IRD missing

Please excuse my ignorance.
I bought my Freelander a couple of weeks ago. It wasn't until I got it home and was trawling through the forum that I became aware of 2wd even being a possibility!
Mine is 2wd and after a phone call to the shop I got a fair chunk of my hard earned back. So I'm happy with what I paid for a 2wd Freelander.
However, if I want to make it 4wd again. I guess I will need front/rear props, VCU, bearings, bolts and......do I need an IRD as well?
Thanks in advance.

youve got an ird but its had the rear flange and bevel gear removed and blank fitted, it might be because bevel gear is buggered in which case a new ird is needed or just because previous owner removed it with vcu and rear prop because he didnt know better

Thanks for that.
I guess a bit of investigating is called for.
How can I check if the IRD is toast before I start accumulating the parts?

if you havent got the output shaft/bevel gear then you would need another ird, after removing blanking plate you can see condition of the teeth on the corresponding bevel gear, if you jacked one front wheel up you could rotate to see all teeth

I wonder if bell would accept that as a trade in without the output shaft? If so you could get a re-con ird and vcu from them and have a good piece of mind about your drive train.....or use that money to buy one with 4wd but it will be unknown how worn it is

Didn't someone post on here the other day saying that Bell didn't have any more recon IRDs but could probably refurb your own one?

You cant just bolt an output flange on as the crown wheel and pinion will require shimming, which means the IRD has to come out. Also unless the crownwheel/pinion were knackered there isnt really anypoint removing the pinion and blanking it, so id guess its probably knackered.

We wont use the aftermarket rubbish crownwheel and pinions sets that are the only option buying new now, so we will only rebuild units if we manage to get our hands on old stock original spec crownwheels/pinions or rebuild your old unit if the crownwheel and pinion are ok.

2wd it is then. That's a little disappointing:'(

Are the diesel and petrol IRDs interchangeable? I know gearboxes are different ratios, but if the IRDs are the same then there are plenty of people breaking petrol freebies due to B%%% oxed engines, that might be a cheaper option for you?

yes they are the same

Just don't get a v6 as they are a different ratio