New 71
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Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
This thing barely ran on a test lap in the field, I wanted to make sure the thing had oil pressure, the trans shifted and the xfer case worked.
It died right at the end of me seeing what I needed. We ended up loading it on my trailer with a backhoe.....then the fun began. I had to figure out what the PO did, then talked to the PPO and got even more info on it.
It rough, but its a fun rig. I do not cringe when I bump something, I just hit the skinny pedal. It climbs like a mountain goat on crack! lol
It died right at the end of me seeing what I needed. We ended up loading it on my trailer with a backhoe.....then the fun began. I had to figure out what the PO did, then talked to the PPO and got even more info on it.
It rough, but its a fun rig. I do not cringe when I bump something, I just hit the skinny pedal. It climbs like a mountain goat on crack! lol
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Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Not much new here, but I finally located a glove box door, not original to this Bronco so it had the old VI plate to the doner.
After the hinge mod it will now open even with a roll bar and not have to be cut.
Some times its the little things in life that are nice....like to not have things fly out the glove box.
I had to trim off a little more of the one side of the hinge left over and just used a coat hanger as the complete hinge rod. I did not cut the R/H side hinge only piece like in the diagram.
Pop it open a bit, slide it left to clear the roll bar, wala.
After the hinge mod it will now open even with a roll bar and not have to be cut.
Some times its the little things in life that are nice....like to not have things fly out the glove box.
I had to trim off a little more of the one side of the hinge left over and just used a coat hanger as the complete hinge rod. I did not cut the R/H side hinge only piece like in the diagram.
Pop it open a bit, slide it left to clear the roll bar, wala.
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Moderator & parts slinger
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Sorry I forgot to take a pic of the amount I cut off, red box is according to the diagram, I did the green box to get it to slide even further.
In the diagram it shows to cut off a small piece of the bottom tab. I cut complete tab off on the bottom of the dash and did not cut the "right hinge only".
And ditch the springs and use a coat hanger for the rod from outer edge to outer edge.
In the diagram it shows to cut off a small piece of the bottom tab. I cut complete tab off on the bottom of the dash and did not cut the "right hinge only".
And ditch the springs and use a coat hanger for the rod from outer edge to outer edge.
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Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
What tag? The axle ID tag? I hear that the vin is on the r/h frame rail by the front shock tower? Confirm?
The red 71 body does have the white Safety Standard Certification Label was introduced in 1970. It was glued to the B pillar (door post) below the striker plate on trucks and above the door striker on EB's.
The red 71 body does have the white Safety Standard Certification Label was introduced in 1970. It was glued to the B pillar (door post) below the striker plate on trucks and above the door striker on EB's.
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Moderator & parts slinger
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
In a jam and can not find the answer, I am sure I have read it some where before. I have read that you can take a F150 D44 short (dvrs) side axle and stub shaft out of a later on D44 and put it in you early D44 front axle? Long axle (passenger)side needs to bet shortened and re-splined???? Can some one please help me with a link/web site to that information in the bold Axle shaft statement ?? And any know if a D44 F250 short shaft would work?
Some notes I found on other EB sites: I broke the stub shafts on my '73 Bronco more times than I want to think about. I installed CrMo shafts and CTM joints and still broke them running 35" MT Baja Claws and ARB lockers (302, NP435,Dana20, ARB air lockers, 5.43 gears).
I finally figured outwhat was causing the breakage. The factory steering stops were set atabout 52 degrees. Spicer rates their joints at 40 degrees. I installed longer stops on the steering arms and never broke another stub shaft. SET YOUR STEERING STOPS PROPERLY!!!!
AxleShafts There are two common types of regular duty Dana 44 shafts, those with small u-joints and those with large ones and I got one of each. The stock shafts for the early Bronco Dana 44 have small u-joints, but the short one (driver's side) can be directly replaced with a shaft from an F150. The F150 shaft has the large u-joint, and some body had already done that with my front end before I bought it. Cool! Unfortunately there's no such easy upgrade for the long side shaft, so I'll just have to keep an eye on it. One option to upgrade the long side is to cut down and re-spline a F150 long side shaft, but that's more ca$h
Some notes I found on other EB sites: I broke the stub shafts on my '73 Bronco more times than I want to think about. I installed CrMo shafts and CTM joints and still broke them running 35" MT Baja Claws and ARB lockers (302, NP435,Dana20, ARB air lockers, 5.43 gears).
I finally figured outwhat was causing the breakage. The factory steering stops were set atabout 52 degrees. Spicer rates their joints at 40 degrees. I installed longer stops on the steering arms and never broke another stub shaft. SET YOUR STEERING STOPS PROPERLY!!!!
AxleShafts There are two common types of regular duty Dana 44 shafts, those with small u-joints and those with large ones and I got one of each. The stock shafts for the early Bronco Dana 44 have small u-joints, but the short one (driver's side) can be directly replaced with a shaft from an F150. The F150 shaft has the large u-joint, and some body had already done that with my front end before I bought it. Cool! Unfortunately there's no such easy upgrade for the long side shaft, so I'll just have to keep an eye on it. One option to upgrade the long side is to cut down and re-spline a F150 long side shaft, but that's more ca$h
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
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From: Roseville, MN
A Dana 44 front axle from an F-250 would probably have bigger brakes, but I'm not sure what else would actually ne bigger / stronger. It is still a Dana 44.
