how difficult would it be to convert a v8 GC tsi to a 4x4. ive got the head gasket replacement going well. got the heads almsot off when i got called back to work.
its got some problems with the front end as well. the right wheel shakes and shimmies when i reach 45mph. and since i kinda need 4x4 for my job i want to look into what it would take to convert it. any write ups or anyone have insites.
thanks in advance

 

Not for sure on the conversion. But the shake sounds like a wheel balance.

 

I would guess you would be best off to get a donar GC then sell yours and drive the donar.

 

As soft as the market is right now for GC's you would probably be money ahead just to buy one that is already a 4X4.

 

For the swap you'd need, front axle, t-case. trans, ECU front drive shaft.. and alot of time..

 

gonna need a rear driveshaft as well. Also will need new shifter bezel, maybe new console. Will have to cut a hole and fabricate up the TC shifter mounts too.

As some one said you are better off trading it for a 4x4 versus converting. That said it should all be bolt up, maybe even easy if you can find a totaled donor that has teh front end still intact.

Transmission can be reused all you have to do is swap out the tailshaft section. The 2 wd has a slip yolk while the 4 wd has the Tranfer case connections. You will need a TC. You will also need the driveshafts front and rear since teh rear will be shorter with the TC added in. ECU should not matter as it does not communicate with the TC. Might need a different speedo cable. Front axle will be a direct bolt in (make sure the gear ratio is the same, 3.55 if you have a 4L without towing, tow package and all v8s had 3.73), all of the components are the same, brakes control arms, springs, shocks and steering so if you can get a complete axle it is only maybe a 2 hour swap to pull out the old axle and bolt in the new one. It would even be driveable at that point. You could then move to the TC/ transmission work at a later date. You can swap the tail shafts out without removing the tranny. Swap tail shaft, bolt up TC (find a 242 or 231 so that you do not have to deal with VC), add rear driveshaft and you are driveable again. Then you can work on the front driveshaft and linkage. Do not need any shifter or linkage to drive it, you can put it in 2wd by hand and then worry about linkage later. I would think 3 weekends would be doable. Weekend one for axle, weekend 2 for TC and weekend 3 for front driveshaft and linkage in the cab and any misc loose ends.

 

thanks for the info. i just might be looking into it soon. as far as my front wheel goes it is not just wheel balancing issue. i dont think this would be that hard to do. i bet i could pull it off in a couple of days time. when im home i dont have to go into office so only finding time off is the key heh.

 

Ya what he said. I didn't know that the trans was the same, that's why the ECU being mentioned. I was half asleep when I posted that....

 

it is actually the overdrive unit that is swapped out, the 2wd has a slip yolk and the 4wd version has an output shaft and mounting flange for a transfer case. It should be a 44RE unit on a V8 of that year.