2wd to 4wd conversion

micahgeorge

Test Drive
Location
jacksonville
I have a 2000 Xterra that is 2wd, but want to make it 4wd. I know of an xterra at a junk yard that is being parted out so I could get 4wd off of it. Does anyone know how hard the process is? Or is there a thread on how to do it?
 

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Its pretty expensive to do... You would need the Transfer case, Tranny, Drive shaft, Control arms, front CV's, Hubs and so on... For what you could have into it you could SAS a rig or get pretty close depending on prices
 

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Well all depending you know.. You can bargain shop and if you are patient find the stuff.. Same for a sas
 

TheFauxFox

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Huntsville, AL
Transmission OR Transmission rebuild with correct (shorter) output shaft
Transfer Case + Shifter
2x Driveshaft
Differential
2x CV Shaft
Hubs
Center Console Trim (or just modify yours)

I can't immediately think if there is anything else. I'm sure if you want a 4wd light to come on when you shift, there are a few additional components.

Dave, I think you could get away with just going a 4wd swap instead of a SAS for much cheaper. They way I look at it, either way, with the SAS, you're going to need the top 3 items anyway, which are the most expensive of the lot. All of these parts can be pulled from used from a donor truck, though I'd highly recommend having someone with knowledge of each part look through them to check for any failures or discrepancies. Find a rollover truck, for example, that you could probably obtain for $1000 or less. Take the parts and then scrap the rest. I got $300 for a completely picked over truck once; no trans, t-case, axles, interior, doors. Do the math and find that you're now only $700 in the hole. That s the price of ~3 M/T tires!

As you've come to realize, a SAS is ridiculously expensive. Gears, even if you use stock gears, $450. Axle, if you keep the H233b, $150 (pssht, maybe). Suspension links, $400+ (joints). We're already about to double the total conversion cost and we're using a best case scenario. Ya savvy?

Not to mention that with a SAS, there is a lot of extra thinking that has to go into it, whereas just going 4wd is pretty much bolt-on.

IMO, I think comparing a 4wd conversion to SAS is a little like comparing a Ford Ranger to a F150. Why go little when you could go big? Then again, why spend $2000+ extra when you don't need all the bells and whistles? I'm not trying to dig on you, Dave, and you probably know that, but after looking through the process, just 4WD swapping is the easier route... or buying and selling. However, I've never heard someone that has SAS'd, "Man, I wish I kept IFS." If you really want to get into some good wheel'n, SAS fo days. Its just a lot of work, and if you don't PLAN on ever going that route, why do it?

:D:
 
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drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
I think you are still missing some parts... You need the Upper control arms Im pretty sure as well.. Cyclemutt is the guy that has done this as well as Nesty on www.FrontierNation.org
I think for what you would be looking to spend you might as well go SAS.. Yes I do understand its more but you are still very limited for the price.


Link: http://www.frontiernation.org/showthread.php?92-Diy-2wd-to-4wd-conversion
Installation time: 2-3 days
Estimated cost: $1800-2500 (depending where you get the parts )

From FN

List of Parts :

- Nissan 99-04 4WD transmission with torque converter
- Nissan 99-04 Transfer Case
- 4WD Transmission mount
- Transmission crossmember
- Front Differential with Diff supports ( front diff crossmembers)
- Passenger & Driver side CV axle
- Driver & Passenger Hub assembly
- Front drive shaft
- Rear 4wd drive shaft (shorter than the 2wd drive shaft)
- Transfer case shifter
- 4wd Center console with dust boot
- 4wd heat shield with dust boot (goes under center console)
- 24" of Green 14 guage wire (for speed sensor extension)
- Red crimp barrels and heat shrink (optional for adapting 2wd transmission harness to 4wd transmission)
- Transmission cooler (optional)
- ACE hardware bolts ( depending if you didn't receive them with your 4WD components)

I refurbished my parts because the parts had a lot of rust on them and it wasn't too appealing either.
 

TheFauxFox

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Huntsville, AL
I think you are still missing some parts... You need the Upper control arms Im pretty sure as well.. Cyclemutt is the guy that has done this as well as Nesty on www.FrontierNation.org
I think for what you would be looking to spend you might as well go SAS.. Yes I do understand its more but you are still very limited for the price.

I've met Nesty before he joined up, lol. It was about 6mo after he did the swap.

I wouldn't see why you would need UCAs. I mean, once you lift it and such, a SAS might as well be in your future. But again, if you don't ever plan to beat the piss out of your truck, especially if its a DD, why do it?
 

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
I've met Nesty before he joined up, lol. It was about 6mo after he did the swap.

I wouldn't see why you would need UCAs. I mean, once you lift it and such, a SAS might as well be in your future. But again, if you don't ever plan to beat the piss out of your truck, especially if its a DD, why do it?

Yeah he is a great guy..

Seems like I remember reading that you need them.. Maybe its the lowers..

For 1800-3k Id sell the trucking buy a 4wd.. You can find 2000-2002 Xterras in my area for 3k a;; day long
 

TheFauxFox

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Huntsville, AL
Yeah he is a great guy..

Seems like I remember reading that you need them.. Maybe its the lowers..

For 1800-3k Id sell the trucking buy a 4wd.. You can find 2000-2002 Xterras in my area for 3k a;; day long

This, but if its not in the cards, so be it. I'd say pull them off a totaled truck (buy whole). I'd think that would be the cheapest option. However, the best is buy/sell.

I also don't recall needing a X-member for the trans or diff. I know on Gen 2s they're just bolt holes in the frame. I'm trying to cross-check them with Niss-parts and Courtesy's drawings to make sure on that.
 

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
2wd Gen 1 does not have a crossmember up front. There is a member behind the tranny, but there is a bearing for the shaft there. It might have to be swapped out for a 4wd version
 

J Everett

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
Location
Houma, LA
Anything can be done, with enough cash and knowledge. But the easiest way to go from 2wd to 4wd is to sell the one you have and buy a 4x4. Trust me, I did exactly that, after hunting for and very nearly buying a wrecked 4x4 whole just for the parts. It was just so much less headache to get a new ride. Even if the 4x4 you buy needs a little work, you'll still come out waaaay cheaper, and it won't leave you with as much downtime.
 

Intender

Wheeling
Location
Lewisville NC
Maybe its a location thing but here in NC first gens are still expensive. I see 2000 and 2001 models with 150k+ miles going for 5-7k. Its weird because 05-07 sell for around 7k here.

As for the swap. I dont think it would be a bad idea if you could find a doner for around $1500. Much more than that and I would look into SAS.
 

akuria

Wheeling
OK. so I have done the 4wd swap and it's not as expensive and hard as everyone says. I did mine for $1000 all in. which BTW was cheaper than selling mine and getting one with 4wd already.

...and no you dont need new control arms, upper or lower. they are the same regardless of 2wd or 4wd. you will need new drive shafts for the rear. the 4wd shaft is much shorter to compensate for the added length of tranny and transfer case.

here is a link to a good write up of what you need and how to do it.

http://xterranation.org/showthread.php?4176-Diy-2wd-to-4wd-conversion-(Pic-Heavy)
 
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