out there to help you keep the shafts in it (a possible concern with alot of travel), and if you search around you can find good deals on r&p's, and hubs! Any why change the electric 4x4? If it works use it

 

[BMXunleashed]

ya i just think to much sometimes....hahaha but im sure a lot of you are like that too....get urges to go crazy with mods haha...

ill keep the 4x4 stuff.... ill get an early f-150 if i want something 2wd long travel haha...

so as far as a tranny for my ex if i want manual the M5OD is the only way to go i know that...but for auto its a c5 tranny...those are off early broncos?

ill just shoot for like 14" travel on my ex and be happy

thanx guys

 

[410Fortune]

this question comes up ALOT on one of my favorite forums, this forum is for ranger based vehicles mainly in SO Cal and almost all of them built for the sand and desert.

People who remove their 4x4 for 2wd typically regret it later.
The consencious is to keep your 4x4.

Modify your beams, a small cut and turn, combined with extending them 4.5 per side just before the ball joint and then re-locating the lower ball joint to correct camber can allow you to keep your factory pivot brackets, run 4-8" of lift and get 20+" of usable wheel travel from the TTB. Most beamed 2wd trucks dont even see 20" of travel. Not as expensive as you may think
of course steering, radius arms, axle shafts, etc need to be planned out as well and yes it is true it will typically cost more then a beamed 2wd truck, but you are adding to your build $$$ by converting to 2wd in the first place and removing your transfer case, etc....

research

http://www.rrorc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22040&highlight=cut+turn
http://www.rrorc.com/forums/showthr...ight=cut+turned
http://www.explorer4x4.com/zims.htm
http://www.off-road.com/4x4web/ford/zim/ttb.html

All of those I found on this site with a really quick search