i have an 89 250 diesel 4x4. found an 80 gasser one ton 4x4. truck is not really worth much of nething other than the axles and suspension. the 80 to 87 frame was the same as 88-96 isnt it? just pull parts and swap right?

 

The front axle on your Diesel will be either a D44HD or D50, witch are both TTB axles.

That 1980 F350 will have one of those axles as well, as Ford stopped making solid front axles for the early 80's, and came back out with the solid D60 in 1986.



So no gain there at all. And the rear axle on your Diesel 250, is the exact same axle used in F350's of the same era, with the same gearing options. Again, no gain at all. That 1980 F350 will have either a D60 or Dana 70 rear end, and it's the old style ones, that you have to pull the axles out to get the drums off. You have the Sterling 10.25" axle with slide off drums. The 10.25 is a closer match to the D70, so it is a sturdy axle!



The only difference the F350's had over the HD 250's is the suspension, and solid front axle on the 1986+ 4x4 models.


Also, the F350 should have factory lift blocks. Can't remember how many inchs they are.

 

and that 80 front axle will not fit in your 89 without major work.

 

May I ask why you are contemplating this swap? Read your trim codes on the drivers door jamb. What is your stock GVWR? My guess is it's 8,800 lbs.

IMHO I wouldn't bother doing the swap. Unless you're doing extremely heavy payload hauling in your bed, the 250 HD is very close to the 350. Your 89 diesel is most likely the Heavy Duty version of the F250 which means it has the same full-floating 10.25" rear end from the F350, which is about as stout a rear end as you will find. It also has heavier rear leaf springs that are closer to the 350.

The limiting factor for the 250 HD rear GVWR is actually the load range of the stock tires (3042lbs each=6084lbs). Beefing up the front end won't do much for your hauling ability and will make the truck ride rougher than it already does.

Also, replacing parts from an '89 with a parts from a junked truck 9 years older is not a good idea for longevity IMHO. If you are really pushing the payload capacity that much than upgrading to a higher load range rear tire may help. MAYBE heavier rear springs if you are putting more than 4,000 lbs of payload over the rear axle.

 

well i wasnt sure on the rearend as weather it made a difference or not. been my experience that the solid axle front end handles better and personally i think it is a smother ride. as far as gaining anything for pulling or hauling im not set to gain anything really other than a slightly more comfortable ride. the truck i seen was priced low enough that even minus the axles and springs would still weigh enough in junk to pay for itself. so free parts basically. and i do have the 10.25 rearend. so which yrs am i looking towards?

 

'85 1/2 to 1997 F350, 80 to early '85 had d50 TTB

 

ok thanks guys ill stick to 86 and up then.

 

A front solid axle gives a smoother ride than an independent front suspension? That's the first time I've ever heard of that.

 

Well this will be the second time you've heard it. In my opinion, the solid axle I put underneath my F250 rides much smoother than the TTB axle that came from the factory. The TTB axle felt very jerky when the road was rough, the solid axle doesn't do that. Some of this opinion may be because I refreshed all of the front end and suspension components of the straight axle before I put it in.

 

I also agree. the solid axle rides better. The F250 TTB just has so little movement, then it HITS the bump stops. When your axle STOPS by hitting something, that gives a BAD ride

 

Sorry to slip off the subject ... kinda, but my 90 F250 has a GVWR of 8800 lbs. So if I understand you right then it is considered an HD F250 Something I have always questioned ... Thanks Dave

 

From what I understand, the coil sprung TTB rides nicer then a coil sprung solid axle, but the leaf sprung TTB is awful.

 

If I remember right, the 1997 F250 HD is the only one truly labeled "HD" because they also made the F250 Light duty that had the same body as the 1997 F150.

 

Thanks GNR22, all I know it's a tough old bird... almost sits like a 4X4 but is 2WD . At one time I needed to haul my own water, with a 325 gal. tank between the wheel wells & between the cab and axle. the load weighed about 3000 lbs. ... just made it sit level going down the road ... actually it rode better then too !!! Thanks for the info Dave

 

ah glad its not just me. yes coil springs with the twin i axle does ride smooth. but with the leafs on that axle wit the limited movement before they bottom out makes a very rough ride down county roads.