All Wheel Drive!

[43]

Hey guys, my explorer is 2WD, and i want to swap the AWD from a mounty into it. My question is, is it possible to put a 3.55 LS in the rear of the AWD? would it cause any problems?

P.S. I am doing 2wd to AWD because i dont want to mess with the Transfer case and all those little doo-dads. i dont need any of that right? its like 70% simpler?

P.P.S. No im not going to sell mine for a 4wd explorer.

P.P.P.S. i do exaggerate a bit so dont take me completely seriously...

Thanks guys!

 

[jrford]

I don't know if any one on the 3rd gen board has done it, you might want to check the older the boards and see if anyone has.

An LSD should be independent of the Axle ratio, although if you can pull it off you really don't need it with AWD.

It MIGHT be doable:
AWD has no electronics so no need for wiring
Transmission is different, 2wd has a tail-housing and i thought the only way to switch it is to tear it all down, maybe a used one?

PCM Re-Program - possibly as the ABS might be calibrated different for 2wd/4wd, might have to check with the dealer on that one.
If you have RSC that might be impacted as well.

You will also need:
diff make sure its the same ratio
Rear drive shaft
front drive shaft
pair of half shafts
What else? I'd just keep the donor vehicle handy just in case.

I've been wondering if it was possible to replace the 4wd the AWD, but thats a different idea with totally different implications: PCM, 4x4 Module, impact on RSC etc.

 

[adam2kgt]

You still need a transfer case. AWD works kinda like 4WD, but it's engaged all the time and is more complex due to the viscous coupling in the transfer case. A 4WD swap would probably be simpler, to be honest. I haven't done either, so I can't tell you the complexities of them, but neither one will be simple.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

What are your plans? AWD will have limited off road capabilities. You live in Texas so you really don't need AWD for winter.

 

[43]

Thanks for the replys guys! Allright i thought it would kind of been a direct swap, so this might be a little more in-depth then i 1st estimated... Thats cool that the LS doesnt have a gear ratio on it, wasent really sure about that, thanks for clearing it up. Too bad i still need the transfer case, i heard that it was quite a hassle, but no worries. If the PCM would need to be re-programmed, would a Ford dealership have to do it, or could i do it at home? Thanks! Also for the last 2 winters (maybe 3) it's snowed in my area in texas, and the AWD is just so i have more wheeles spinning so wet grass and slight mud wont stop me, since im not going to lift it, and thats most of the offroading im planning to do.

 

[macknos94]

The awd setup would be the way to go due to no electronics. He is right about the tranny. You have to tear the whole tranny down to switch the tailshaft. If you don't do much off roading then look into a locker and that will be more then you will ever need. Or do an easy dif swap and install a 3.73 LSD. That will be the easiest and give you a bit more power out of the hole.

The worst part of our diffs is the fact that you need to remove both axles to remove it. My bmw it takes about an hour with some drink breaks to swap the diffs, total of 19 bolts. Explorer a good 4 hours.

 

[waskly]

The awd setup would be the way to go due to no electronics. He is right about the tranny. You have to tear the whole tranny down to switch the tailshaft. If you don't do much off roading then look into a locker and that will be more then you will ever need. Or do an easy dif swap and install a 3.73 LSD. That will be the easiest and give you a bit more power out of the hole.

The worst part of our diffs is the fact that you need to remove both axles to remove it. My bmw it takes about an hour with some drink breaks to swap the diffs, total of 19 bolts. Explorer a good 4 hours.

explorer diff is quick to come out, 2 axles, 1 drive shaft. and 3 bolts it out.

 

[macknos94]

Only issue with the 2 half shafts that make it a pain is that you need to tear apart the suspension to remove them. They don't bolt to the rear they slid inside. Believe me I have had every piece that part of the factory suspension apart. Now if Ford used common sense like chevy, bmw and Benz did they would have used a bolt on style rather then a lock in clip style.

 

[43]

Thanks for all the info guys! once i have a bit of free time i'll try to get around to this and keep you guys updated on how its going. thanks again!

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

Let us know what you do! I've thought of doing the same for a while now too.