4wd to 2wd

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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liamm

4wd to 2wd

Post by liamm » Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:49 pm

Hi all, i'm new here and hopefully as of the weekend will be a bongo owner. The van i'm looking at is a 2.5 diesel witha montegue conversion. All seems good, runs well etc. The only oddity is that it has been converted from 4wd to 2wd, the front diff had problems and rather than be replaced/fixed it was removed. Is this a problem, i dont really have a need for 4wd so thats not an issue - will this raise any other problems?

any help appreciated, cheers
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Re: 4wd to 2wd

Post by dobby » Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:45 am

I know that there's a fact sheet on how to convert to 2WD in the members area, probably worth checking the work done against that.

I've got a 4WD suspect I'd consider a convert to 2WD if expensive parts were needed in the future. Also, 2WD are slight more economical (+2mpg) and probably a bit nippier as there's less running gear to power up etc. However, the 4WD gives a very confident feel and is handy on muddy sites etc.

I'd suggest you should get a bongo friendly mechanic to look at what's been done. Also, it sounds if it's only partially been adapted to 2WD etc.
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mister munkey
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Re: 4wd to 2wd

Post by mister munkey » Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:57 am

liamm wrote:Hi all, i'm new here and hopefully as of the weekend will be a bongo owner. The van i'm looking at is a 2.5 diesel witha montegue conversion. All seems good, runs well etc. The only oddity is that it has been converted from 4wd to 2wd, the front diff had problems and rather than be replaced/fixed it was removed. Is this a problem, i dont really have a need for 4wd so thats not an issue - will this raise any other problems?

any help appreciated, cheers
I'm more than happy to stand corrected but that sounds either very high milege/negligent maintainence or both. BF member on here Harry had to convert his to 2wd around 230,000k. If the transmission hasn't been looked after, what other horrors are lurking?

Unless its an incredible steal, keep looking.
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Re: 4wd to 2wd

Post by Bob » Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:02 am

I'm rather with Mr Munkey here. What's the benefit of buying this one?

You will be dragging round all the extra weight of a 4wd, with none of the up side.

If it's REALLY cheap go ahead, otherwise there's plenty out there just now.

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liamm

Re: 4wd to 2wd

Post by liamm » Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:51 am

Bob wrote:I'm rather with Mr Munkey here. What's the benefit of buying this one?

You will be dragging round all the extra weight of a 4wd, with none of the up side.

If it's REALLY cheap go ahead, otherwise there's plenty out there just now.

Oh yes, warm welcome, and where are you? :D
Im based near Belfast - N Ireland.

Mileage wise its 70k - and everything else adds up about the condition. The problem occured after a service that was done badly. Diff oil drained and not replaced i think, it was sorted by a specialist so i'm quite confident that it isnt a bodge.

Its up for mot before i purchase it, if it doesnt get the mot i'll run away .... but the mot is pretty strict here so if it passes ill more that likely be purchasing it.
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mikeonb4c
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Re: 4wd to 2wd

Post by mikeonb4c » Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:21 pm

liamm wrote:
Bob wrote:I'm rather with Mr Munkey here. What's the benefit of buying this one?

You will be dragging round all the extra weight of a 4wd, with none of the up side.

If it's REALLY cheap go ahead, otherwise there's plenty out there just now.

Oh yes, warm welcome, and where are you? :D
Im based near Belfast - N Ireland.

Mileage wise its 70k - and everything else adds up about the condition. The problem occured after a service that was done badly. Diff oil drained and not replaced i think, it was sorted by a specialist so i'm quite confident that it isnt a bodge.

Its up for mot before i purchase it, if it doesnt get the mot i'll run away .... but the mot is pretty strict here so if it passes ill more that likely be purchasing it.
I read that Bongopatrol has a mate selling a Bongo in N Ireland (I think he said it had a conversion) that you might want to check out. PM him as I can't locate the post (though it was very recent)
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