whats the difference in a 2wd and 4wd

I just picked up a 4wd for 100 bucks. I bought it mainly for the sheetmetal but now im thinking about bodydropping it on its frame and when i get my 2wd bagged, I can just swap the cab and other body parts and have a bagged and body dropped truck. I wanted to know the main differences in the 2 trucks. Is it the same frames or they different? are the suspension parts swappable?

Quite a few differences:

Tranny with transfer case for 4x4

Rear leaves on top of axle instead of uner, (don't matter since you plan on bagging it, cuz you'll remove the leaf set up)

Tranny crossmember would be different if I'm not mistaken.

Hmmm don't know about removing the locking hubs.

Where ya located? I'm in need of 4x4 running works

thanks! so pretty much everything you said thats different I wont be using any way. as far as parts, I'm in louisiana and I will check to see if any other parts is good.

i have been told that if you have a 2wd mazda abd a 4wd mazda you can swap the front suspension, rear suspension, transmission, and driveshaft from the 2wd to the 4wd and end up with a 2wd with 4wd sheetmetal....

but its easier to just swap the fenders and bed...

as far as bodydropping it while its on the 4wd frame, i cont see where you would have any problems, as long as you made sure the frame was laying flat on the ground....

Dang! I need the 4x4 suspension, tranny, and transfer case lol. Was gonna swap wit ya

Yeah, swapping metal is waaayyy easier.

2WD uses a sort of two link front as opposed to a true short-long-arm suspension. The 4WD has true lower control arm. Thus the 4WD requires two crossmembers for each end of the lower control arm. These are both welded to the frame. So to swap a 4wd front suspension...

Remove complete suspension
Cut off 2WD suspension mounts and frount cross member
Weld in 2 4WD crossmembers and suspension attachments
bolt on 4WD suspension
Not sure about torsion bar mounts, they may need to be removed
Also not sure about t-case crossmember...I think the mounts would need to be welded as well

Oh, BTW the 4x4 has larger brakes. Someone (that'd probably be me) should see if they swap to 2WD.

this sounds very interestinig.

What's up, yall? I am looking into the "sway a way""powerbarz" torsion bars. They are supposed to have a higher spring rate than stock. They (the company) have to different part numbers, one for the 2WD and one for the 4WD. Does anybody know what the difference is between the two? Is there a difference in the spring rate between the two on stock trucks. The only difference I have been able to find is the fact that the bar is half an inch longer on the 4WD. Does that small of a difference even matter? The reason I am asking is the version for the 2WD is supposedly discontinued. Any help would greatly be appreciated? thnx L8RS!!