Hey guys

I just picked up a sweet little Reg cab, 2WD, 22-RE 5 speed pickup

very clean, frame is immaculate, as is the engine at 85,000 original miles


any info / guides on doing a 4WD swap? I'm open to doing a long travel setup and rock it like a pre-runner but I'm hoping I can do this on my $3000 budget

any help is much appreciated!

edit: just an after thought.. maybe this would be a good time to find a straight axle and get a SAS kit? IFS or straight axle it doesn't matter to me

 

I'd suggest you do some researching on the 2WD to 4WD swaps.. Doing a SAS is your best bet. The 2WD to 4WD LT swap would be a nightmare to do on a 2WD frame. Now if your wanting the 4WD pre runner then I'd suggest a Frame swap then LT.

Are you a welder, fabricator? Can you take and record measurements down to fractions? Will this be in your budget? These are things you must consider..

But anyhow do some research to get a better understanding of your current setup. Then go from there

 

2wd and 4wd frames are very different. SAS is easiest.

Do note though the 2wd frame is also weaker ahead of the engine mounts.

 

Thanks guys. I have done some fabrication in the past, but I am not a fabricator by profession. Correct me if I'm wrong, but putting in 4x4 and a straight axle into a 2WD truck would require:

transfercase with crossmember
hang the front suspension & axle on the frame
aftermarket steering upgrade
new front and rear driveshafts

can I retain my stock transmission & rear end? they are in excellent shape
would this be a good application for those aftermarket frame reinforcement kits?

 

you'd have to use the 4wd trans... more info here:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyot...e-2wd-sas.html

 

the build in that link is interesting because he uses stock front springs, so it's budget-oriented.

the problem with that is that if you look for spring arch in the front, you won't see any... the normal ride height on that truck puts the front springs in near reverse arch, so if he gets semi-serious offroad, those springs will definitely be in negative territory.

everybody salivates about ride height in that thread, but then he is complaining about having to run a flat pitman arm, because his complete lack of spring arch puts the crossover steering in a bad position.

that kind of a build is o.k. for flatlanders who only need, say, a mild snow truck, but he'd be in trouble in the rocks out west.

moral of the story is that it's a good build for where he is in maine, and for what he wants to do, but if your goals are different than that, your build should be too.

 

2wd chassis are IFS by design. They also have the torsion bars attached to the lower arms. 4wd chassis, if IFS, have the torsion bars attached to the upper arms.


A transmission from any 22R/RE 4wd will bolt up to any 22R/RE engine, 2wd or 4wd but the transmission mount may need some work. And if you're doing leaf spring up front, the forward propeller shaft might need some custom work too.

Lots to think about and plan for.

 

IFS arms are different between 4wd and 2wd, 4wd being much beefier (different torsion bar and shock mounts in particular)...

Frames are different (up to 93 or so, 2wd were only American made while 4wd came from Japan). 2wd do have greater haul capacities than 4wd however.

Suspensions are different -- 4wds having add'l spring leafs I believe.

Body panels, particularly fender panels are different (4wd accomodating larger tires) and front grille are different -- also think the Hilux 4wd have slightly different grill proportions than 2wd drive too.

Other drivetrain, rear axles are different. Believe rear driveshaft is beefier on 4wd too (but might just be thinking 3vze vs 22re, which is for certain beefier).

Okay, found this for everything: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyot...ml#post5768901
-4wd brake booster
-New 4wd transmission & transfer case
-Install new crossmember to mount transfer case and remove old tranny crossmember
-New front and rear driveshafts
-Rims and tires for 6 lug axles
-4wd steering box
-possibly some exhaust work

Were I you, I'd sell the 2wd and buy a 4...

 

first question should be, what type of off roading do you want to do?