I would really appreciate your input guys. I had what could be a great idea or not so great idea recently, I figured I'd see if ya'll could help me decide. My 1990 F-250 7.3 IDI has a long bed and extended cab. I like it as a two wheel drive but 4wd would make it a beast.

Ok so when I was 14 I bought a 1964 F-250 4x4. I thought it wouldn't be too bad to get it going and painted up, ready to drive. Shortly there after I lost the job I had and the funds weren't really there and the truck has pretty much sat and decayed the last 5 years. I got it running and drove it a bit, but it was nothing that could be a daily driver. The motor is a money pit but the drive train is great and tough as nails. I'm not sure if i bought a truck or a tractor.

It has a divorced transfer case with 3 speeds. (2hi, 4hi, 4low) So mounting it and running the drive shafts is the only issue there. The front axle has locking hubs. and the rear axle is, well a big rear axle.

I think I can handle mounting the front axle, rear axle, and transfer case. My biggest question is how to get 1990 brakes on it, how it would affect the trucks power band, and possible mpgs afterwards

I'm very attached to the 64 and hate to gut it. But letting it sit there and rust is also a SIN. This way part of it could live on. If I decide to do this conversion it wont be for a while $$$$. Sorry for such a long post, but please let me know what you guys think.

 

Its a hard task, but I see where your going with this, I grew up in a 1986 F-250, now the turbo, engine and other parts and pieces are going to ppl so it will continue to live on even though its gonna get sent to scrap.

 

But anyway, is that front axle drum brakes?

 

Well I'm glad you're not crucifying me for thinking about gutting the truck. But yes it has drum brakes. I would like to have disc brakes on it. I don't play around when it comes to brakes. They're life savers.

 

To be totally honest? Having both 2wd and 4wd trucks of the same model here, and looking at this, I scrapped the idea, just too many things to work out and it didn't look like an easy task. Using the front end from a 1964 truck under a diesel? I can't see it handling the weight of these engines. Is it possible? I suppose, but anything is with enough money.

I'd really suggest that, rather than putting the effort into one possible abortion of a truck, that you restore the '64, (or sell it) and if you really want an IDI 4x4, start looking for one like you want.

In my case I want to have a 4x4 dually. Thought about making my 2wd dually 4x4, decided that it'll be a whole lot easier to make another F350(SRW) into a dually instead to replace my 2wd dually.

 

I did some research on the internet and I believe the rear axle is a Dana 60 with 4.56 gears. And I'm not sure about the front. That's pretty low I think mine are probably 3.55 now. How would I find out for sure? And would that kill my top end and mpg? I know it's gonna pull like a tractor though. The other truck was a chain breaking machine. That's without snatching.

 

I do realize it wouldn't be easy. And for some reason I had not factored in the weight of the motor. I'm not an axle genus but I'm relatively sure it has a Dana something under the front end. I really don't know the weight it could support.

And I have considered selling the truck. It's hard to do I can't bring myself to part with it. The gearing on that truck is immense that's why I'm considering the swap.

 

Your idea is....well....not exactly possible....sorry pal. I've owned a 65 F350 myself, and have looked at many of the 61-66 F100/250 4x4's to know those drivetrains are heavy duty for "those" trucks, but they aren't going to handle the task under an IDI.

The 60's trucks are more like tractors, just like you say. Put that sucker in 1st creeper, drop the t-case in low....and you're good to go anywhere. You most likely have a Y-block 292 or Inline 6 in your Slick backed by a Warner T98 with a divorced Dana 24. If it has low range, then it's a 2 speed transfer case. It has 2wd high, 4wd high, and 4wd low....it should be a Dana 24. A single speed transfer case has 2wd and 4wd high and those are Dana 21's. The front axle is a Dana 44HD. It's a low pinion axle and is really not heavy duty compared to 1990 IDI specs. It will have drum brakes, no power steering, and closed knuckles. The rear axle is a Spicer 60. The axles should have 4.56 gears.

Fast forward out of the 60's to the 90's.
F250's have Dana 50 TTB (independent) front axles.
F350's have Dana 60 Monobeam (solid) front axles.

A Dana 50 front would be stronger than the Dana 44HD front axle under the 60's truck.
A Dana 60 is stronger than a Dana 50 front axle.

A Dana 50 front end requires leaf springs, as does the Dana 60.
Your 2wd truck has coil springs.
However, a Dana 50 TTB and Dana 60 front end will bolt into the 2wd truck crossmember. Except, now you must decide on springs...
You can mount leaf springs or fabricate radius arms and use the coil springs. That's a decision left to the fabricator, but my opinion is that leaf springs are easier and more simple.

Here's an album of member Turbill's Dana 50 under his 85 F250. This is when i was considering moutning the Dana 50 TTB under my 2wd F350. Notice the crossmember mounts. The holes are not there on a 2wd crossmember, but the crossmember is the same and you can drill holes to mount it.
Here's my album: Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - BlueOvalBud's Album: Dana 50 TTB Pictures
Here's a thread about this: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ng-d-50-a.html

Trying to mount the 60's axles under the 90's truck...yes, it can happen. But I don't see the point. The time spent mounting 60's axles under a 90's truck is the same time (or even longer) than trying to mount 90's axles under the 90's truck....and in the end, you'll have a much easier time finding 90's axle parts for bearings, brakes, etc....and the 90's axles are much stronger.

I have had a 65 F350 that made me run in circles as I tried to convert it to 4x4. It was my first truck, so I REALLY REALLY understand how you feel. As stupid as it sounds, I cried when I finally scrapped it. The truth is, you're better off slowly fixing the '64 and finding 1990 era parts for your IDI.

 

That would be some work out of a 64. If you had a truck the from the 80's up to the mid 90's then it isn't bad at all. I have done that swap a couple of times. It does look mean but it isn't once you get into it. It is a bolt up process. The only difference that matters between the frames from the 80's through the mid/late nineties is from the core support forward. That is because of the different body styles. The front bumpers mounted different.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, not worth it unless you have time and money to spend.

I took my 2wd '88 F250 and made it 4wd. The suspension didn't turn out great because its NOT all bolt on. The front of frames are different, and things didn't work out exactly like I wanted since I was working on my daily driver and had limited down time. I can understand you being attached to the 64, but the amount of differences in 30 years will waste your time and money trying to fix.

You mentioned trying to update the brakes, most likely not a cheap solution, if possible at all. Have you measured the axle widths? I know there are differences in the spring widths from a 78-79ish truck to the later ones that trips up guys trying to do a dana 60 SAS, going back another 15 year means more issues. Then you mention the gearing, 4.56 will move a mountain, and your wallet... 3.55's are good for mileage.

Do what you want, its your trucks, and your life. But speaking from my experience, it would have been a lot easier, and probably cheaper, to just have bought the 4wd truck I wanted, and I got some pretty good deals when it came to parts.