Finally done with all new parts except for axles, and carrier side adjusters. As always this project required the help of other FTE members, which was also (as always) swift and gracious. Ill post when I get to installing it, but for now Id like to thank those who helped, supported, and followed this project. From pick up to completion. I have been keeping small picture albums along the way. If I can ever figure out how to use the new album software Ill post all the pics, but for now just enough for you to follow the process, Sorry. The "Faq" feature still hasn't posted instructions. I'm sure they will but for now we will all just have to appreciated that we have a photo album feature. PS I think I'm up around $1,000 but Ill add it up after it's in and working. Boy it's been fun learning. "ROCK ON FTE"

 

Looks pretty nice Jimmy. Glad to hear you have it all done.

 

Outstanding! You have to be pretty excited about having that accomplished. Can't wait to see pics of you driving her again with the "new" 9".

 

Don't forget to put oil in it, Jimmy!

Good job! Plenty of cruising left this summer!

 

I just measured under the truck, the spring perches on the old Dana 53 are the same inside to inside as the new 9" (38") so that is cool, but I'm pretty sure Ill need to use spacers on the shocks, if not Ill need to have a new shock mount welded on. The old perches and springs measure 2" in width, as do my springs so I think Ill be ok there. My old drive shaft has a dent in it where someone hit a rock or the like, plus I think it would be way short as the old Dana 53 has a longer snout. So I plan on replacing it along with u joints to match. I know I said Id post after it was in, but I was just reading the 9" VS 8.8" thread and figured this info may be helpful to those following that thread.

 

Jim, that looks awesome! Looking forward to more info

 

Nice 9"! I completed a 9 inch swap from 67 Ford F100, it was a direct swap, the only thing issue was the pinion angle needed to be adjusted because it was about 12 degrees and I had needed to bring it down with an 8 degree steel shims. Your looks good.

 

Jimmy you do good work ! Hope it runs as good as it looks. Have fun

 

My 9" was the same, and I was told it was because it was from a 4x4. Makes sense. But 8* of shims was too much for me, so I cut and re-welded the perches.

Jim, on mine the driveshaft had to be 1-1/4" longer +/-. If your DS is dented, you probably have to have a new one made. But you have a different trans, may need less. They can't lengthen DS's, only shorten them.

 

YAY Jim! That looks pretty sweet. Can't wait to see all your pic's. Keep up the good work.

 

Jimmy,
It looks great, nice work. It would have cost a lot more than $1000 to buy one put together like that, plus you built it and you can't put a price on that.

Check drive shaft shops for price but I usually find it cheaper for stock horsepower applications like yours to buy a wrecking yard driveshaft and have it shortened than getting one built from scratch.

 

Woe, I was not expecting so many kind words, thank you all. I'm reading up on pinion angles at the moment, doe's anyone remember the site that one of our former members had ???????s World or something like that? I lost the link on my last computer crash. He had a lot of good info on his site, schematics and some stuff on Pinion Angle that was pretty straight forward.

 

Axle build came out great!
Pinion angle setup is simple, equal an opposite the transmission output angle. Pinion angle will change as the leaf springs compress, so you want to set it up with full weight on the truck as it will be driven.
Just did this a couple weeks ago on truck #2, pics are in that build post, page 16.

 

Is this what you mean?

Dennys Driveshaft How To Measure Correctly for driveshafts that fit right

Or do you mean Earl's World
http://www.clubfte.com/users/earl/Re..._Material.html

 

Earl's world, that's it, thanks Ross.