Hardbody 4x4 Performance With 2.4 And 5 Speed

[mrecoolgar]

A freind has offered me a 1990 Hardbody std cab/std bed 4wd.
It has the 2.4 with manual trans but has a bad engine.
It's free but it's missing a few pieces here and there.
I had considered swapping my 1990 Hardbody body and interior onto this one.
1990-redo-transformation-t340715.html
My concern is mpg's and performance.
The brochure states the 4x4 is 600lbs more than the 2wd.
My 2wd has good pep and weighs about 2740lbs.
The 4wd weighs about 3300lbs.
Since I'm selling my Dakota 4x4 it would be nice to replace it.
Your thoughts ?

[seang]

Is the frame in good shape?

Yes, the 4wd is heavier and gears are lower, 3300lbs sounds about right if not tad low. Oil pans and sump tubes are different but interchangable.

See the axle sticky to check the axle code.

My 4wd D21 with 4.6325:1 gears gets 14-19mpg but I am guessing an average in between 16 and 17mpg driving normally, which means not pussyfooting it as long as the engine is warm.

At least it would be a 4x4. Two wheel drives have their place in the world as do 4wd's and the line should be drawn accordingly, none of this "I'll put 31's on my 2wd even though it has 3.55 gears and spring under" business. Even the transmissions are geared differently, not just the differentials. /sorry, rant

[mrecoolgar]

Thanks!
That's a bunch of usefull info.

[seang]

I would like to read second person saying that the oil pans and sumps are interchangable, just so I'm not dead wrong.

[mrecoolgar]

A quick check under is all I did but the frame seems ok.
We'll be pulling it from it's current space in a week or two... or three.