1989- RS to 4x4 swap list

[kennethneil81]

New (to me ) mirrors I got from another member-I figure they will be better for off roading since they are not all plastic.

@markmitch

Those mirrors look good on there. I will definitely be following your build.

Kenny

[markmitch]

Since I want to do a pressure test on my 700R4 transmission prior to beginning the disassembly of the 89 I drove it up on a set of ramps and climbed under it and sprayed everything that will have to come apart with pb blaster to make my life easier when I do start the process. Once the transmission situation is resolved I will start draining the fluids. Then pull the engine and transmission. Once I get that far I will slowly strip the frame I hope to reuse the brake lines from 89 on the 98 frame.

[AstroWill]

Good luck Mark!

[markmitch]

I think once I find the adapter I need to use my transmission with the newer 4472 transfer I will only have one major hurdle left and that will be the brake lines. I am hoping I can reuse the factory lines from the 89 but I may have to make some and to be honest I have never done that. I have made fuel lines and transmission lines but that was a long time ago. I have atubing bender kit but my flaring tool is missing parts so I will have to either buy one or see if autozone has one I can rent. Mark

[90safari]

I think once I find the adapter I need to use my transmission with the newer 4472 transfer I will only have one major hurdle left and that will be the brake lines. I am hoping I can reuse the factory lines from the 89 but I may have to make some and to be honest I have never done that. I have made fuel lines and transmission lines but that was a long time ago. I have atubing bender kit but my flaring tool is missing parts so I will have to either buy one or see if autozone has one I can rent. Mark

The brake lines will be easy, as they are smaller and easier to bend (can be wrapped around a beer bottle). I replaced all of them on my 88 last summer, and just used sections of line and couplers, so I can replace just what I need in another 10 or so years.
I want to say the rear line was 3/16ths, while the front lines were 1/4 inch. At least they all use normal line fittings (no metric stuff mixed in). On mine, the section of line between the frame rail and the fuel tank was where the rear line rusted thru and leaked. I did the fronts, only because I had the rear open, and they looked a little crusty after 31 years.

[markmitch]

The lines on my 89 from what I can see are in good shape the problem I may encounter is using the original brake lines from my 89 on the 98 frame simply because the 98 frame is AWD and I am using the brake components on the front of the 98 with the 89 brake system. As you said I may have to make up new lines and such so getting all the adapters to make the two systems work together may cause me some grief.

[markmitch]

So another thing to post for future go getters wanting to do this: From the first gen van to the second gen vans the front bumper brackets are somewhat different. I had to use a hammer to get the brackets to line up for the top bolt holes I finally got them but the bottom holes are not the same as the 1st gen frame so I will have to re drill them. The side brackets seem to fit in the correct place but there are no bolt clips there so I removed them from the 1st gen van and added them to the 2nd gen frame. It got dark on me before I finished so I will finish tomorrow. The poly bushings I have on the front sway bar are the same size as the bar on the 2nd gen frame so I will swap them over tomorrow too.

[markmitch]

found the trans to transfer adapter on ebay cost with shipping $92.00