im currently working on rebuilding a 78 F250 (and my 68 f250), however after some thought I came up with a idea where I take the Dana 60 rear and D44 front and put them on the 68 F250. I will do a disc conversion for the 78 D60 so essentially I would have 4 disc brakes. As well as better axles.

Is this doable?


Id even be interested in buying a D60 front (I know there expensive) for the swap over so the 68 truck would have dual Dana 60's and disc brakes. Could be a pretty neat build.


any thoughts?

 

Money makes almost everything doable, the 78 D60's spring perches are wider apart so those will need to be relocated to bolt it in to the 68.

Some guys our in the right place at the right time when they find a D60 front axle that don't need $800-$1000 in needed parts to make it a safe usable axle.

I found that any axle that been sitting out side unused for a number of yrs that's been out in the very cold snowy weather just about everything needs to be replaced other then the housing & caliper brackets.
Orich

 

So the cheaper route since I already have a D44 from the 78. Would that bolt up or would I have to do some mods?


The D60 front would be nice, but not critical.

 

Should bolt right up but if you measure I think you'll find only about 1/8" to 1/4" difference in spring center width on the fronts. Hardly noticeable though. It's a lot more work involved to move the passenger spring pad. Only downfall to not moving it is premature bushing wear but that would take years of abuse to see it. Those poly bushings can take a tremendous lot of abuse.

The rear of the 68 F250 should be a D60 already? The aftermarket disk kits are pretty much universal.

 

I remember reading about the difference in a 68 F250 D60 vs a 78 F250 D60. Something about splines being different.

 

What are you going to use the 68 for? Do you really need the added strength of the 78 rear D60? From the looks of my 68 F250 C/S bed it's PO must have been hauling a lot more than 3/4 of a ton. And it prolly loaded via a fast pivoting bucket.

 

The rear Dana 60 will not bolt right but need perches relocated. The difference in the 68 vs the 78 is spline count. Among some other small things. You cannot get parts any longer for the 68 as far as spiders and axles. Obsolete. Ring and pinion are same. The Dana 44HP will bolt right in. Think you have to relocate right side shock mount but that's easy. I did he rear disc conversion on my rear and am getting ready to install a Dana 44HD with disc in front on m 67 so I'm going to have 4 wheel disc.

 

Basically you have 4 options:
1. Keep your 1968 16 spline Dana 60 going with limited parts availability
2. Upgrade your carrier to a 30 spline one and order correct length new axle shafts as the Bump 60 is narrower than other axles
3. Upgrade to the 78 30 spline D60 but will have to move the spring pads inward
4. Better yet, upgrade to a stronger axle since you will have to move spring pads anyway: 85?-98 (not 99+ Super Duty) F-250/350 Sterling 10 1/4". Disc brake kits are available. Rotors are available due to Econolines having disc brakes (they have the same 8x6.5" bolt pattern).