I have a 2001 ford ranger 3.0 2wd 5 speed manual and I want to change it in to a 4wd. About how much would it cost to do that?

 

Are you going to do the work?
Do you have the transfer case, front axle parts, driveline, transmission parts already?

It's going to be cheaper to buy a used 4x4, and it's going to be put together correctly already, so no worries.

Did you break your 2x4?

 

That would be a huge undertaking and not at all cost effective. It would be much easier if you had a donor truck that was the same year and model as yours to make sure that you got all of the needed parts but it still would be a huge undertaking. I agree with g k50, just go out and find yourself a 4x4.

 

in my case $500 for the blown motor 4X4 donor and 2 weeks to swap, then several months of trips to auto parts store to find out why the donor had a blown motor. Amazingly, lots of parts DO NOT directly interchange unless the donor and donee are identical.

 

If you can find a 2001 4x4 with a bad engine, you would be better off to use your engine and make your truck the donor truck. Just do your "home work" first and make sure that trucks are compatible.

 

No there is nothing wrong with the 2x4 my dad wouldn't buy me the 4x4 so I want to turn it in to one and I would probly get one of my budies that owns a garage to putbit on my truck and I herd it easier to dobit with the manual bc its a staronger motor

 

Well I was probably going to use my motor and get a monster transmission that would work. And inside the hood there is a cylinder that says 2x4 wouls I hv to change thatbto a 4x4 or can I use that one

 

I don't hv no parts yet im 14 almost 15 and I was wanting to save up to do it and was wanting to know how much I would hv to save up

 

Welcome to the forum!

Why do you need a 4x4? You might at least take a minute to consider leaving it a 2wd. I pretty much had the opposite conversation with my dad 12 years ago when buying my 2wd ranger. He was strongly suggesting I get a 4x4 and my position was a 2wd was less expensive. Truthfully a 2wd will also get better fuel mileage and there are quite a few less parts to break so it's been very dependable for me and I'm still happy with the decision I made. We do have snowy winters here in Michigan but keeping weight in the back along with a shovel I've never gotten stuck to the point I couldn't get myself out. If you really need a 4x4 then seriously consider having another conversation with your dad about trading the truck in for one that already has 4wd. Like mentioned above there are a significant amount of parts that will need to be swapped (i.e. transfer case, drive axles, entire front end, dash buttons and wiring). It just isn't worth all the trouble to modify a truck you have no attachment to.

 

Well all that is true but I am attached to my bc its my first truck and I will probably never get rid of it unless it get totaled and I want a 4wd to go mudding with my buddies and to hv fun in.

 

Aside from the obvious issue of parts availability, there is also a hugely significant safety risk with making this kind of conversion.

You, clearly, don't know what you're getting yourself into. If anything goes wrong with that conversion down the road, it could potentially kill you.

Besides, it's not a good idea to become too dependent on the 4WD. I've known a few very skilled drivers who could drive circles around 4WD vehicles with their 2WD rigs. I would suggest sticking with the 2WD until you become a more experienced driver, then move up to the 4WD. Maybe get a second truck later on down the road and keep both trucks...

There's probably a reason why your dad wouldn't buy you that 4x4...

 

Here's a guy who did it: 2wd to 4wd - The Ranger Station Forums
But keep in mind that his truck is an Edge model. On Rangers, the 4wd models all have torsion bar front suspension. Most of the 2wds have coil springs. The only 2wd models that have the torsion bar front suspension are the Edge models. So, this guy who did the conversion was already well ahead because his truck already had the same front suspension as a 4wd.

 

exdranger is right in having a torsion bar suspension to begin with. Even then it's tough with the right parts. Mudding it tough on trucks, most have a backup for a DD.
Dave

 

Monster, If you take your Ranger apart to put in a 4wd, then it will be totaled.
Don't do it.
Drive it
Maintain it
Don't Break it
Save to buy a 4x4, or borrow your buddy's to go mudding.

 

The reason he didn't get me it is bc we couldn't afford it