Hello all, i was at Orielys today and one of the employees who i have come to know well was saying that it is extremely easy to add 4x4 to my 1997 2.3L 5 Speed Ranger. It is a regular cab and has the twin cross I-Beam suspension in front. Can anyone confirm or deny this and kind of give some details about what it would take to do?
Thanks Guys!

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1997 4x2 2.3L Single Cab 5 Speed with Stepside

Youll need a new transmission ( i think) youll need a transfer case, if electric, all of the wiring, the wiring to adjust the speedometer, a front axle, and the dana 35 TTB front suspension. At that point i would just buy similar year truck with 4x4, because itll cost a lot to change it to 4x4.

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Okay, if I was gonna do it I would get the floor shift. And the guy said that with my suspension I would be able to just bolt it up if I pulled an axel out of the same year ranger. Is that wrong?

And the buying a new truck while yes would be easier and very possibly cheaper, I have my reasons for wanting the conversion haha.

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1997 4x2 2.3L Single Cab 5 Speed with Stepside

I think the cradle is different between the two, so unless you want to change it I don't think a 4x4 ttb will bolt up . If it isn't different then not that hard assuming you have the parts. I did this exact swap on my f-150 2 weeks ago. Went from this to this. It took me two days. I'm not saying the f-150 Is the same as the ranger when it comes to converting, but if the saddle is the same, you need the whole front axle, including stearing linkage, the crossmember for the trans will be different because a 4x4 ranger will have a hump for the front drive shaft, there will not be a hole in the floor for the shifter, you will have to cut one, if it's not an auto push button 4x4. You will then have to make sure your front and rear axle has the same gearing. If you don't have a parts truck, by the time you add up parts your looking at 1000-1500 assuming you do it right and rebuild while apart. Meaning bearings and balljoints. It's going to be kind of hard to find a 4x4 2.3 trans, and when you do, if it's out of an older truck it will only be a 4 speed. So all in all after having done a pretty similar swap, I'd recommend a new truck, unless you have the time and money.

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1997 Ranger 2.3 2wd short bed single cab (DD)
1986 Ranger 5.0 2wd short bed single cab (project)

Also while I'm thinking, you will need a new set of drive shafts, they will be a different leangth, and if you get a trans with a fixed yoke output from the transfer case (I'm not too famililar with a rangers t-case, so I'm assuming they have both) you will need a carrier bearing with two drive shafts, one to the carrier, and one to the reared. If not when the rear axle hops you will have the possibility of messing up your output shaft. Or you can use a slip yoked driveshaft, just make sure you have a boot on it. The clutch may be different with a 4x4 trans for it also, you will have to check parts numbers, and count the splines on the input shaft of the trans you get to make sure the are the same as the clutch. I'm not trying to discourage you from doing it, just trying to help you know what is involved in doing the swap.

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1997 Ranger 2.3 2wd short bed single cab (DD)
1986 Ranger 5.0 2wd short bed single cab (project)

Alright thanks so much for the info! Ill think about it but I'll probably save my money and avoid deep snow haha Thanks again guys!

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1997 4x2 2.3L Single Cab 5 Speed with Stepside

No problem, I think we need to save this lol so everyone knows what will have to be swapped, I normally just see the usual "sell your truck and buy a 4x4."

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1997 Ranger 2.3 2wd short bed single cab (DD)
1986 Ranger 5.0 2wd short bed single cab (project)