Thinking of converting the saph to 4wd just because the power i intend it to have will be alittle to much for 2wd.

so what would i need to convert ?

box,
prop
diff
beam
half shafts
hubs
trailing arms


anything else ?

what power are the diffs and box good for in stardard form and what is the next upgrade ?

 

largely dependant on how you drive, i would say around 350bhp max, next stage would probably be something like a mullit box

 

Just sell and buy a 4bee........

Some 4wd on here have 380 odd, depends how you drive as Twells as said, a 2wd box/diff will die if you're a loon behind the wheel....... ask JB..

 

What kind of power figures are you talking anyway? Big power 4x4 = very expensive!

 

also parts missing from your list are:

Front Shocks
Front disks and calipers
front anti roll bar (i think)
gearbox cradle
sump

 

So as you can see, it's cheap to convert..

 

You'll also need a cross memeber & a big hammer for the tunnel. Shell will need modifying for the front shafts aswell.

 

Boost Mad, it's madness. Buy a 4x4. Sell the 2WD. Or keep the 2WD and buy a 4x4 too

 

thats that idea soiled then lol

475-500bhp for the mo, but no doubt i will want more at a later date

 

A lot of work will be needed for a 4x4 to handle that power mate - decent gearbox for starters.

 

What's that then, £2k? £3k?

 

I'm no expert on 4x4 mate but it is my understanding that the standard box gives up at around 400bhp with 4wd and you will need something special. Anyone got any suggestions here? Certainly in the thousands.

T5 2wd can go up to around 450 - 500 from what I've been told but I've got noises from my rebuilt one after a year of thrashing around with 450bhp - so am going to contact Marco Polo on here to sort something with Barra for me.

 

2wd box will take loads more power than a standard 4 x 4 box which won't last long with decent power going through it.

 

just out of curiosity, what are the differences in the shell and tunnel between the too ?


any pictures ?

 

make more sense 2 sell and buy a 4x4 mate

 

form what i can remember, the front chassis legs have a notch for the front drive shafts and the tunnel has a bit of a bulge in it

 

+1

 

I know it does, but, alittle short on cash, and half the parts missing from my 2wd mean it will be staying 2wd as i cant aford to replace it

 

you will need all the mechanicals form the front, so :
shocks, hubs, brakes, tca's, arb, crossmember, steering rack, intermidiate steering shaft, sump, front diff (the rear diff is ok as it is), both props, gearbox, starter, engine mounts (the mounts on the crossmember and the mounts that bolt to the engine), gearbox mount

plus a big hammer to bash the tunnel (or at least a scissor jack) to open it up, and even then you may need to cut and mount the 4wd gearbox mount slots into the shell

the chassis rails can stay as they are at the front

 

Interesting.

why do somepeople say the front legs need modifying ?

Arnt the rear diffs different ratios, meaning i would have to use the 4x4 one otherwise killing the lsd?

can you not fit the 2wd 4pots to 4x4 hubs?

 

Rear diff is 0.02 out IIRC and will not hurt the VC.....Infact putting a 2wd rear diff/beam in a 4x4 is a cheap way of getting a very strong setup. So going from 2wd to 4x4 the back end will be fine...no need to touch it.

The front chassis legs have a small half circle cutout in them to clear the shafts at full suspension compression otherwise the front chaft would hit the chassis leg...simple mod probably take about 1/2 hour with right tools/equipment.

2wd 4 pots will not fit 4x4 hubs, theyre designed for different calipers....the 4x4 caliper and disk setup provides better braking force anyhow...you might be able to make up a bracket or modify calipers to fit the 4x4 hub if you tried to...not normally a mod people do though.

I have a few 4x4 bits for sale if your interested in whats left you could save some dough as I want shot so will sort you a good price got shafts...both 4x4 cos an xr4x4 (slightly longer to suit lowered cars), 4x4 sump, x-member, props Fr & Rear....and a few other bits.

The whole front end suspension wise (bar hubs) of an xr4x4 will fit and work fine, you dont have to buy cossie stuff....think the rack might be slightly different to a cos (IIRC cossie is quick rack??? not 100% sure) but would keep costs down.

To save me typing up a huuuuuuuuuuuuuge post pm if yu want with the setup you currently have and what you want to do and I'll tell you exactly what you're going to need.

If you intend to get a bara box (speak to marco polo on here if you do he gets the best price for them), with a 2wd rear end and a decent front diff you'll be on your way to laying down some serious rubber.

Cheers
Dan

 

I'll also swap you the bits in exchange for your 2wd stuff if you want to keep money changing hands to a minimum, I need 2wd spares so we can work a deal maybe....pm me and we'll chat.

Cheers
Dan

 

No they can't dojj.......why the hell would ford alter the 2wd chassis to clear the shafts if they didnt have to....and on a std car..not lowered like a lot of cossies are.

I've seen 2 converted to 4x4 cars and both had damage to shafts and chassis rails. Simple mechanics tells you it will hit if your suspension ever compresses fully.

Dan

 

Also are you running a 200 block bottom end? If not then your 205 block isnt ideally suited to have the added stress of the 4x4 front drive going through it...not that i've ever seen a failure personally but heard its not a good idea & at your power level might be a problem if your on a 205 block.

Cheers
dan

 

i belive there is a difference in the 2wd - 4x4 shells not quite sure exactly what it is and how hard to overcome it, but im sure ive seen it somewhere a place that make special g/box craddles for mt75-2wd shell & t5-4wd.......... dunno but im sure it would be easier to buy a 4x4

 

seen plenty of them done wihtout any mods to the chassis legs myself mate, so we'll have to agree to disagree on this matter

 

4x4 front hubs are hard to come by and cost a bit.

 

I'm not going to agree to anything I know is wrong, why would ford take a 2wd chassis and only change the tunnel (for obv reasons) and the notches in the legs.....do you think they decided to spend money on modifications that were avoidable? I dont think so!

If you hit full compression on any of them cars you've seen then it will cause damage, FACT....agree with it or not I've seen it with my own eyes happen.

Dan

 

how easy is the mod to the rails ?

also how does the suspension differ ?

 

your short on cash and think converting a 2wd to 4wd to handle 475-500bhp will be cheaper?? my cars 2wd and my new engine is going to be kicking around 465 out iv brought a big tooth box and a quaife atb diff for the same price its going to cost you for a box for a 4be, then you have to uprate the rest. makes more sense to stick a 450+engine in a 2wd but if you have the money then go for a 4x4.Dont forget a 2wd is more fun

 

you've seen things happen that i have not
i'm not disputing the fact but of all the cars i've known that have been converted (including a lot of xr4i's, they have had no probalems with the front shafts hitting the chassis rails without the cutouts

 

the idea was that i could buy the bits 1 at a time.

but now im breaking the car insted lol

 

the rails you need to cut out about an inch and then weld in a new panel to cover the big hole

the suspension is thicker onthe struts and stiffer on the shocks as it needs to carry more weight on the springs

there are also 24 or 27 different spring rates listed by ford for the 4wd cars across the range so it's going to be easier to get new springs and shocks

 

Go tell that to Ryan etc.

 

ouch - yes Ryan might not agree and he was hardly pushing the car in his shunt was he? Myself 2wd is much more fun having driven quite a few of both. Getting new tyres today - sticky new Contis

 

this was my 3rd 2wd, just fancy trying a 4x4 now.