I have a friend in CO asked us to convert his 99 B4000 to 5.0 AWD
This truck is used for ice racing and dirt track racing (when there is no ice)
He is/was a believer in the 70/30 split of the awd case
With that said
We have several AWD explorers around here and they get around pretty dang good. They are great in the snow, dirt roads weekend warrior, etc.
However I really see the awd t case as a boat anchor given the options on the table.
The cost of the 4406m conversion here in my shop will pay for itself in the first 1-2 years of daily driving in MPG savings and front tires
Usually when we build a ranger we do the 4406m t case simply because I am not a fan of the AWD and the 4406 is still abundant.  4406 has a nice low range, is way overkill in a ranger (stout) and is a 97% bolt in deal. I usually have to pay to re tube a rear driveshaft simply because I don't want to drive all over trying to find the perfect junk yard part when I can build /modify my own front shaft and conversion U joint in house and pay a local guy $250 to rebuild a custom balanced rear.
The AWD eats up front end parts, tires, mostly it sucks fuel and passing power
The AWD full time case slips with clutches, they wear out and create heat. Heat is wasted energy
V8 explorer/Ranger needs RWD to get reasonable MPG 14-22 can be obtained with stockish 5.0

The Ice racer, he loves his AWD but has been considering a true 50/50 split with a cutting brake instead.....

I am not sold on it. I rolled a 96 explorer on the ice in Colorado because I was not expecting the rear to brake loose due to having 70 % power to the back
I was used to driving that road in my BII with the 50/50 split and the front end pulling.....

There is my rant about the AWD = yuck
The 4406, NP205, 1356m, even my 1354m are better choices IMO
Heck we can even do the electronic versions of any of these, keep your ranger 4x4 dash switch and wire in a stand alone shift motor controller
That opens up the 4406e and 1356e and 1354e (with adapter) shift cases as options..
If I have the budget/time I want to built a 1356/56 or 1356/205 doubler and stuff it in my BII but it may be easier and cheaper in the long run just to spring for an atlas. Nothing crawls like a doubler or an atlas

B4000 5.0L Ice racing truck:
flipped shackle in the rear, pulled bedsides, 33's, torsion twist, I love this truck
I have some more pics Ill post them up

Last edited on Wed Jul 18th, 2018 11:48 pm by 410customs