2wd to 4wd

I've got a 95 cherokee 2wd with the 4.0.  It serves me pretty well but has 200 g on the engine and every few days or so another idiot light comes on.

I was told that it's better to buy a 4wd and start with that then to try a conversion.  The dilema is that it's a lot easier for me to convince my wife to agree to mega bucks on "repairs" then to purchase a new vehicle.  (wierd but true..)  I'm hoping to swap in a chevy v-8, full time transfer case (maybe the NP203), auto trans and new axles and a 4" to 6" lift.  This will still be the daily driver.  I figure since I'm going to replace the whole drive train anyhow it shouldn't make a difference if I start out with 2wd or 4wd.

If I'm off the wall don't laugh, or at least don't type it.

It would be better to sell or trade your 2wd and buy one that already has 4wd in it. The conversion is a lot of work and difficult. You would find it is cheaper in the long run to buy a 4wd.

Thanks.  I won't be able to buy another 4wd for the reasons stated.  I'll let you know how it goes with the switch.  I'll do my best to plan it out first and then go from there.  

If you really want to go about it in this way, and keep the 2wd vs buying a 4wd,i would say the best way would be to:

1)look around at junk yards for a decent 4wd of your year

2)measure where all of the front suspention attaches

3)take all of the parts of of that cherokee that you are not buying new (transmission,or atleast the tail of it, transfer case, drive shafts and front axel, suspention and steering)

4)put all of it on your cherokee with the measurements you made

 

Hey just thought I would chime in. There is a load of information in the technical forum at www.jeepspeed.com . Lots of people seem to be interested in going from 2wd to 4wd or vice versa. Or you can try John at AJAX 760 398 0147 he seems to know everything there is to know about cherokees but you may have to buy some parts to get anything out of him.  

Hey Walrusmt
I am in the same dilemma
I own a 1997 xj 2wd want it 4wd out of the 1999 xj
For what I've been told is easier and cheaper to sell it and buy new one
But in my research I've found the all you need to know is your diferential ratio should match with the tranny
and you need to get all the suspension,vacuum lines,and i think that's it
I am going to start my project probably beginning of december
i will let you know how my project is doing
good luck