I have regular cab 88 F-150 (302, 4x4, M5OD 5 speed, I9 axle code, 3:55 gears) that will be receiving a 6 inch lift, and 35s. After all my research, I know that I want to run 4:10 gears, but I'd rather just swap axles. Is there a truck that I can swap front and back axles directly? What truck should I be looking for? What other modification must be done? Thanks

 

I guess I should add that the truck is not my daily driver, and will do very little hauling or towing. I do have some performance upgrades planned (MAF conversion, headers/exhaust, cam)

 

A 4.10 wasn't offered in F-150's at least from '91 until '96 maybe earlier, too. 3.55's were available… otherwise you'll have a 3.08.

 

Thanks for the reply. Could I swap in Bronco axles? Or maybe from a different Ford?

 

I think the Bronco's will have the same gears.

Swapping in a new set of gears will probably be less expensive when you consider your time and all the work involved. Not really a tough job for anyone with a little experience and a good set of instructions.

You will find the light duty F-250's will have 3.73's and 4.10's. This is a non-floater axle offered in the 7200 lb. trucks from '87 (?) until '91 IIRC.

 

F150's were offered with 4.10's from the factory, but they were a RARE option. I have seen 3 F150's, all 4X4's, with 4.10's. The door tags indicated the 4.10 ratio and the diff tags all confirmed the ratio.

So assuming you can find one of them, you can then go and take the front pumpkin from a Dana 50 TTB with 4.10's and bolt it to your Dana 44 beams and have 4.10's. The Dana 50 pumpkin is the easiest way to get 4.10's as they were a common ratio for the larger trucks. It will also bolt right up to your Dana 44 beams.

 

Thanks Evan_P, very helpful info, exactly what I was asking for. Which trucks will have that pumpkin? Bronco, F-1,2,&350?

And will the rear be the same?

 

Evan is right, you could get 91-96 F150s with factory 4.10s.

FYI the D44 and D50 third members from the F250s are 100% bolt in. Its MUCH more common to find 4.10s in the 3/4 tons so you shouldn't have any issues finding on in your local yards.

 

Nice! Thanks for the help. Just to clarify, what year range truck should I be looking for to pull from?

 

1980-1996 F series and Broncos

 

Thanks Garth. Last question: My axle code is 19, which axle code do I want? Does it matter if I pull from a truck that has limited slip?

Also, is the procedure the same for front AND rear?

 

Axle code 15 or H5 on the Bronco's and F150's. Any ale code that has X5 in it is a 4.10 ratio where the X could be 1,2,3 or H or B.

 

You need to pull from two different trucks to get what would be best. The D50 center for the front can be found in F350s and F350HDs but all those trucks are 8 lug so the rear axle won't work.

As for the rear, better off swapping to a 9", much better axle, can be swapped right in replacing your 8.8 and can be found in 4.10. Just has to come from an older truck.

 

I love how everyone always goes strait to "throw a 9" in there". There is no need to. The 8.8" is not as weak as everyone makes them out to be. On top of that the 9" has NO provision for the VSS sensor in the diff housing. The RABS system needs this to function. Not to mention you are gonna pay WAY more for a 9" than an 8.8" simply because everyone feels it is so much better. The way I see it, if the Mustang guys can push 600+ hp and 600+ lb/ft of torque through an 8.8", it is more than good enough for an old, gutless truck.

And one small correction as well, the Dana 50's came in F250HD's from '80-'97 as far as I know and F350's in the early 80's.

 

The 9" and 8.8 are almost identical in torque strength, it's in the bearings and axle retentions design that the 8.8 falls short. For a street F150 no big deal, for an off-road F150 it can worse case be life and death. With the 8.8 any of many parts fail with the axle shaft leaves the truck taking the wheel and brake drum with it. This is not an issue with the 9".

Yeah the 9" will cost more, but really what are the odds of finding a 4.10 pickup 8.8.

As for the VSS, if he still has RABS and wants it working then he can use the transfer case output.

Good point on the D50, all F350s from uhm I wanna say 86 up have a D60, but F350s from 80 to the switch have D50TTBs. Also my understanding is that most regular cab F250s have D44TTBs.