I'm looking at a 1978 F150 2wd for sale. I'm wondering if there is an upgrade/retrofit replacing the king pins with ball joint (similar to my 1995 F150).

Reason I ask, I've had a couple 2wd trucks of this era (1973, 1974, & 1976). They used to chew through front tires, and the only adjustment for caster/camber adjustment was eccentric king pin bushing replacement, or heating the i-beams (never liked that idea). i like the set up on my 95 F150.

1st post, new to forum.

 

None that I'm aware of, unless you swap in an aftermarket front end or swap in something from a donor. A lot of the time the problem with eating tires on them is the springs are worn out or are too long/too heavy. Worn out will wear the inside of the tires, too long/heavy will wear the outside. Also pulling a trailer/hauling too heavy of a load will also wear the outsides. Just think about how the geometry works on the front end during compression or rebound and it will make sense. Ive only owned 1 2wd dent that I drove. It never hauled a load and it had an aftermarket lowering kit on it so its not a good comparison. I have however been around a lot of 2wd dual rear wheel 1 tons of that era and they were ALWAYS loaded. They would eat tires bad ................

 

.... thinking, wonder if I-beams from the later generation F150's (87-96) will fit?

 

I don't think so. Quote if I am wrong guys withsome input. 73-79 i beams are equal length and 80-96 are unequal length. That is what I remember. The only way to get ball joints on 73-79's is have them custom fab and that means $$$$! Some have used 88-98 chevy truck clips,mustang II,and swapped in crown vic clips.
Please correct me if I'm wrong guys.

 

It would be a LOT of custom fab. Correcting the alignment on the existing beams is cheaper and easier.