I'm just guessing that this could be done, and might make sense if you also planned to beef up the driveline with a ZF, but I don't know the rest of the story.

What axles would you be looking at with the swap, and what wheel bolt patterns would be available?

What final drive ratios would be available?

I know that plenty of other stuff would have to change, but if anyone knows of a good thread that explains the process, I'd love to read it!

 

look for at least a 1994 and up they have the updated long pinion gear you can easily find 3:55's and some 4:10's try to get one with the factory traction lock {limited slip}in 1998-99 they went with a different lug pattern{metric} if your truck is 4wd i would look for a donor truck and would try to find a full floater rear axle {long center hub at drums }

 

one more thing you will need to update your front also so i would look for a donor truck the F-250 will have the sterling rear and a dana 50{independent} front the F-350 will have the sterling rear and the dana 60 {solid axle} front

 

Thanks -- forgot to mention that I'm dealing with a 4x2. My current bolt pattern is 5x139. Don't know what would happen with backspacing requirements for wheels. Also don't know what I could get under it with a little fender work. I'm not a mudder or rock climber, so I don't see lifts in my future ...

 

None of the heavy duty rears will have 5 bolt patterns. You can have 2 different sets of wheels on your truck, or you can swap the front and rear axles.

 

Your '96 is the same as all the trucks in this generation so technically it's 5x5.5".

If that's the case why are you even considering this?

 

I assume since he is also cinsidering uprading the transmission that he is wanting to set the truck up to tow or haul heavier loads. Unless he is building a 2wd pulling truck...

 

Yeah that's certainly a possibility, I have been throwing around the idea of installing a 10.25 semi floater under my truck for the same reason, and I'd buy custom axles to retain the 1/2 ton bolt pattern if I did. But I'd also like disc brakes too so maybe a 9.75 from a newer truck would be the way to go. Anybody know if the Gen10 trucks had disks on the 8.8?

 

I am pretty sure the Gen10s did come with rear disks.

 

It would seem that 139mm works out to about 5.5"

One of the things I was trying to figure is what wheels (bolt patterns) I would end up going with a 10.25" differential / axle bolt pattern. Tirerack is indicating 8x165, which looks like an 8x6.5" pattern. I don't know if this is true for F350s, or if it changed again if you got a 10.50" differential, or what. At any rate, it would seem that new wheels would definitely be involved in this upgrade.

About the rest, I simply don't know if you HAVE to install a lift if you wanted to carry or pull more weight. I thought it might be possible to accomplish this with different / heavier leaf springs and about the same ride height.

 

SEE! I learn something every day here. I had no idea that custom axles were possible, nor where to get them.

 

I'm playing with the idea of having a STEALTH F250/F350 with an F150 badge on it!

In general, I like the idea of having a versatile vehicle, so that it will be able to satisfy needs that might arise even if I can't project them all in advance.

For you REAL do-it-yourself guys, I think it can make a lot of sense to buy something in relatively good condition that's older / depreciated and then make it be what you want with mods, within reason.

Buying a new F350 in Rhode Island with 7% NADA value sales tax only guarantees that you'll pay over $10,000 in sales and property taxes in the first five years. You could add a lot of capability to a less expensive vehicle for the same amount of money. That's sort of the idea I have for my 1996 F150 which has less than 84k on it and very little rust, and a sales prices (including tax) of just $2,200.

 

Some of the Gen 10 trucks did indeed come with rear discs. However, all I have seen with rear discs have the 9.75" rear rather than the 8.8". The 8.8" was installed in reg cab and ext cab trucks with the 4.6 or the 6 cylinder while the 9.75" was under the 5.4 trucks and the crew cabs. The 8.8" was however offered with disc brakes in both mustangs and explorers and maybe in some crown vics or lincolns. Regardless, it was never offered with disc brakes and a 5 x 5.5" bolt pattern.

 

So did you put in the lift specifically to accommodate the tires? Anything else required? They have a very impressive max load capacity ....

Another option for me might be to keep the 8.8" and go with tires like yours, adjusting the differential final drive ratio for fewer revs per mile. Can you imagine different tires front / rear for a 4x2?

 

Well then you need an actual F250 or F350 truck to start with because there's more to it than just the axles, the truck also needs a stronger frame.