Noob Question about 4wd Transformation

jcurtis1806

jcurtis1806

New member
Hey everyone,

I really have no clue if it is possible on the 4Runner but I know it can be done on other trucks. Long story short, buying a 2wd 4Runner is stupid unless you only do city/highway driving. I have an '04 SR5 V8 2wd and it has the WORST rear diff ever. What can I do to either modify the diff or transform the entire truck into a 4wd? Price is not an issue...I don't want a new car, I just want this one to be better.

Thanks!
 
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jcurtis1806 said:
Hey everyone,

I really have no clue if it is possible on the 4Runner but I know it can be done on other trucks. Long story short, buying a 2wd 4Runner is stupid unless you only do city/highway driving. I have an '04 SR5 V8 2wd and it has the WORST rear diff ever. What can I do to either modify the diff or transform the entire truck into a 4wd? Price is not an issue...I don't want a new car, I just want this one to be better.
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The only economical way to transform a 2WD 4Runner into a 4WD 4Runner is to sell your 2WD and buy a used 4WD.

There is simply no economical way to purchase and install 4WD components into your truck. Sorry.
 
M1911 said:
The only economical way to transform a 2WD 4Runner into a 4WD 4Runner is to sell your 2WD and buy a used 4WD.

There is simply no economical way to purchase and install 4WD components into your truck. Sorry.
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As I stated earlier, money/economics is no issue. If I have a 4wd 4Runner that has been wrecked, for instance, and a 2wd 4Runner that is fine, is it possible to make that transfer?
 
jcurtis1806 said:
As I stated earlier, money/economics is no issue. If I have a 4wd 4Runner that has been wrecked, for instance, and a 2wd 4Runner that is fine, is it possible to make that transfer?
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Anything is possible with enough money. But you're talking new front axle, transfer case, 4WD switch, front driveshaft, likely parts of the wiring harness, and lord knows what else. You're talking thousands of dollars in parts alone and a whole boatload of labor. And when you're done, you'll have a mongrel truck with greatly reduced resale value.

Why would you want to do that when you could get the same thing, a 4WD 4Runner, with far less cost and trouble by trading for a 4WD truck? It makes no sense.

Seriously, just trade for a 4WD 4Runner. It will be far cheaper and easier and will get you to the same endpoint.
 
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M1911 said:
Anything is possible with enough money. But you're talking new front axle, transfer case, 4WD switch, front driveshaft, likely parts of the wiring harness, and lord knows what else. You're talking thousands of dollars in parts alone and a whole boatload of labor. And when you're done, you'll have a mongrel truck with greatly reduced resale value.

Why would you want to do that when you could get the same thing, a 4WD 4Runner, with far less cost and trouble by trading for a 4WD truck? It makes no sense.

Seriously, just trade for a 4WD 4Runner. It will be far cheaper and easier and will get you to the same endpoint.
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x2 :iagree: But money/economics is no issue for him. Maybe he wants to turn his 2WD into a project car.
 
Seriously, just trade for a 4WD 4Runner. It will be far cheaper and easier and will get you to the same endpoint.[/QUOTE]

My only issue with that is the full-time 4wd. I want the V8 engine with the part-time transfer case. I have a '96 grand cherokee V8 with full-time 4wd that eats gas. Since the new 4Runners offer both part-time and full-time options, would it not be possible to mount a part-time tranny to an '04 V8 Runner?
 
It is possible. You are looking at a swapped rear diff/axle new transfer case, new wiring harnesses, new rear end basically. It is a really tough process to which you will NOT have a working 4runner for a long time. I commend your determination. It makes sense if the car has sentimental value. My advice, get in touch with a GOOD mechanic who has done 4WD swap and break out the check book. GOOD LUCK!
 
I would go SAS.

I believe there was a thread (possibly not on this forum) about an IFS 4WD conversion from 2WD. It was mentioned that the 2WD doesn't have certain mounting points (on the cross member maybe) needed for the 4WD system.
 
Every once in a while we see a thread like this where someone wants to turn his 2wd 4Runner into a 4wd 4Runner. And every time, the members here tell him that it is possible, but not worth the time & money to do it.

Then the thread dies and gets buried in the rubble.

Just for once, I want to see someone actually take on the project and DO IT! I think a teardown/build thread like that would be awesome, so I'm going to encourage the OP to go all out and start collecting the parts needed for the conversion. Hell, I'll even help by listing the components he'll need off the top of my head and even do a little research for the parts that might not be so obvious.

Just let us know if you're serious and when you want to get started!
 
jcurtis1806 said:
Hey everyone,

I really have no clue if it is possible on the 4Runner but I know it can be done on other trucks. Long story short, buying a 2wd 4Runner is stupid unless you only do city/highway driving. I have an '04 SR5 V8 2wd and it has the WORST rear diff ever. What can I do to either modify the diff or transform the entire truck into a 4wd? Price is not an issue...I don't want a new car, I just want this one to be better.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Get an ARB air locker or a Truetrac LSD.

Its not always about money. It could be transformed into 4wd with enough of it. But time and aggrivation is another thing.. then your left with a stock 4Runner if swapping from a wrecked 4WD.





SAS is a better way to go, but unless you plan to turn the truck into a trail rig, probably not worth it.

jcurtis1806 said:
Hey everyone,I really have no clue
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:iagree:

this thread has gone to shit
 
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I realize the original poster said money was no object.

