Diy- 2wd to 4wd conversion (Pic Heavy)

[zacktener]

Here are some other links that might help too

View: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQw0DgPx0tuML_2HzLl5QDOWpFWm8Rz4iOWtJLAvuUM58QaXZUNi4HbIAKOZXArSe8YZdDbkuQQLR21/pub


https://engineswork.com/engines/nissan-engine/vg33e-engine.html

 

[Pikachu_ProjeX]

Wow. That's in depth.
I have no idea what I'm getting myself into.

 

[NEPHX]

I am in the process of gathering all the needed parts. Got a tranny with tcase and the front dif. I am having trouble finding the correct crossmemebers. Where did you find yours? Also could you give more pics and details on the before and after of the cross members? Thanks.

This thread totally helped me when I did mine. The hardest part for me was removing the 2wd knuckles from my control arms. I ended up destroying all my ball joints and replacing them and even getting my upper arms.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey Akurla, It looks like you're still active on 2/4/21... Do you happen to have printed this out or PDF'd it with the pictures?

I'm about to try it. I have to rip the stuff from donor vehicle at junk yard. 2004 XE 4x4 3.3 auto trans. Mine is a 2004 RWD 3.3 Auto trans. 149K. I've owned it since 2011 when someone murdered my 2001 SE 4x4 I bought in April 2001 with 5 miles on it. Couldn't find a 4x4. Live in Phx.
Are you on the FirstGenDen facebook Group? I'm Luke. I write lots of DIY docs. I captured alot of the DIY threads back before Photobucket destroyed everything but not this one. I wasn't a member on here but on ClubXterra... even captured my own posts..
I'll do a DIY doc when I succeed ..

I'm uncertain if I need a transmission or if min RWD will work with transfer case. The junkyard donor - engine shot, unknown mileage so not sure about trans.

I need to make sure I get all I can get off donor because it's fresh. I was just getting the dizzy when suddenly... I was back the next day getting prices.

1. fastest way to drop everything I need from donor.
2. I have a pretty good list from all the updates in here.

Come visit the FirstGenDen FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/firstgenden

Luke

 

[Muadeeb]

It'll be easier with a 4x4 transmission. You'll need to change the output shaft and last case segment otherwise.

 

[zacktener]

Hey guys. Life took a weird couple of turns. I'm thinking about trying to restart this project. I now have a second car, so can push the limits of how far away from drivability I can take my currently running xterra.

A couple of notes. I did make the rest of the transmission videos, but they progressively got worse in quality as I got deeper into the car. Not enough hands. In that time anyway, another gentleman popped up on YouTube with a much better tranny removal video. If you look up "400$ Nissan xterra" his vids will pop up. Lots of useful info there (tranny drop, remove cats, rear mail seal, head gasket, etc)

There is one road block that I am running into. I had a technician tell me that if i do this conversion, if I do not reflash the computer, the car will be put into limp mode in four wheel low. He said that car sees the difference in speed and rpm and will think the tranny is damaging itself because it does not know the transfer case is in the driveline.

If I'm going to do this I want the car to be fully functional, and I want to be able to pass smog too ( in cali, check-engine light means auto-fail)


has anyone done this and had no problems in 4 wheel low with the 2wd computer/

has anyone reflashed their computer (I assume the tcm or pcm) to make it work like a regular 4wd/

does anybody know if you can simply plug and play the computers from car to car? One is supercharged the other is not

 

[NEPHX]

It looks like a few others did it in this thread. The original poster didn't indicated re flashing the computer.

I asked the question on 1st Gen group on FaceBook group and see if anyone has any input.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/firstgenden

 

[NEPHX]

No one has said anything on the 1st gen group ..... I have a 2004 4WD SE identified a few hours into Calif with blown engine but transmission and everything else intact.... But, I'd have to either dismantle the parts there or somehow get it on a trailer to bring in to AZ.

It has the ECU in it so if I had to use that ECU, I guess all other things being equal it would work.

 

[zacktener]

Long story short I'm trying again.

Found a solid answer to the computer question.
It will work. I have decided to buy a remanufactured transmission to get the warranty and reliability

I also realized that the parts car I bought was a 4.6 axle instead of a 4.9 gearing like mine. Oops

I will not downgrade the gears, so I have purchased a used 4.9 front diff, and will be pressing in the "lowering bushings" upgrade

I now have access to a car lift so, I will try to document this whole thing one more time, this time while I can stand lol

I was wondering if anyone has anymore information on how to get the 4wd light to work. That would be cool. I have a 4wd and a 2wd car to compare side by side but cannot find solid information on how to get the wires all connected and which connectors are which. Found a couple diagrams that seem to contradict what was posted earlier.

 

[Prime]

Long story short I'm trying again.

Found a solid answer to the computer question.
It will work. I have decided to buy a remanufactured transmission to get the warranty and reliability

I also realized that the parts car I bought was a 4.6 axle instead of a 4.9 gearing like mine. Oops

I will not downgrade the gears, so I have purchased a used 4.9 front diff, and will be pressing in the "lowering bushings" upgrade

I now have access to a car lift so, I will try to document this whole thing one more time, this time while I can stand lol

I was wondering if anyone has anymore information on how to get the 4wd light to work. That would be cool. I have a 4wd and a 2wd car to compare side by side but cannot find solid information on how to get the wires all connected and which connectors are which. Found a couple diagrams that seem to contradict what was posted earlier.

The clusters are identical. It just matters what wires are fed to the cluster. The wiring schematics in the FSM should show you what needs doing.

 

[Nerevar1]

I’m about to start this conversion on my 01 Frontier. I’m unable to view the photos you posted. Could you re-upload the photos or are they posted somewhere else?