Bongo Fury

I'm sure I've seen something somewhere on the forum, but can't find it.

Anyway, we've got a diesel bongo with 2WD, and we might want to start using it to access some land which could get muddy. Also, we live on a steep hill which can be dodgy in winter snow. We don't want to sell it and buy another Bongo with 4WD, because we love the camper conversion we've got. So, how easy is it to convert a 2WD to a 4WD?

I'm assuming the rear diff is the same on both, and that you'd need a front diff, plus prop shafts. Can an LSD (limited slip diff) be fitted too?

Welcome views. Given the Bongo is a simple beast, I was assuming it wouldn't be too difficult.... or am I assuming to much ??

Cheers !

LSD Should be a fairly easy fit but adding four wheel drive would be a huge and expensive job.

Almost certainly cheaper to buy a Land Rover to tow Bongy.

It should be a fairly simple conversion ,you will need ..

Prop shafts
Transfer box / 4wd box
Front diff
Drive shafts
Front hubs
At least.
You will also need to make sure that the Rear and Front Differentials are Compatible. IE Ratios.

If you are doing it yourself and get someone like Jungle George to supply s/h units it should be quite cheap to do .

Good Luck.

Take my hat off.

Too difficult for me.

If you have the space buying a blown up rotten 4wd Bongo for not a lot would make some sense, as you'll have everything to transfer straight from one to the other. If you get the parts list from someone else, you know you're going to end up with a little part missing that is impossible to track down!

hi,

The other way of doing it might be to buy a good, unconverted 4x4 and swapping over the interiors, trim and anything else you want to keep then selling on your old 2wd.

Might be a silly question, but would something as simple as a change to winter/knobbly tyres help?

Peter

Yes, the swap of tyres, or rather the addition of temporary wheel grips like snow chains, may be a better option.

There are a few things I'm looking into

Cheers

Gripped wrote:I'm sure I've seen something somewhere on the forum, but can't find it.

Anyway, we've got a diesel bongo with 2WD, and we might want to start using it to access some land which could get muddy. Also, we live on a steep hill which can be dodgy in winter snow. We don't want to sell it and buy another Bongo with 4WD, because we love the camper conversion we've got. So, how easy is it to convert a 2WD to a 4WD?

I'm assuming the rear diff is the same on both, and that you'd need a front diff, plus prop shafts. Can an LSD (limited slip diff) be fitted too?

Welcome views. Given the Bongo is a simple beast, I was assuming it wouldn't be too difficult.... or am I assuming to much ??

Cheers !

Dont recall seeing that post.Are you sure you havnt seen a post the other way round,ie,4WD to 2WD, by removing the propshafts.Thats been mentioned on here

I'm thinking that a half way house would be to fit an LSD to the rear axle. That way, I would effectively double the grip.

Has anyone done this? I expect the easiest would be to swap out the whole rear axle for one with an LSD.

First step is to check that it doesn't already have one, but I'd be amazed if it does.

Was an LSD fitted or an option on a Bongo?

Pretty sure it was an option.

There is a Russian site into which you can put your chassis number and it will tell you if LSD was fitted.

Bongolia wrote:Was an LSD fitted or an option on a Bongo?

Presume an option as not all have it. Recall LSD were marked with a white dot, probably long gone

Thats interesting, what Russian site?
Has anybody got the link please.

You can check if you have an LSD by jacking the axle off the floor and rotating one side , the other side will turn in the same direction of rotation as the wheel you are turning, providing the diff is not damaged of course. A Non LSD will turn in the opposite direction.
If you want to be sure get someone to hold the opposite wheel stationary and you will find it impossible or very difficult to turn.

Seems to b back working again http://mazda.epcdata.ru/

Bongolia wrote:Thats interesting, what Russian site?
Has anybody got the link please.

You can check if you have an LSD by jacking the axle off the floor and rotating one side , the other side will turn in the same direction of rotation as the wheel you are turning, providing the diff is not damaged of course. A Non LSD will turn in the opposite direction.
If you want to be sure get someone to hold the opposite wheel stationary and you will find it impossible or very difficult to turn.

So I jacked it up, put on stands. Put in neutral. Spun a wheel, the other stays still, no matter which side.
As it was safely chocked and on axle stands, I started her up. Both wheel spin, but you can stop either wheel with your foot and the other will spin.

What does this mean????