Thread: Making a 2WD drive DEFENDER

Originally Posted by cj7mexicodefender

Can u make a Defender 2wd? Iknow there's kit ti make Full time Land Cruisers 2WD, is there such a think for a Defender? It's a 2010 Defender.... Would your fuel consumption decrease considerably?

There are kits that enable the LT230 to be made into selectable four wheel drive, so that it can be used on Series Landrovers, so I suppose this could be used for converting a Defender to two wheel drive. I believe free wheel hubs have been produced for coil sprung Landrovers, presumably for the very early 110s which were part time four wheel drive, but I have never actually seen any, and as fgar as I know they have never been sold in this country.

It would be very unlikely to make a significant difference to fuel consumption, but may reduce vibration and improve acceleration slightly. In exchange the handling could be expected to be worse, especially on loose or slippery surfaces.

If you did carry out such a conversion, it is very unlikely that the cost of the conversion (probably end up in the order of $10,000) could be recovered in fuel savings within the life of the vehicle, let alone the reduction in resale value.

John

Hi I am interested to see how you go with this please keep us posted
Cheers
Brad

Correct me if I'm wrong here (just thinking out loud). Could you not just remove the transfer, front axle (or at least all the drive line from inside), and front prop? This would be a significant weight reduction as well. I guess you'd need something on the back of the gearbox so you can bolt a new rear prop onto it. OR replace the gearbox with something from a car (ie. something that never had a trans on it). Also if you removed the front axle it could be replaced with a independent front end.

I agree with you on the handling John. I think it would be detrimental to it's gravel road handling, but if the owner was a purely city driver or highway driver who wanted to tow a trailer or something maybe it would be ok.

Could I be so bold as to say that if your intension was to get a 2wd tow vehicle, then just go buy an F-truck

It is technically feasible to make a Defender part time 4wd, but utterly pointless. A search should reveal that this topic has been done to death several times over.

The fuel economy of the Td-5 defenders is already very good , so any improvements would be marginal. If you're a regular dirt road driver it would be disabling one if the main benefits of the Defender. They are so good to drive on dirt and gravel roads, and more importantly its safer. I think if you drive regularly on dirt roads you would be kicking your self if you spent money to make them rear wheel drive only. The LR constant 4WD is a tried and proven system with 40 years of R&D behind it. Better to spend your money on True tracks or ATBs for the diffs, or suspension improvements. cheers simmo

I think i this case being a driveline swap into an old jeep it may make it easier for the op, if the front and rear axles are used then keep it as permanent 4wd.

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Yes. Ashcroft sell the conversion kit. There will be no change in fuel consumption. It makes them horrible to drive on dirt roads.

Why do people want to ruin a great setup?
Or even more illogical- spend hundreds/thousands to save in fuel...