Just a progress report, 2wd gearbox bolted up perfectly, shares 2 gearbox mounts but not the one near the firewall. Everything else is the same including shifter cables, clutch, clutch line, starter etc. Left hand driveshaft/axle is also the same.

Removed tailshaft but I needed stilsons to hold tailshaft, as it turned even with rear wheels on the ground and handbrake on

Will get a right hand side drive shaft and rear gearbox mount from a wreckers and should be good to go!

Was much easier to put a 2wd gearbox in, so much more room!

 

Interesting. I think you didn't get a lot of traction on your thread since most people would not want to convert their 4x4 to a 4x2, but you never know.

 

Interesting switch from 4x4 to 4x2. I'm sure it's easier than going the other way. However, I'm surprised there aren't more 4x4 trannies out there. Seems most Patriots are 4x4; I'm the oddball with two 4x2s.

 

I finished changing it over a while back so I just thought I'd drop by again.

Both parts of the rear gearbox mount were different (the piece that bolts to cross member, and the piece that bolts to the gearbox. (This is the 4x4 rear gearbox mount)

I put the driveshaft/axle in with no problems- make sure you grab the bolts that go into the engine as the 2x4 axle has a bracket attached to it. (4x4 axle pictured)

This piece and the tailshaft were no longer needed obviously!

It always seems to be the output shaft bearing that packs up- my guess would be lack of oil on it. This is what happens when the bearing collapses. It cracked the gearbox casing and chewed out the shaft so couldn't really be repaired for a reasonable price.

The culprit. There was no bearing to be seen!

Here in Australia, there only seems to be a couple of 4x4 gearboxes in the country currently, and they are asking $2500 and $3000.
If anyone wants my leftover parts to change to a 4x4 you're welcome to them.. Although you will need to supply your own diff!

 

Thanks for the update