What 2wd platforms can be converted to 4wd easily?

[sirhk100]

Generic question based off a conversation with a friend. He's in the market for a 4wd ranger to build up and is having a heck of a time finding a reasonably priced 4wd truck to start with and has started wondering about converting a 2wd to 4wd. No obviously anything is possible with money, skill, motivation, etc... But he's more thinking along the lines of which ones are basically a 4wd chassis with the 4wd goodies removed that could be slapped back in place.

I believe the older beamed ranger/explorer 2wd chassis is different then the 4wd. I remember a decade plus ago buying a set of 2wd radius arms for my 4wd exploder and something was a reason for them to not work. I want to say the 4wd chassis may have been wider?

I think the standard a-arm rangers are definitely different being 2wd on coils and 4wd on torsions.

There's the ranger edge which I think would be the best bet. I "think" the 4wd stuff would literally bolt right into that chassis and he'd be up and going in nothing flat with all the right parts.

What about the sport trac? What about the 95+ explorers though? I'm not sure which chassis the 2wd models are based off. I believe the 4wd ones are basically the ranger edge front chassis, is that correct?

 

[4x4junkie]

Any 2WD Rangers that have coil springs are ones to avoid if you want bolt-in (or near to it) swapability to 4WD.

2WD Bronco IIs, Explorers, and I believe any torsion-bar'ed A-arm Rangers (Trailhead, Edge, etc) should all be good bets. On the BII it's simply a matter of replacing one axle bracket and swapping out the "dummy" transfer case for a real one, then bolt a Dana35 front axle under it (the Ex and Ranger will also need the transmission swapped for a 4WD version).

I would think the Sport Trac 2WD is also doable this way too, but I can't say for sure.

 

[sirhk100]

Thanks for the reply. That's pretty much on par with what I was thinking too!

I didn't know the Bii's have a dummy t-case though! That's interesting and kinda funny at the same time!

 

[4x4junkie]

lol

Yeah, not sure what Ford's thinking with that was... They have the whole same external case as a 'real' t-case, but the front output snout is blocked off, and the output shaft I recall simply rides on two sealed bearings going right straight through it. (BW-1359 case IIRC)

Fortunately it makes for super-easy 4WD swaps on a vehicle that's already dirt-cheap to buy currently even in a 4WD version since they all will have a 4WD-version trans.


Edit:

I just looked in my FSM (confirming it's a 1359)... They call it a "Transfer Drive Case" lol. Looks like it uses 4WD-type input and output shafts, along with what looks like the same shift collar that you would normally find in the center of a set of planetary gears that is fixed over the shafts with a snap ring. Pretty comical.... It says: "The mounting adapter, front case, and rear cover are assembled together with no RTV type sealer required for sealing purposes. The case assembly contains no lubricant and none should be installed" (but it has "Drain" and "Fill" plugs on the rear, and suggests you "Do Not Remove" them).