Can I do it in my yard? I don't have a shop right now. I just found a ZF trans, tcase, dana 60 front, dana 70 rear, clutch assembly and some other pieces for $700 bucks from a 97 Ford. Score!!!

 

Nevermind disregard, as soon as I said I'' take the deal the guy jacked the price up on me. I really hate when that happens.

 

I can't believe it went from $700 for everything to just $1000 for the front axle itself. I could see it for everything but damn. No way a poor college kid can take that deal. So its pretty much a must to do? I know my uncle can do it but I can not. I figure if I am going to jack with it I may as well just do it now. Interestingly enough when I quoted just the ford my insurance went from 522/6 to 157/6. I like the sound of that

 

I ran pricing on Dana 60's and found that most are between 300-1000 dollars. So being a poor college kid, it looks like I can get away with lifting my truck 4 inches and running 35's on, from searching anyway. I don't wheel anything crazy mostly just back roads and dirt fields for harvest. Sometimes through small creek crossings etc. For the time and cost involved it just doesn't look to be something I should do right now, especially unemployed.

 

Get a job, then worry about lifting your truck. If you're unemployed you shouldn't be wasting money on toys anyhow. So it right the first time and you'll save money in the long run. So for now figure out a plan, find most cost effective way to lift it and swap in a 60, and when you get a job execute that plan.

 

I appreciate the advice thats pretty much the plan. Work isn't really the problem because I'm a fire fighter/emt, then buck hay, drive tractor, fence, drive harvest equipment. Its just where I live for college. I have applied to about 15 different places and no luck, its because of a glut of kids who will either work less than me or who only have the choice working less than me because they don't have enough work history. I'm really just kind of in a bind but I'll make it through np.

 

About a year ago, dad scored an '88 F-350 Reg, cab, 7'6" X 8'6" flatbed, 460, ZF-5, 2WD with a 3.55 rear end for $500. It runs good, damn good actually. Anyway, he drove it to work for a couple weeks. His route is 17 miles of hilly, curvy, county roads, and state routes. The only time it was in OD was about the first 4 miles, and after that, he'd put it in 4th, and leave it there until he got to work. He averaged 8.8 MPG driving it like that.