I read a thread on Turboford about AWD Merkurs that got me thinkin. I am a big 2.3t nut and have a nice 85 Xr4ti and a 85Mustang GT with a 2.3t in it.

This got me thinkin about how hard would it be to build an AWD 2.3t Ford car. Lets just say a Fairmont cuz I really want one. I would love to do a SAS in my 99 this summer and if I do it would leave me with the whole Ranger IFS stuff layin around complete with new cv's and a Aussie locker.I havent thought about the front suspension yet but what I was wondering about was the transfercase.

I have never seen one myself so I was wondering if there ever was a factory 2.3 Ranger with 4wd? If so what trans did they come with? Was a c4 an option? If so I could see bolting a old Ranger transfercase to a built c4 behind a nasty 2.3t motor and use the 99 Ranger IFS with the d35.

Yes I am 100% serious and 100% crazy enough to try something like this!

Coments and info welcome! Sorry if this is too off the wall for this forum. Just wanting some 4x4 part info.

 

brian, brian....lol
yes there were 2.3 4wd rangers. problem is ranger tcase wont get you anywhere close to an AWD setup. no C4s in rangers.

if you want a true AWD case, you need a BW4404 from an explorer. they use a 6bolt flange pattern. im sure you can find a tailshaft and housing that will mate a C4 to a 6bolt flange tcase if you want it bad enough.

as far as the front suspension goes....i have though about this as well. IMO you will need custom control arms and spindles to maintain any sort of non-hillbilly ride height for a car.

get me on AIM if you wanna talk more about this!

 

I havent been able to get on my AIM in months! I delete it and re-download it and I still cant get past some secrurity upgrade crap that dont work.

I just figured a 2.3 t-case left in 4hi would be good enough,maybe not.I guess I could always use a Stinger bell adapter and run a AOD and AWD case from an Explorer/Mounty. Thinkin floor clearance for the case would be nill.Spindles and suspension would be a tuffy.

OK,scratch the fox-body idea. What about an old Splash or something small like that and put a AWD drivetrain under it with the AOD and 2.3t???? transbrake,4.10's,drag radials,Holset....you get the idea!

 

syclone killer status right there. 2.3T/adapter plate AOD/BW4404

the 4hi still wont like drive pavement, especially not with alot of power in front of it.
old splash 4wd is gonna be a beam truck again....tough to lower to a decent height. cut the beams out and integrate the SLA front end on coilovers and you might be gettin someplace. probly easier to start with a reg.cab EDGE

 

Surfin AutoTrader now............

Are the Ranger frames different between the twin beams and the SLA front ends? I know the brackets are different but if I were to find a donor Explorer could the brackets off that frame be cut off and welded to a cleaned off twin beam frame?

 

which year were 2.3 4wd rangers available?

 

im sure it could be done. i know you will be gettin in pretty deep to get it finished up though. the SLA lower control arm pickups are part of the engine cross member, so youd be best off to cut that all out and transfer it over.....or maybe jus clip the whole front of the frame from the firewall forward, if you have a complete donor.

 

OK here is what I have been thinkin bout all day at work.

Find a 98-00 4x4 standard cab Ranger. Pull the motor,trans,t-case,harness and rear end.

Find a donor 96-00 AWD Explorer/Mounty and swap the 5.0,AOD,T-case,rear end,crossmembers,harness,front suspension and some misc interior parts into the Ranger shell.

It would end up with the stance of your Mounty,torquey 5.0,hassle free aod, matching 4.10's front and rear with a t-lok rear and find some kind of posi for the d35.It could be done with 100% factory Ford parts and the left over parts could be sold for a good chunk of a return.

Add a small nitrous kit to play with or down the road build a remote mount single turbo kit for a stealth like sleeper!

I wonder what I could sell my Merkur for????

 

well, ill just tell you this; my mounty was purchased as a future donor vehicle. i think you can figure out the rest