I am looking at options for possibly swapping out the rear and front ends to get better highway speed and better brakes what would be the best or easiest swap for my 1948 f6?

Thanks for the input!

 

There's been discussion tonight on a couple of threads about using a Dana 70HD axle from a 1970s/80s Dodge Class A RM400/500 motor home. Same 5 lug x 8" pattern but gives a 4.56/1 ratio. I know of this having been done twice now. That doesn't help you on the front axle, though. There was a thread a few weeks ago where a member used both front and rear axles from a Dodge Class C motor home. Apparently it was a bolt in swap too but has the 8 x 6.5" pattern. I haven't book marked the thread, so hope one of the other guys did. Stu

Edit. Here it is.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...le-change.html

 

Hi,


I'm swapping a 1972 9" into my 56 F100 and it is pretty straight forward... the question I have is what did everyone use for a U-Bolt? I'm keeping the stock suspension 1 3/4 leaf springs and the 9" has 3" tubing so I have a set of lower mounting plates for a 57-62 F100, which used the 9", but they used 2 1/4 leaf springs. If I use U-bolts from the 57-62 era then I have 1/2 of play around the leaf springs and that seems like the springs might 'walk around' after awhile. I'm considering welding some 1/4 steel to the U-Bolts... is there a better solution??


Thanks!

 

I am about ready to bolt in an early '80s F350 Dana 70HD into my '48 F6. My measurements show that it will fit, but I'm using a tape measure. Stay tuned, for pics and description.
For the front end I bought new rims and put on Low Profile 19' radials, they are the same height as the rear duals from the F350.

 

There is a guy local to me that has a F-5 with a IH truck rear axle. It has the same five bolt pattern as the Ford. He also installed higher Ford gears. He said internally the IH and Ford axles are the same. It'll take some searching but there are still some IH trucks out there. I don't know if the IH front parts would work on the Ford truck.