Re: Has anyone changed from AWD to RWD?
From what I've read, looks like a number of the V8 swaps end up loosing their AWD.
And changing it to rear only would be much easier than changing a 2wd s10 to 4wd. I think. You'd just need to find the 2wd spindles on the front and swap everything over (brakes, abs sensor (if you keep it), etc). You can remove the front diff very easily. And as for the rear, just get the output shaft adapter thing-a-ma-jig (can't remember the proper technically term for it atm) off of an automatic 2wd s10 pickup or blazer which would go in place of the transfer case. The only hard part would be the drive shaft. I'm not sure if a drive shaft out of a same year s10 would still fit or not? Might have to get a custom.
If the drive shafts going to the rear are the same between syclones and s10's and typhoons and blazers, than I'd assume it'd stay that way when using a 2wd transmission end piece as well. So whatever truck you pull that off, I'd grab the drive shaft too. But someone else will need to confirm or debunk this.
I think thats it really... These trucks dont have anything fancy when it comes to the AWD. Its not like the push button 4wd systems, or even the floor shifter models.
I guess you could just remove the front prop shaft and leave the front diff and everything intact, but thats just more stuff to break later and fly apart. Plus its in the way at this point. But this still means you need to remove the transfer case... even if you get it locked up at 50/50 (which is already bad), that probably wont last long before it starts having problems). No matter how you go about this, the t-case has to come out.
And as for the better gas milage, I'm sure you'd see a noticeable increase. My blazer gets ~21 on the highway in normal 2wd mode. But if run it in 4-HI it gets about 17-18. Which is what my typhoon used to get on good days. So I'd assume you'd see a better highway eco. I can tell ya now that you will no longer have that famous off the line re-action. It'll be very tail happy. Even with that LSD in the back.
