4WD swap, Adding quality of life

[Superspirit]

Looks like the OP is mia

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[Verm75]

I appreciate every response here, it’s awesome seeing the community so engaged, and I appreciate the insight everyone has given me. But to explain further I’m a 21 year old college student who just wants to keep his grandfather’s truck on the road for as long as humanly possible. My grandfather treated his Ranger like it was his prized possession. So in turn at 21 with this as my vehicle I get to treat it like my prized possession as well. It’s all hypothetical, if parts go out I’d kinda like to upgrade them, and to be honest that’s likely the only time I’d consider it. To be fair I understand it’s a complete financial travesty to even try considering a 4x4 swap on my Ranger. Let alone a complete headache on my part. I did want to ask more about the programming. If you were to actually get all of the physical parts installed and replaced how would you even go about actually programming it?

 

[Stevedbvik1]

I think the deal killer would be the frame. IE front axle mounting/suspension and etc.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Thinking about this a bit, I think your best/easiest solution, at least for the short term, is to add the rear locker.

Installing a factory rear end with e-locker would be a simple bolt-in affair mechanically and likely minimal wiring and programming to make it work.

You could also do an aftermarket rear locker like the ARB or Eaton E-Locker. Eaton also makes a TruTrac for the non-locked Ranger/Bronco rear axle.

You may find that just having the rear locker gives you all the traction you need for your use case and the factory axle with locker swap could probably be done in a weekend.

E-Locker rear axle installed

As far as programming, you may be able to do some of it with Forscan.

If you did the complete 4x4 swap, some of that programming would probably require a trip to the dealer.

And a trip to the dealer can encounter the "We didn't install it so we won't touch it" response to your programming request.

 

[Jason B]

I think the deal killer would be the frame. IE front axle mounting/suspension and etc.

I think RWD and 4WD use same front suspension, probably only need knuckles from 4x4, along with shafts and diff.

 

[Jason B]

I appreciate every response here, it’s awesome seeing the community so engaged, and I appreciate the insight everyone has given me. But to explain further I’m a 21 year old college student who just wants to keep his grandfather’s truck on the road for as long as humanly possible. My grandfather treated his Ranger like it was his prized possession. So in turn at 21 with this as my vehicle I get to treat it like my prized possession as well. It’s all hypothetical, if parts go out I’d kinda like to upgrade them, and to be honest that’s likely the only time I’d consider it. To be fair I understand it’s a complete financial travesty to even try considering a 4x4 swap on my Ranger. Let alone a complete headache on my part. I did want to ask more about the programming. If you were to actually get all of the physical parts installed and replaced how would you even go about actually programming it?

How is butchering up the current configuration, doing what might work or not, going to "keep his grandfather’s truck on the road for as long as humanly possible".
Chances are that all that work will shorten the trucks life. Once you get 4x4, you'll be tempted to do 4x4 stuff, which could be detrimental to the truck's lifespan.

 

[veedubtuner]

IMO: The only financially plausible way to do this is to find a XLT 4x4 or Lariat 4X4 in a salvage yard (hopefully a roll over) and buy the whole thing before they take all apart. Now you have a template and the ALL the required part (except maybe the sliding glass window... it won't survive the rollover... lol). Sell the engine and any other usable parts you don't need and get to work. And it will be a TON of work... if you aren't doing the labor, it will cost you a tone... or get a community collage auto shop to do it as a training opportunity... oh, and this will not be a 1 or 2 week effort, so if it is your daily driver, it's time for new sneakers cause you going to be walking for long time...

Good luck

That's the route I would go. I actually looked into a salvage XLT Tremors for fun not to long ago as a OEM "Tremor SCAB" would be cool project. I actually found a perfect donor on Copart that had a buy it now for $12k.

 

[airline tech]

I appreciate every response here, it’s awesome seeing the community so engaged, and I appreciate the insight everyone has given me. But to explain further I’m a 21 year old college student who just wants to keep his grandfather’s truck on the road for as long as humanly possible. My grandfather treated his Ranger like it was his prized possession. So in turn at 21 with this as my vehicle I get to treat it like my prized possession as well. It’s all hypothetical, if parts go out I’d kinda like to upgrade them, and to be honest that’s likely the only time I’d consider it. To be fair I understand it’s a complete financial travesty to even try considering a 4x4 swap on my Ranger. Let alone a complete headache on my part. I did want to ask more about the programming. If you were to actually get all of the physical parts installed and replaced how would you even go about actually programming it?

You would have to use Fords - FDRS software and you have 2 options

1. Get a PCM from a donor truck and then just reprogram the VIN# (easiest)
2. Obtain the calibration files from a 4WD truck and load that to the current PCM you will hit roadblocks here as it will see the calibration file does not match the VIN

This is only the PCM, you're going to have the BCM and ABS to contend with as well that come to mind that are configured for 2WD

1/2 of the battle is the actual parts and wiring
1/2 of the battle is getting the modules programmed to accept it and honestly this is going to be the hardest part to get past and it be error free.

By far the easiest way - is a donor truck (salvaged) and swap all needed parts, wiring and modules and then just update the VIN# to the modules that have the VIN locked to them - this way you have everything you need except replace what's damaged beyond useable from the donor.

 

[Grumpaw]

So you want to take your pop pops pride and joy spotless Ranger and turn it into a "Frankenstein" build....
Luck in your dream.....
Reminds me of the Johnny Cash song "One Piece At a Time Cadillac"

 

[TxOTRRanger]

Makes me wish that I still had Grandpas Ole Blue F150 farm truck. Unfortunately at the time when I did have it for a little while. I was a young, stupid kid in my 20s and I simply couldn't keep up with the maintenance of my 2004 Ford Ranger 4x4 and Ole Blue at the same time. One of the trucks had to be sold and it was Ole Blue. A friend of my Dads bought it and from there, I have no idea where it is currently or what kind of shape it is in. Had to vent a little.

 

[TruckBox]

For the money, time, depth, etc..... just enjoy the truck as it is and use it to haul a 4wd toy you bought for the same or less.

Otherwise you're getting into something so deep that it'll easily turn into a nightmare or a constant plague of issues... and you don't want that for the truck you love.

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