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how easy is it to remove the 4wd and make its just 2wd without keepin the original engine/trans, like if i wanted to do the v8 swap? any info would be of great help so let me know

thanks
Kevin

It's not that hard...

Remove the half shafts and it becomes 2wd. Just plug the inside of the spindle with some kind of sealant and keep the 4wd hub on the outside...

You may have to remove the lower control arms in order to drop the front axle.

I don't know if you could interchange 2wd spindles for the 4wd ones...

-DK

The lower control arms are different on the 4x4, but I believe the uppers are the same. You could probably swap the LCA and spindle and get a pretty much stock looking 2WD. You might need to torch off the axle mounts and I'm not certain the torsion bars and rear mounts are identical.

It might not be cheap, but it be cool to put in new steering, like a rack and pinion. What do you think 800xl?

I saw one once. The guy had just unbolted all the 4wd stuff. He took out the front differential and axles, and left the 4wd caps.

The lower control arm sweeps back more than on the 2wd. It uses the same torsion bar, but the torsion bar's rear mount is further back on the truck.

I'd hate to see a 4wd go away but I don't see any reason it couldn't be done by just unbolting the parts.

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You went there in that?!?!

we converted cody cannons luv from a 4 to a 2wd. we took all the 4x4 stuff out and used spindles from a 86 2wd pup. it works great. it just doesnt lower very much.


neil

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"but its that gut feeling of you're drawn to what feels right for yourself and what you're passionate about..."

well i dont need it to lower much, i actualy hope it dosent when i drop that 454/th350 in once i get some extra $$$

ok. cool. well, like i said we got spindles froma 86 2wd pup. they were a direct bolt up. youll have to get new tie rods though. i think? ill ask cody when i talk to hime next time.


neil

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"but its that gut feeling of you're drawn to what feels right for yourself and what you're passionate about..."

if you could ask him that would be great, thanks everyone for your help

no problem.


neil

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"but its that gut feeling of you're drawn to what feels right for yourself and what you're passionate about..."

When I was at a junkyard a while back, I was comparing the 4wd Luv suspension to a mid-80s V6 trooper. I didn't do any measurements, but just ran back & forth from truck-truck.

I think that the trooper lower control arm and torsion bar can bolt in, but the trooper torsion bar is thicker. If it's true, it could provide a stiffer front suspension very cheap and easy.

Of course, it wouldn't work if you're starting with a 2wd, but since yours is a 4wd...

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You went there in that?!?!

I know some of the Trooper/Rodeo 4x4 folks go with 2WD Isuzu pickup torsion bars which are thinner. The idea is the softer bar gives better flex in off road use.

According to the parts book, 2WD trucks from 81 and 82 use a different part number than earlier year trucks (2 or 4WD), and 81-82 4WD torsion bars are also different. The parts book does not, however, say if the length is different or if the splines on the ends are different. I would guess that they are the same, but I really don't know. If I get the chance I'll measure the length of the bars on my 86 Trooper and see how it compares to my LUVs.

Another thing to note is that long bed 78-80 2WD trucks use the same bars as 4WD trucks from the same years. That tells me (since all other parts are shared with standard length 2WD trucks) that 4wd bars could be used in 2WD trucks to beef up the front end for a V8 swap.