Topic: HELP!!!!2wd to 4wd conversion

[YotaJohnBoy4x4]

hey guys i need any input on a 3rd gen 2wd conversion to 4wd... i know a few people have done it and i think thats what im goin to have to do.... HEEEELLLLPPP!!!!

[Gittinit]

Sas and new tranny crosmember then ofcourse install new tranny/tcase and driveshafts. That just about covers it other than swaping in a 4wd rear axle.

[jimbo74]

you will need a new tranny crossmember because the 2wd crossmember is welded to the frame as it also supports the torsion bars....  basically just rip everything off.. you will need steering components, assuming you already have power steering, you can reuse the steering box and you should make the solid axle be a hysteer steering system... you are going to want to swap in a rear axle from a 4x4 as well, and the 2wds had a 5 lug...

you will need driveshafts, tranny, tcase, an axle, spring hangers, front and rear, leaf springs, not 100% sure on the 3rd gen trucks 89-95 but you may need to swap out oil pans and the pickup tube for a 4x4 model....

i have a 2wd ad 4x4 2nd gen trucks, and am putting the 2wd engine in the 4x4, well, the oil pan has to swap as they are cut different and the 2wd pan would get smashed to hell by the steering components...

[YotaJohnBoy4x4 [OP]]

well i have my 84 built with allpros and all that shiat and i need a new motor and i want a 3rd gen and have a little budget so i figured a third gen 2wd with an re motor would be fine because then i just need to get my new mounts and hangers and swap all my 84 stuff into it

[jimbo74]

that should work, make sure the cabs are the same configuration though or else you'll need custom shafts made or different driveshafts and all that stuff

[Birfailed]

I wouldn't even try this.  Is a Gen 3 4x4 chassy that hard to find?  All you need is the frame with steering and drivetrain!

[Birfailed]

I wouldn't even try this.  Is a Gen 3 4x4 chassy that hard to find?  All you need is the frame with steering and drivetrain!

[jimbo74]

I wouldn't even try this.  Is a Gen 3 4x4 chassy that hard to find?  All you need is the frame with steering and drivetrain!

not really, its about just as easy to make a 2wd truck a 4x4 as it is to SAS a IFS 4x4

the 89-95 trucks are so different underneath that none of the steering or front axle would be usuable on the SAS anyway

[Gittinit]

It might be easier to put the 3rd gn cab on the 2nd gen frame.

[crawlerdan]

ive done 2 of these swaps, great swap, the 2wd frame is actually better hen the 4wd in the respect that it has more of an arch in the front to accomodate steering, shocks-travel

i even used the 2wd steering box for a few years, with 40s and i competed in ameture rockcrawling comps...i eventually upgraded to a 4wd box, but only cause i found one super cheap-lemme know how else i can help

[Ramrod]

yep what dan said.  the second and third gen 2wd frames are exactly the same as the original solid axle trucks which means BETTER for a buildup.  check out 4runnerricks buildup if you dont beleive me

[jimbo74]

yup the front arch on the 2wds is definitely higher than the front of an ifs 4x4 rig


i was actually looking into the 4x2 to 4x4 conversion awhile ago when i first got my 4x2....


i have a frame from a 4x2 1985 for sale, it was involved in a rollover and the body mounts did shift a little bit probably due to my bodylift, but it doesn't look to be bent much if at all

[YotaJohnBoy4x4 [OP]]

so thus meaning that the 2wheel drive frame is closer to my 84 frame than a possible ifs frame? also my main motive is because i dont want to deal with wiring in the 22re into my 84 and would like a bit of a project, i love the third gen body style... and i wanna do it right this time becuase alot of the things on my truck are jerry rigged... aka random wires.... homeade mounts.... lots of bombcan.... i just wanna do it right for once...

[YotaJohnBoy4x4 [OP]]

crawlerdan...so i can use the 2wd powersteering box for my highsteer?

[jimbo74]

you nkow what? i didnt even think about the 4x2 power steering pump... i dont know if it is the same as the 4x4 one or not....

as far as the frames, the frame of the 2wd trucks has more arch in the front like a solid axle rig than the ifs rigs, take a look @ their frames @ a junkyard to see what we mean....

[rednk1980]

... alot of the things on my truck are jerry rigged... aka random wires.... homeade mounts.... lots of bombcan.... i just wanna do it right for once...

Yeah i helps build it and they are what he says they are Jerry rigged but what do you expect from a couple of high school kids. Im in for helping on this johnboy 

[YotaJohnBoy4x4 [OP]]

im now on the prowl... to find .... a 2wd third gen or 4wd whatever i can afford with a better motor....and before the 14th when i get paid.

[rednk1980]

lets do some truck shopping tommorrow

[jimbo74]

get a 2wd and SAS it... i would much rather SAS a 2wd than SAS a 4wd because of that frame arch.....


i have heard people say that the 2wd frame is not as strong as the 4x4 frame, but side by side, they are the same wall thickness so i dont see how that can be true

[YotaJohnBoy4x4 [OP]]

so with the two wheel drive then i can use the same 1.5 inch forward by .75 drop hanger?

[jimbo74]

yes, that is fine

[YotaJohnBoy4x4 [OP]]

every time i look at this post i get more pumped about doing it.... and i feel like i already have a 2wd truck to build.. lol but thats what i gotta find... and i was alil sad when i thought about silver goin to the junkyard after i strip her but thats ok its all goin to a good home.

[jimbo74]

is anything actually wrong with silver or you just want something else?

[rednk1980]

want me to try and get ahold of brandon evans he has a 91 2wd that he wrecked all it needs as a new fender and a little tlc the motor runs?

[YotaJohnBoy4x4 [OP]]

yea call him... if it runs and the bodys good im down

[YotaJohnBoy4x4 [OP]]

silvers a champ...need to upgrade though