drive train swap?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 979
Likes: 40
From: Colorado Springs CO
Just a thought here-don't laugh. Use a Dana 44 front axle from a 66-79 F100, which is a coil spring front end. I bet you could use your 2WD coil buckets and radius arm brackets. Then, you should be able to find some spindles, hubs and drums from an F250 4x4 to change that axle to 8 lug.
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
that sounds like it would work. I am very new to the 4x4 thing so im not really sure how and what all goes on with the front suspension, steering and drive line aspect of it. guess I need to start studying. all I know is im tired of spinning my one little drive tire haha
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 979
Likes: 40
From: Colorado Springs CO
I did something kinda similar on my old 66 F100 4x4. I got axles from a 68 F250, put the rear axle in, and put the 8 lug hub/drums on my stock front axle. Presto! Coil spring 4x4 F250!
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
Ok guys and gals, hows this sound?
Dana 44 from a 78 Ford Bronco. Full width D44, high pinion, passenger side drop, coil sprung.
4:56 gears with LS already loaded. Needs passenger side spindle. Comes with axle shafts, rotors, knuckles, spindles, BRAND NEW WARN PREMIUM LOCKOUTS, rotors, calipers, and wheel bearings.
You take it all away for $450 or best offer
now the good thing about this is it has the gear ratio I need. but is that price fare? and also what is LS loaded? im guesing limited slip but I would imagine any 4x4 would have to be limited slip, right? aaaand if I put in a front drive axle does that get rid of my twin I-beams and if so what does the axle mount to?? haha sorry for so many questions. im gettin excited about the project however. thanks for all your inputs
Dana 44 from a 78 Ford Bronco. Full width D44, high pinion, passenger side drop, coil sprung.
4:56 gears with LS already loaded. Needs passenger side spindle. Comes with axle shafts, rotors, knuckles, spindles, BRAND NEW WARN PREMIUM LOCKOUTS, rotors, calipers, and wheel bearings.
You take it all away for $450 or best offer
now the good thing about this is it has the gear ratio I need. but is that price fare? and also what is LS loaded? im guesing limited slip but I would imagine any 4x4 would have to be limited slip, right? aaaand if I put in a front drive axle does that get rid of my twin I-beams and if so what does the axle mount to?? haha sorry for so many questions. im gettin excited about the project however. thanks for all your inputs
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 979
Likes: 40
From: Colorado Springs CO
I would imagine your truck is a 4.11 gear ratio, not 4.56. The coil sprung solid axle Fords used radius arms like a 2wd twin I beam. There's a panhard bar that controls side-to-side movement of the axle that attaches to a bracket on the frame by the steering box and hooks to the passenger side of the axle. That would have to be fabbed up on your truck.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 1
From: Littleton, CO
What about the rest of the components to make a 4x4? If you are not too mechanically inclined, I would stick to finding a donor 4x4 and swapping sheetmetal...
Here is a teaser for you https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...for-200-a.html
--Mike
Here is a teaser for you https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...for-200-a.html
--Mike
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
the rear gear in my truck is actually a 4:56 and ya there are a ton of other parts I will have to aquire but I am very mechanicly inclined. I have restored 3 70's cars, rebuilt alot of engines and do alot of mechanic work on everyones vehicles I know. I am the guy everyone goes to when they need help on anything from electrical, construction, plumbing and vehicles haha
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 979
Likes: 40
From: Colorado Springs CO
Of course you'll also need a transfer case-the F250's used a divorced transfer case. That might be your best bet if you can find one. Or if you can find an NP435/NP205 married combo from a late 70's truck, that would work too, but it'll require a 1" body lift for clearance. Don't use the Dana 21 out of the earlier F100's-no low range & they're weak.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 979
Likes: 40
From: Colorado Springs CO
I hadn't thought of that-it might be a deal breaker. Been too many years since I worked on that ol' 66, the memory is a little fuzzy...