can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?
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markmitchinnh
Topic author - I sleep in my van
- Posts: 589
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 2:07 pm
- Location: Barrington NH
can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?
Just curious as I have never owned an AWD what is the major difference? can someone take the front frame from an AWD and install it in a 2wd astro or safari?
Recently bought a 1989 Astro RS from Florida. Replaced stock engine witha 1997 5.7 vortec with TBI and replaced transmission with rebuilt 700R4 with mild shift kit.
Bought on Monday the 16th of April 2012
Bought on Monday the 16th of April 2012
Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?
To be honest Mark,I'm not a AWD guy.From what I have read,I think your best bet would to have a good donor AWD and use engine,tranny electronics/wire harness,sub frame and you have to be sure your rear end ratio is the same as the front one.
Maybe someone could chime in to fill in the blanks.
Maybe someone could chime in to fill in the blanks.
1979 Malibu drag race only car
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......
Rochester,NY
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......
Rochester,NY
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dunedog
- I sleep in my van
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- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:22 pm
- Location: Pioneer Valley WMass
Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?
Maybe I've had a short (long) day, but the simple answer is YES.
The obvious 2nd response would be BUY an AWD...!
Sorry Zam, but sometimes the questions on the forum throw me....
The obvious 2nd response would be BUY an AWD...!
Sorry Zam, but sometimes the questions on the forum throw me....
1999 LS AWD 3" Lift,4.10's,Snowplow,9500lb Ramsey winch
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markmitchinnh
Topic author - I sleep in my van
- Posts: 589
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 2:07 pm
- Location: Barrington NH
Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?
I was asking because I have rarely seen an awd for sale but I have seen a few in the auto salvage yards.
Recently bought a 1989 Astro RS from Florida. Replaced stock engine witha 1997 5.7 vortec with TBI and replaced transmission with rebuilt 700R4 with mild shift kit.
Bought on Monday the 16th of April 2012
Bought on Monday the 16th of April 2012
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doyoulikeithere
- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 2060
- Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:27 pm
- Location: Misty Mountains of Cowichan BC.
Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?
I pulled the subframe out of a 95 AWD.
I kept the engine on it, but I took off the intake manifold and installed a TBI manifold from an older gen1 van.
Then I chucked out the auto tranny and put a 5 speed in its place with an NP231C transfer case to get part time 4wd.
Now it is under a 1987 2wd van. It isnt true AWD anymore, cuz I used a 4wd transfer case, not an AWD case. There is a big difference.
Anyways. short answer is, Ya, no prob. Any subframe will bolt up under any Astro.
How you dress out the frame before you roll it under is up to you. I like my 4wd 5sp V6.
I'm thinking of putting an AWD frame under my safariGT and making it low, fast and sticky!!
I kept the engine on it, but I took off the intake manifold and installed a TBI manifold from an older gen1 van.
Then I chucked out the auto tranny and put a 5 speed in its place with an NP231C transfer case to get part time 4wd.
Now it is under a 1987 2wd van. It isnt true AWD anymore, cuz I used a 4wd transfer case, not an AWD case. There is a big difference.
Anyways. short answer is, Ya, no prob. Any subframe will bolt up under any Astro.
How you dress out the frame before you roll it under is up to you. I like my 4wd 5sp V6.
I'm thinking of putting an AWD frame under my safariGT and making it low, fast and sticky!!
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.
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markmitchinnh
Topic author - I sleep in my van
- Posts: 589
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 2:07 pm
- Location: Barrington NH
Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?
Very cool, I live in New Hampshire and an AWD would be super in the winter compared to a rear wheel drive. I may just look into this idea later. I am building an 89 rear wheel drive safari cargo van with a V8 and other extra's. So the wheels are all the same right?
Recently bought a 1989 Astro RS from Florida. Replaced stock engine witha 1997 5.7 vortec with TBI and replaced transmission with rebuilt 700R4 with mild shift kit.
Bought on Monday the 16th of April 2012
Bought on Monday the 16th of April 2012
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doyoulikeithere
- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 2060
- Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:27 pm
- Location: Misty Mountains of Cowichan BC.
Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?
unless you get a way new astro with the 6 bolt rims.
there are 2 styles of front diff that changed around 98 or so I'm not exactly sure, but as long as you get a frame complete with the axle in it it will work, not exactly sure if a new style front axle will bolt up in an older frame & vice versa but the frames themselves will fit any astro.
You will need an AWD oil pan to set the engine in it from a 2wd.
there are 2 styles of front diff that changed around 98 or so I'm not exactly sure, but as long as you get a frame complete with the axle in it it will work, not exactly sure if a new style front axle will bolt up in an older frame & vice versa but the frames themselves will fit any astro.
You will need an AWD oil pan to set the engine in it from a 2wd.
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.
Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?
LOL...not to worry dunesterdunedog wrote:Maybe I've had a short (long) day, but the simple answer is YES.
The obvious 2nd response would be BUY an AWD...!
Sorry Zam, but sometimes the questions on the forum throw me....
