2wd to 4wd conversion
#11
JK Junkie
At manufacturer cost for factory parts 5-7k is pretty reasonable. But if the connection is not there, that could multiply quickly. All I can say is, if it goes down I for one would love to see all the before and after pics. Very interesting concert
#12
JK Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Round Lake, Illinois
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The legality of it concerns emissions. Same thing with engine swaps. If you change anything that effects emissions negatively, it's illegal. At least here in Illinois it is.
This subject is open to interpretation, but the techs and dealership probably don't want to take the risk. It's not much of a risk, but there is a risk.
If someone were to come into the shop I work at with a JK and ask to put a Hemi in, I would definitely call the EPA to make sure I wasn't violating any laws. Just a liability issue. Same thing with taking a 2wd to a 4wd, I would ask the state for clarification. Fines are hefty for shops that violate the EPA laws. Every situation is different.
This subject is open to interpretation, but the techs and dealership probably don't want to take the risk. It's not much of a risk, but there is a risk.
If someone were to come into the shop I work at with a JK and ask to put a Hemi in, I would definitely call the EPA to make sure I wasn't violating any laws. Just a liability issue. Same thing with taking a 2wd to a 4wd, I would ask the state for clarification. Fines are hefty for shops that violate the EPA laws. Every situation is different.
#13
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Read this thread. Includes parts list for things you need from the dealer.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...2wd+conversion
also see this thread for how easy the axle swap is:
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...=1#post2203298
Quite a few people have done the 2wd to 4wd conversion, I myself am planning on it (the economy has just delayed the plans).
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...2wd+conversion
also see this thread for how easy the axle swap is:
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...=1#post2203298
Quite a few people have done the 2wd to 4wd conversion, I myself am planning on it (the economy has just delayed the plans).
Last edited by Thantos; 04-01-2011 at 09:38 PM.
#14
JK Super Freak
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Wildomar ca
Posts: 1,821
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The question I would ask you is , what are your plans , if you are going to rock crawl then 4wd , if you doing fire trails mountain roads then a E locker and a winch will do you fine
#15
i got a great deal on a 2wd 2010 .. i have all the parts to do the swap.. in the end i will save alote of money. dosent seem very hard to do.. with the right tools and parts
#16
I think it's awesome that some of you have or will be converting the jeep into it's correct form!! Never understood the 2wd "wranglers," not that people buy them but that Jeep made them in the first place.
#17
I agree but back in 07 when the 4door dropped I couldn't afford a 4x4 sahara with my navy paycheck due to the jku being new and in very high demand. The dealer had a 4x2 on the lot they couldn't move(bc it was 2wd). I walked out the door with it for 20,500. Steal of the century. Bought the major parts slightly used or take offs online and I was a 4x4 sahara for about 23.500. Can't beat it plus you really do learn a lot about the vehicle itself.
#18
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
I definately don't plan to do any extreme rock crawling but enjoy trails and moderate rocks. I also want the 4X4 for winter conditions. The reasoning for the 2wd purchase was that my current truck is 4X4 and my wife would be the primary driver of the Jeep. She does not do any offroading and does not like to drive in winter weather. So basically, she wanted the Wrangler "look" and the open air adaptability for her "mall crawler". I bought the Jeep used and got a good deal because it was 2wd. I also didn't see the point in the extra maintenance when the 4X4 wouldn't be used. We are now thinking of getting her something different and me taking over the Jeep. This would leave us without a 4wd. I looked at this as an opportunity to get to know my Jeep better and use better than stock parts. I have a buddy that owns a kwick lube shop and am trying to gain the use of a bay for a couple of days. I'll definately do a full photo log of the project when it gets started.
#19
JK Super Freak
Gore-ism
The legality of it concerns emissions. Same thing with engine swaps. If you change anything that effects emissions negatively, it's illegal. At least here in Illinois it is.
This subject is open to interpretation, but the techs and dealership probably don't want to take the risk. It's not much of a risk, but there is a risk.
If someone were to come into the shop I work at with a JK and ask to put a Hemi in, I would definitely call the EPA to make sure I wasn't violating any laws. Just a liability issue. Same thing with taking a 2wd to a 4wd, I would ask the state for clarification. Fines are hefty for shops that violate the EPA laws. Every situation is different.
This subject is open to interpretation, but the techs and dealership probably don't want to take the risk. It's not much of a risk, but there is a risk.
If someone were to come into the shop I work at with a JK and ask to put a Hemi in, I would definitely call the EPA to make sure I wasn't violating any laws. Just a liability issue. Same thing with taking a 2wd to a 4wd, I would ask the state for clarification. Fines are hefty for shops that violate the EPA laws. Every situation is different.
#20
JK Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Round Lake, Illinois
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As I'm sure you're well aware, there really is no enforcement of these laws, no one will come to your house knocking on your door to check the configuration of your vehicles. I have plenty of friends that modify their vehicles illegally and nothing happens. They even pass emissions tests because the oxygen sensors have been tuned out. However that doesn't make it legal. How many speed shops are out there that do custom tunes every day?
For me, if a customer wanted this done on their jeep, I wouldn't want to risk the potential liability and would call the state EPA and ask for clarification on how to do this legally. Just to venture a guess, I would think that you would need to get the ECM flashed with the 4wd programming and maybe put a new VECI label on it along with whatever else they say to change.
Like I said, these laws are really open to interpretation, and there's really no enforcement of them anyway. There's not much of a risk for someone to do this. I was just trying to explain why the dealer techs said it was illegal.
If it was my own vehicle I was doing this on, I would have no second thoughts on doing it. No one is checking up on you.
I don't know how this would affect someone that lives in a state that has state safety inspections, we only have emissions tests in Illinois. Maybe the safety inspectors are more thorough, but I doubt it.