can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?

ANYTHING TO DO WITH MAKING YOUR VAN MOVE EXCEPT FOR THE ENGINE ITSELF.
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markmitchinnh
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can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?

Post by markmitchinnh »

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
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1Gary
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Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?

Post by 1Gary »

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.
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Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?

Post by dunedog »

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....
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markmitchinnh
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Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?

Post by markmitchinnh »

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
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Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?

Post by doyoulikeithere »

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.
:cheers:
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!!
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1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
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Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?

Post by markmitchinnh »

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
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Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?

Post by doyoulikeithere »

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.
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2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.

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Re: can a 2 wheel drive be made into an AWD?

Post by astrozam »

dunedog 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....
LOL...not to worry dunester :supz:
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