Convert 2WD to 4WD

[troverman]

My '96 Explorer Limited is just rear drive, yet I live in the snowbelt. I also live near a junkyard that has lots of 4x4 Explorers in it. How difficult would it be to make my 2WD into a 4WD?

I'm thinking I would need a transfer case, a shorter rear driveshaft, a front driveshaft, and probably different suspension along with whatever Ford was using for a diff in the front. New hubs, axles, etc. In popping off the trim panel around the radio, I see the wiring clip to the 4x4 switch is in place. Is any wiring / ECU's required or would the new t-case / front axle be plug-and-play? If I could do this cheap enough, I might be willing to do a lot of work and make the conversion.

Anyone done this or have insight?

Thanks in advance

 

[Spdrcer34]

Transmission, transfercase, Wiring, ECM, axles....

You already have a Land Rover LR3, and a Range Rover...I say keep the Explorer 2WD.

Ryan

 

[slaughterrt]

Seems expensive and labor intensive. If you want a 4wd ex, you may have better luck pricing used ones and save yourself a lot of work...my opinion anyway.

 

[troverman]

Valid points about the Rovers and the cost-effectiveness of just buying a different one.

Why would I need a different transmission? I don't believe its any different than the ones in 4x4 Explorers. I'm just curious about this project. Does anyone know for certain if different wiring is required? Does the transfer case have its own ECM or does it rely on the ABS ECM?

Thanks

 

[gijoecam]

Valid points about the Rovers and the cost-effectiveness of just buying a different one.

Why would I need a different transmission? I don't believe its any different than the ones in 4x4 Explorers. I'm just curious about this project. Does anyone know for certain if different wiring is required? Does the transfer case have its own ECM or does it rely on the ABS ECM?

Thanks

Wouldn't need a new transmission necessarily, but you'd have to pull everything out of your old transmission to install the shorter output shaft used by the 4wd truck.... So essentially, you'd need to either rebuild or replace it.

In all honesty, it's just not worth the effort.

 

[Spdrcer34]

If you got a totalled Explorer for cheap, it could take a bit of the sting out the project, and ALMOST worth it to just do it...

But other than that....it's not really worth the work.....

Ryan