How to tranform a 2wd to a 4wd?
 

Does any one know what it would take to change a 2wd truck to a 4wd? I seen many builds but could not see any for this subject. Thanks for any help!

It would take tooooooo much money, cheaper to buy one.

kinda depends on the truck....whatchya got?

If it's gonna be a custom SAS build it wouldn't be too terribly difficult to start with a 2wd platform. I mean if you got like a free 2wd it may be worthwhile. Somebody on here has done it before, I remember from a past thread.

it's actually A LOT easier in the front if you do an SAS with a 2wd..less stuff to cut off dude. but you'd have to get a 4wd rear axle and such..

i think the 2wd 2nd gen 4runners have the 4wd suspension..just without the front diff..

if ur a 2wd pickup..it would not be worthwhile to swap to a 4wd IFS unless it's long travel suspension

What's different with the rear axle? I think the hardest part of a 2wd to SAS 4wd swap would be the tranny/transfer case situation.

well you'd have to swap for a different axle...again depending on the truck..i believe..aren't the 2wd axles narrower?

lol yea the tranny and t-case part would be an issue..just have to cut a new hole in the floor..and bolt up the crossmember..idk if the 2wd frame is drilled for the 2wd crossmember or not lol..

and they're 5 lug....i guess the housing COULD be the same...just different axles and gears.

swap the axle shafts for some longfields and throw some new gears in the pumpkin lol

I would've assumed, gear ratios and axleshaft hubs aside, that the rear axle would be the same on a 2 whl and 4 whl drive. Just my assumption tho, lol. Regardless, it will work the same, just may not be tough enough and it would be 5 lug haha.

What kind of vehicle would you be converting, car, truck , van? Depending on the vehicle it could be pretty easy if you get the parts for cheap enough or it could be very difficult like say if you were trying to convert a car without a frame.

I'm looking at getting a mid 90's ext. truck for a couple of hundered dollars. just trying to figure out what I would need to do. I would like a solid axle. I figured the front axle would be similar to a sas.

you'd be better off just getting a 4wd..unless you're an EXPERIENCED fabricator and a GOOD welder

If my pee brain serves me right. 2wd has 5 lugs & 4wd has 6 lugs. So swap out rear end is a must. I was thinking about doing it on an 85 2wd. In the long run it would be ez'er to sell the 2wd & get a 4wd. Just my $.02 on this. Any way I wish you good luck.

For Sale sign:lof:

2wd has a 7.5 r&p and 5 lug unless you find an early mod 79 and 80 mod they came 6 lug and 8" rearend, run the sas straight axel 4x4 tranny and transfer case and possibly crossmember, you need to be a good welder and fabricator....

i bought a 1987 toyota pickup 22re 5spd it was a two wheel drive but the people who owned the truck before me did the sas , but they used a reese hitch for the front shackle mounts, and a shackle kit looks ok havent had a problem with it yet..,so we tore it down, im redoing the truck this week, but the 2wheel drives are 5 lug and 4x4s are 6 lugs, im not sure but i beleive their both 30 spline but i would go six lug, and i beleive the 85 and down axles are 3 inches shorter so i dont think you can use a 86 + axle shaft im going to post a build thread when done its not to hard, but the people drilled holes for a cross member from a 4x4 truck, the transmission and transfer case sit in fine and have no problem, , every thing works fine, and aline fine , dont know if this helps, but good luck

straight axle
 

if i would you i would just buy a 4x4 and put that one in the back yard for parts but if i were you and had somewhere to do it i would just convert it to a straight axle then get a 4x4 tranny and there ya go

Think about it here guys before you tell him to just buy a 4wd truck... what does everyone want? Straight axle. If the truck is cheap, then go for it dude! Get yourself a set of axles from a jeep cherokee or an older yota or something, just so they're the same gear ratio. You don't want guess work here. A pair of solid axles can be had for a few hundred bucks. Then some leaf springs (or a set of coils if you're good, but leafs are easier), a divorced transfer case, a couple driveshafts and you've got something that would make pretty much anyone on here drool. It will be a project, take some time and some money, but all in all you could do everything for the 4wd swap with a pair of axles for a grand, minus driveshafts. If you know how to make them, you're set. IF not you'll just have to find someone that can make you a pair, but they really aren't that expensive.

Or you could go all out with a set of 2.5 tons......... ;)

the 86 rear axels from the independent front suspension are longer than the 85 1.5" each side and will bolt right up with complete rearend, but you need to measure axel lenght from an 86 4x4 axel then your 2wd axel and Maybe it will work but you will be on a 7.5 ring gear, and housing {bad news} i had an 86 on 9" lift and couldnt keep a 7.5 in the front end butt was on 39.5 boggers also with 5.71 r&p, good luck???? if you need the lenght of an 86 4x4 axel i got a spare one in the back yard??

Found this on C-list. Maybe you could email the guy and get some pointers.

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/cto/1655474390.html