And to do it you'd need to deal with a bunch of things: 8 lug wheels that wouldn't match the 5 lugs in the rear, a wider track width, and probably the biggest, converting the axle from leaf spring to coil spring with radius arms and a track bar. It wouldn't be real easy to do well, and for the small gains going from one Dana 44 to another I wouldn't bother.
But I do think that almost all Ford front axles in the '70s were high pinion, so I don't think you'd need to be too lucky for that. Although I could be wrong about that.
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Moderator & parts slinger
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
NS thanks for the info. Bottom line I just need to know for sure if the F150 D44 short shaft will work.
The current front axle has already been disk brake converted, has a locker and has the F150 steering box swap done.
West Coast Broncos
If I want to "go big or go home" I would but one of my 2 spare front D60's I have setting around under the front and put a D60 or even a 14 bolt in the rear....or maybe the other steering D60 under the rear end and go all steer!
I am not that motivated or have that kind of time, hell I can't even get the red truck finished up and that is where one of the D60's is supposed to go anyway.
And the other one is slotted for another project....
The current front axle has already been disk brake converted, has a locker and has the F150 steering box swap done.
West Coast Broncos
If I want to "go big or go home" I would but one of my 2 spare front D60's I have setting around under the front and put a D60 or even a 14 bolt in the rear....or maybe the other steering D60 under the rear end and go all steer!
I am not that motivated or have that kind of time, hell I can't even get the red truck finished up and that is where one of the D60's is supposed to go anyway.
And the other one is slotted for another project....
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Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Doing a passenger side axle u joint replacement tomorrow, hope the spindle comes off easy.....pics are a coming.
And I am hopefully selling some parts to a fellow EB owner.
And I am hopefully selling some parts to a fellow EB owner.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,886
Likes: 12
From: Lawrence Swamp
"...Can some one please help me with a link/web site to that information in the bold Axle shaft statement ?? And any know if a D44 F250 short shaft would work?..."
dclack - on here (& sometimes over at CB) has helped me for these kinds of Qs. May B away 4 the 4 holiday?
CB on the "search function", or just a straight out "question post" over there.
dclack - on here (& sometimes over at CB) has helped me for these kinds of Qs. May B away 4 the 4 holiday?
CB on the "search function", or just a straight out "question post" over there.
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Moderator & parts slinger
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Thanks Chad for the reply, I confuse easily, is "CB" a site I need to go ck out? I have looked at a ton of EB sites and had no luck on my question.
Please post a link or just say the place I need to go. And it is a F150 shaft in question.
Please post a link or just say the place I need to go. And it is a F150 shaft in question.
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Moderator & parts slinger
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Axle u joint done, I like the fact the PO used LOTS of anti-siez on everything. The spindle literally fell off in my hand, once I got the nuts off.
I also found out or am pretty sure that the passenger side axle shaft is not the stock small ujoint 73 Bronco D30/D44 shaft. But is the larger ujoint 78/79 Bronco/F150 larger diameter, 19/30 spline axle shaft.
I am checking with a machinist buddy on shortening and re-splining a long passenger side spare out of the front axle of my parts Bronco, so I will have both side trail spares.
While checking my steering degree limit bolts, so not to blow a new u joint, I found one broken. And then I found a tie rod end is loose, the tie rod end is good, the play is where it goes thru the (chebby?) knuckle/steering spindle, which I think is a swap job, I need to re-sleeve it.
I have 5 bolts that hold the spindle on and not 6, and the tie rod is on top not on the bottom like a stock Bronco...?? Still learning as I go and learning what else the PO did.
I also found out or am pretty sure that the passenger side axle shaft is not the stock small ujoint 73 Bronco D30/D44 shaft. But is the larger ujoint 78/79 Bronco/F150 larger diameter, 19/30 spline axle shaft.
I am checking with a machinist buddy on shortening and re-splining a long passenger side spare out of the front axle of my parts Bronco, so I will have both side trail spares.
While checking my steering degree limit bolts, so not to blow a new u joint, I found one broken. And then I found a tie rod end is loose, the tie rod end is good, the play is where it goes thru the (chebby?) knuckle/steering spindle, which I think is a swap job, I need to re-sleeve it.
I have 5 bolts that hold the spindle on and not 6, and the tie rod is on top not on the bottom like a stock Bronco...?? Still learning as I go and learning what else the PO did.
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Moderator & parts slinger
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
So can some one confirm it looks like I have chebby steering spindle-knuckle? Part # 620168R is on the arm??
And in the pics the shaft on the bottom came out of my 73 Bronco and the 2 on the top came out a 79 Bronco.
And in the pics the shaft on the bottom came out of my 73 Bronco and the 2 on the top came out a 79 Bronco.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,793
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From: Richland, WA
You do not have the Chebby brakes. That is a stock '76-77 Bronco disc brake D44 (the 5 bolt spindle is a dead giveaway). The Bronco drum brake 44s (and 30s) have 6 bolt spindles, same as Chebby 44s. That's why the Chebby spindle, backing plate, and calipers can be used for a disc brake swap.
The '78-79 Broncos are full width, hence the longer passenger side axle shaft. I'm sure you already knew that, so maybe that's not the question you were asking.
As for the tie rod over, I'm guessing that someone reamed and sleeved the knuckle for the swap.
The '78-79 Broncos are full width, hence the longer passenger side axle shaft. I'm sure you already knew that, so maybe that's not the question you were asking.
As for the tie rod over, I'm guessing that someone reamed and sleeved the knuckle for the swap.