Questions about 2wd & 4wd Differences...

I need some help with a few questions, to make the story short my bro-in-law wrecked my truck and i have liablity only (and it was his fault)....The good news is he has full coverage when hes driving other peoples cars...so his insurance IS going to pay for my truck. I need to rip the hood off to really see what all was damaged inside but im waiting for the insurance inspector to come give me a quote. So i will either fix my truck or buy a new mazda.

I was thinking I should just get a 4wd mazda and then i would have my bed and fenders, and I would just pull out the 4wd and get back to lowering it and such. Question is what is all differnt on a 4wd then a 2wd? I mean what IF ANY parts off my 2wd truck will i need to replace the parts on the 4wd truck? Spindles? Etc..?

Also how does the SE-5 verison differ from the regular model? And what motor would be the better motor to have out of the b2200 (88-91) and the b2600 (88-91) or are they the exact same? And lastly would it be worth it to get the fuel injected version if I so happen to come across a truck with it?

Thanks for all your helpDee

ps if you have a mazda for sale (b2200) in or around southern IL. let me know...

the 4x4 truck has a completely different frame. The front suspension uses lower A arms (instead of the LCA + strut rod like the 2wd) and the carrier hangs about 4 inches below the frame to have room for the front differential. The frame is taller too, so even if you cut off the front suspension and used 2wd front clip it would still be bigger. The rear leaf mounts hang lower, and the diff is bigger and geared differntly for bigger tires. There is extra room in the trans tunnel for the tranfer case.


It goes on like that. My advice is buy a 2wd and just find a bed and fenders for it. Once I found a 4x4 std cab and looked into having the whole cab/bed swapped over onto a 2wd frame but it was really just too much work.

wazzup Russ!

you say the 4x4 cabs have a bigger driveshaft tunnel for the gear box? That would be great for a stock floor body drop- more driveshaft room for more drop!

yeah I have been astounded how far mazda went to make two truck cabs that look almost exactly the same outside (2wd and 4wd) COMPLETELY different under the carpet.

Hows the Mazda Jim? Wish I could have hung out last month but man it just seems like there is no time for anything any more.

Originally posted by Russ-D



yeah I have been astounded how far mazda went to make two truck cabs that look almost exactly the same outside (2wd and 4wd) COMPLETELY different under the carpet.

Hows the Mazda Jim? Wish I could have hung out last month but man it just seems like there is no time for anything any more.



Ok, thats good to know. I guess ill be getting a 2wd rhen. Also do i need the upper frame rails? Or can I cut them off and just make a new rail to hang the fenders from? Thanks again..Dee

Originally posted by LudeKustoms



Also do i need the upper frame rails? Or can I cut them off and just make a new rail to hang the fenders from? Thanks again..Dee

you can make it new, but keep in mind when you cut them off the core support is going to fall backwards.

Originally posted by Russ-D



Originally posted by LudeKustoms



Also do i need the upper frame rails? Or can I cut them off and just make a new rail to hang the fenders from? Thanks again..Dee

you can make it new, but keep in mind when you cut them off the core support is going to fall backwards.



But do they serve any other purpose besides holding the fenders, and probably add a little bit of a "Crumple Zone" in case of a wreck? I was wondering cause if i fix my wrecked truck, both rails and core support are toast, and i figured i was going to cut out the inner fenders anyway so....

yeah a lot of times people just line it all up with the fenders and make the supports after.

How does the 4X4 bed fit on to the 2wd frame? Does it bolt straight up?

yes