They make the TH350 and TH400 with the 4x4 tailshaft instead of the 2wd tailshaft. They also mate up to just about any transfer case out there. So there really isn't any reason to lose 4wd if you wanted to keep it. Plugging in combo like chopper listed would be a fantastic budget version of what I'm doing. The only part you'd suffer on would be emissions and gas mileage. Also, legality comes into play, at least where I live. The law here says you can't swap in an engine older than the vehicle, and it actually has to come in a vehicle made after your vehicles production year.

I will get started on a build thread I guess, but it's going to be slow. I take my time and really stew over my decisions, so don't hold your breath.