I may have to replace my engine and want to just do the transmission and rear axle at the same time.

BUT, I like my stock wheels, what axle can I replace it with? This is a 2 ton flatbed.

Thanks in advance...

 

What are you trying to do? Something wrong with your axle?

 

I want to put more horses in it, get a new transmission so I don't have to double clutch and get rid of the low gearing so I can go faster. There is nothing wrong with the axle per se.

thanks

 

I'd suggest a Dana 70HD, commonly found in '70/'80s Dodge RM400/500 based motor homes. They have a 4.56/1 ratio, and are almost a bolt it swap to my measurements. They have your same 5 lug x 8" bolt pattern. I had one intending to do a big truck myself, but came to realize I wasn't gonna get it done. The spring pads are about 1/8" off on each side, which can either be moved or dressed up to align with the springs. Finding a dead motor home isn't hard, and commonly they have tubeless 19.5" wheels that will work great on an F-6 too. Stu

 

Then don't fret about the wheels. Buy two axles from something much newer with disc brakes and better steering geometry up front along with power steering.

 

There were front disc brakes on some of the RM400/500 motor homes. I still have a set from my aborted project. Whether the whole front axle would swap in I don't know. Would suspect there'd be issues adapting modern internal steering architecture to the F-6's outside frame rail pitman arm and drag link configuration. Stu

 

Stu,

Thanks for both comments, now see there are options open to me. I hate to abandon this frame and body, she's a crowd pleaser and being an old girl, needs some new foundations so to speak.

 

The rear axle I had now sits under an F-5, and I know of the exact same swap that was done on an early '50s Studebaker 1.5 or 2 ton. My hope was that the motor home front spindles would be close enough in size to the Ford spindles to allow, assuming some machine shop help, the hubs and disc brake components to bolt on thus avoiding having to mess with steering geometry. But I never pursued the project that far. Stu

 

Thanks Stu, good to see my options are open.