I can get a dana 44 8 lug from a buddy for next to nothing.
Anyone swap these into their newer f250s?? (instead of a 60)

97 f250.

Truck wont be Wheeled hard. and doesnt have a super heavy motor.

thoughts?

 

Get it for next to nothing. Sell it & use the $$$ towards a D60 thats (almost) a bolt in for your truck.

 

problem is 60s are gold around these parts. Not easy to come by and when you do find one its cheaper to buy a complete truck!!!

damn popular.

 

I have seen a D44 solid axle in a OBS but it was far from a bolt in deal.

Like mentioned above. Sell it and buy a D60 or a complete truck to part out

 

It's your lucky day, I've done the swap. The axle I used was a D44 HD from a highboy (with open sockets and disc brakes even!). It's no where near bolt in. But I will give you an overview.
When I put in mine, I also lifted the truck with 1 ton springs from a 1990 F350. I unbolted what I could (sway bar, steering, ect) and torched out the rivets. So boom, easy part done. Then found where the center of the axle was and then measured to where the spring perches need to be (a plumb bob helps for this if you can get the truck on a level floor. I didn't use the spring perches that were on the axle already though. I used some from a different axle that still worked with the 1 ton springs. (you will see why you can't use the original ones). Then weld in the spring perches. Bolt in the new springs and stuff, get the axle where it needs to be and put in the U bolts, put jack stands under the axle and get weight on the springs. Make brackets for the drag link to bolt into. Put in the drag link. And I made my own tie rods then. Bolt in the steering. I had to shorten up the original driveshaft (i dont know if you have to, I swapped transmissions at the same time), and I might have had to change the yolk on it so that I could use the right U joint. hook up the brakes, put tires on her, and see how it goes from there. You will probably need an alignment to make sure she's good to go though. And I would recommend changing the diff fluid. It sounds like a lot, but it took me and 2 other guys probably 18 hours altogether. It does ride a lot smoother than the D50, and it wears tires evenly.

 

how much did the f350 springs lift it? im doing the same swap and im not worried about it but there are a few things like lift and do i need new shocks any other tips?

 

The F350 springs probably brought it up 4 inches or so. The stock shocks were all the way extended when I put them on the D44, so I had to get longer ones. I put a mixture of F250 and f350 springs in the rear also, and I think I have 7 springs total in the back. I still only have the 2" block and that combination leveled the truck.

 

Is the F250 already 4x4, and are we talking about a D44TTB or solid?