i don't mind a body lift if it's done right.. and i am as poor as they come.. one reason i'm not going to do a sas
if i keep my '87 i'll build it strickly for wheeling, pretty much the exact same axles that are in that link you posted, along with a 351 and a zf, but i may have to sell my '87. also even if i do sell my '87 my '96 isn't going to become a "off road only" truck. or even one that gets wheeled every weekend for that matter.

 

ok, i will call the JY and find out how much a D44 TTB setup is and how much a straight axle is, if the straight axle is cheaper, or the same cost, i will admit defeat and do a sas, if the TTB is cheaper, that will be what i get

 

Thank you, while your at look on craigslist for your area..

I've found D44's 200 bucks...

 

there are like 2 on craigslist, and they are out of a jeep wagoneer..

also, i read 9.ford.5's wright up on it like 4 times and it still seems to be way easier than it seems to be in my head... is it really as easy as it seems in his wright up??

the metal fab envolved.. i suck *** at metal fab, but i do have plenty of friends that are GREAT at it so that is covered, but the rest.. it seems way to easy..

 

As long as its a drivers side drop dosn't matter where you get the axle from..

And yes it is.. Don't over think it.....

 

I really don't understand why so many of you have so little faith in the TTB front ends. When I converted my 96 over I used all the factory TTB stuff, it has held up just fine as a DD and occasional wheeler. I'm only running 32s on it with a 2.5" lift, it still tracks down the road just as nice as it did when I picked it up from it's first alignment as a 4x4. These front ends hold up fine as long as you keep up on the maintenance and don't drive off road like a flippin retard. My old truck I had a 4" lift on with 33s and it held up fine too, the TTB survived my younger dumber days of hard wheeling. When I put the lift on I reinforced all the stress points on the frame, and it held up just fine. Like Dan says, they are good for what they are. I certainly wouldn't run anything bigger than 35s on a 1/2 ton TTB. I have beat the ever living crap out of the Dana 50 TTB in my 84 F250, hundreds of hours plowing snow, pulling stumps, stuck vehicles. My only complaint on the TTB, and that's mainly speaking of my F250... it's hard on tires. Can you think of an IFS that is any stronger? Nope because there isn't one. Every set up has it's place, my dedicated wheeling truck has a straight axle... it always will. For my dd, the TTB works just fine, it doesn't need an SAS. If the kid wants to run the TTB let him be, he came here for advice not an **** chewing.

 

Front axles (no matter what type) are the same price at Pull A Part

Pull-A-Part

$163.38 - Standard As-Is
$26.20 - for warranty
$30.45 - Core

So you're talkin' $193.83 hub to hub, then you can pull all the suspension to go with it. If you leave the pieces together, chances are they won't charge you for some of them.

Here's the parts pricing list for Pull A Part
Pull-A-Part

 

And after all that work it is still a IFS...

Again I say Do it once and Do it right the first time...

By your logic if swapping out to a BB one should just go straight to a 351M400 and skip the 460...

The M will get the job done...

 

BUT the M IS'NT a BB!

Wheeler= strait axle.
2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive= strait axle
DD with under 35s that already is a TTB, leave it there....
plans for larger than 35s D60

 

yeah well you get my point...

 

Don't mind me.

 

Seriously guys, the TTB is a bolt in swap that can be done in a few hours with no fab work required, I have done the front end swap between 2 trucks, including putting the 2wd front end in the donor in under 4 hours well after beer thirty before.
From the sounds of what the OP is looking for he doesn't need a solid axle, especially since he's wanting to stay close to stock height and with 33's.
Unless you start cutting the crossmember, I'm pretty sure you're looking at a minimum 6" lift for the solid axle.
Not everyone takes their junk out and beats it like a redheaded step child. The TTB will work just fine for what he's looking for, will it wear tires goofy and be hard to keep in alignment? Not really, it really doesn't sound like he's out to do anything hard core, he just wants to have 4x4.

 

well after 8 hours of thinking and sleeping on it, still haven't made a call to the JY, but aftter all the thinking, reading, and adding. i have come up with this:
1: its going to be at least a year before i have all the parts (little to no income at the moment)
2: if i really want this to be a "1 off" type deal, sas would be the answer (anyone can buy a '96 4x4 and say they put the TTB in, no one can buy a '96 with a D44 SA in the front)
3: ...this one i kind of "skipped" through my thinking... i am known to get talked into putting, pulling, or doing things with my truck that no one else wants to try.. and when i go for things like that my pride is on the line.. don't want to get towed out..
4: and yes hearing dragogt say "Do it once and Do it right the first time" reminds me of what my late great-grandfather would tell me..

I know it probably sounds like i've made my mind up on a SAS but there is still the prices.. that could be the only thing that kees me on the TTB, keep in mind before i get chewed out agin, i am 2wd, i still have to find/buy a trans and transfer case along with driveshafts...

 

just out of curiosity, where do you live? dana 44 solid fronts are cheaper than $200 around me in illinois. and don't listen to drago(flipoff don't buy a wagoneer d44. it's six lug anyways buy a d44 from a late 70's f150 or fullsize bronco, but as stated to do a sas you need a 4'' lift or more. i still say do the ttb swap drive it for a while, and see for yourself if it is good enough for your particular needs. if it isn't up to snuff sell it off and buy a 78/9 f150/250 and have fun with old iron.

 

this is the best i've found, Solid Dana 44 Front Axle

also all of the JY here think i'm crazy and don't know what to look for so i guess i've got to go out and look myself.
but one did give me a price of 350-400 bucks for the TTB!!! i was like "F**K that" thats right what i told the guy.. i hate the JY's here..