What about RELIABILITY?????? The type and amount of mods to accomplish your goal most definitely means that RELIABILITY will be a VERY BIG question mark for this vehicle. If the vehicle is a weekend toy then reliability is probably not an issue. If this vehicle is the daily driver then the original poster is asking for a LOT of potential headaches going forward.

Maybe the original poster should find a 4WD 4Runner with a blown engine and swap the engine out of his 4Runner. This engine swap would be a LOT less complicated and in the long run MUCH MORE Reliable than doing a 4WD mod to the current 4Runner.

Then there is always the option of just trading the current 2WD 4Runner for a good pre-owned 4WD.

Just my .02
 
My only issue with that is the full-time 4wd. I want the V8 engine with the part-time transfer case. I have a '96 grand cherokee V8 with full-time 4wd that eats gas. Since the new 4Runners offer both part-time and full-time options, would it not be possible to mount a part-time tranny to an '04 V8 Runner?
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You want to save gas? I thought that economics was not an issue? Saving gas is about saving money. The extra cost to put a part-time 4WD system in a 2WD truck versus trading for a 4WD truck will pay for a heck of a lot of gas.

The 4th gen V6 has a multi-mode transfer case that lets you run in 2WD. It only gets 1-2 mpg better than the V8 with full-time 4WD. You're just not going to see a big difference with a part-time system over the Torsen full-time system.
 
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If money is no object, but I wanted to maintain the V6 features like being able to shift out of 4hi then I'd just slap a supercharger on the 4.0 V6. I know lots of FJ guys who have done it and the power is nice and it doesn't have a horrible effect on mileage.

Or you could trade your 2wd 4th gen and get a 3rd Gen and hop it up as much as you want (the 3.4 V6 with the supercharger isn't a bad option).

I am saving up now to get another truck and I was always interested in doing swaps like this. The money wasn't the main issue ultimately.... it was the time. It would take forever, and you're never quite ever done. It is fun to tinker, but having to switch this, replace that, try it out, realize it's wrong, go back in and do it all again just got to be too much of a drag. I enjoyed lifting my Eagle Talon engine every other weekend for a while.... but then that got old. If you've got the time and the means then you can do anything and it will be cool if you stick with it. Just look through your local classifieds at the number of "project trucks" that guys have poured 10's of thousands into that are selling for 2 or 3 grand to get rid of them. It's pretty depressing actually.
 
Jed said:
BamBam,

He's not interested in more power, he's interested in converting his 2wd to 4wd.
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like I said, money is not an issue meaning I don't care what the cost is going to be, I just want to know how to do it. this doesn't mean I have more money than Richard Branson. The best idea I have seen on here so far, besides exactly what I asked for, is the engine swap. Since I know how I've driven my truck, I know what it has been through (engine and tranny wise). Could I keep my engine and tranny and mount an aftermarket part-time system to another 4Runner? And/or could I put a locker into my 2wd and maintain better off-road performance?
 
jcurtis1806 said:
like I said, money is not an issue meaning I don't care what the cost is going to be, I just want to know how to do it. this doesn't mean I have more money than Richard Branson. The best idea I have seen on here so far, besides exactly what I asked for, is the engine swap. Since I know how I've driven my truck, I know what it has been through (engine and tranny wise). Could I keep my engine and tranny and mount an aftermarket part-time system to another 4Runner? And/or could I put a locker into my 2wd and maintain better off-road performance?
Click to expand...

An engine swap? Wait a minute...you were asking about converting your V8 2wd into a 4wd with part-time transfer case, right? So why would you need an engine swap? If you are going to go as far as to convert 2wd to 4wd, then you don't need an engine swap, even if you want the part-time transfer case. BTW, it's really a multi-mode setup, as it allows you to run full time 4wd or part time 4wd. But the point is that if you're going through the trouble of converting a 2wd into 4wd, then you might as well get the 4wd system that you want. That doesn't mean you have to convert to the V6 engine though.


As much as I'd like to see you do the conversion, it just isn't going to happen. It doesn't make a bit of sense. You already mentioned something about wanting to save money on gas as a reason for wanting the V6 4wd system. Well, if you have concerns about gas money, it doesn't make any sense at all for you to even think about this type of expensive conversion.

Your best idea so far is the rear locker and forget the 4wd conversion. That will definitely be an improvement, but it will not be nearly as good as having 4wd.
 
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AlSo, is SAS "solid axle swap"? What does that entail? Would it be a replacement of my rear axle? Ad what would I gain offroad? The main thing I want to accomplish in this build is to retain most of my stock feel but make offroadig more doable, where I don't have to depend on a friend with a winch every 15 minutes!
 
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Here's the front and rear differential with thousands of pieces. I also have the transfer case but it's toooo big to post in here with a million pieces.
 

Attachments

  • Front Diff V8.pdf
    Front Diff V8.pdf
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  • Rear Diff.pdf
    Rear Diff.pdf
    85.7 KB · Views: 92
  • jester.gif
    jester.gif
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I meant taking my engine and tranny out and putting it in another V8 4wd 4runner shell. Swapping my engine would make no sense...you misinterperated what I meant. Now I'd be okay with a locker if I knew it'd be worth the hassle? So far, I have a 1" aluminum cornfed spacer up front with 33" BFG All-Terrains. That helps a little but not much. I just want the confidence of doing light to medium trails.
 
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