I have a 94 dodge 1 ton 4x4 sitting out back and the front axle is not one that i would be happy with , they have a single unit wheel bearing that cant be replaced by it's self comes with the hub ! and no locking hubs ! I like things the old way !

but with coil springs they might almost line up with whats on there !
one thing , make sure that the CASTER gets set correctly when you put all the brackets on that you will need or it will give you a big dose of DEATH WOBBLE !

 

Is there a reccommendation of a truck that would be a better set up. The only reason i was going with dodge was that it is the guy i was going to get TC and 4x4 OD tail housing from. Since then, i have located TC and OD housing else where. Is there a ford model you would reccomend? I've thought about just looking for a newer (90's) F-250 crew cab 4x4 chasis to go with, but i'd really like to keep the bump side chasis if it is do-able. I may be able to locate a ford 8 lug front end 97 or older. Any suggestions?????

 

there is nothing wrong with the dodge front axle if you get it for a good price !
a dana 60 from a 78-79 ford would be good , hard to find and can be expensive !
a dana 44 from any high boy 75-77.5 would work , putting springs under your truck is not that bad of a job !
a new dana 60 from 87-96 +- a year or 2 will work the newwer ones have ball joints as the older ones have king pins !

 

Would i be better off to get a front end from at 80's or 90's 1 ton ford?

 

i would , they have whats called a high pinion or reverse pinion as the pinion and yoke is on the top side of the pumpkin !

 

yep thats why i working the 78 ford stuff under my bump club

 

So here is a pic of a 95 4x4 front stub. This is what i have located locally, thought is only an image i got online, to install on my F350 crew cab. I am wondering how difficult it will be to get the bracket that is just in front of the cab mount lined up for the stabilizer arms to work properly? I've been warned about a death wobble. I'm guessing that to be an out of control wobble of the front wheels at highway speeds. Feel free to educate me

I made some calls this morning to a couple of salvage yards. Most are still closed for Christmas break, but a guy in nashville tried to convince me that a newer superduty front end would be just as easy to put in my 69. I know i have to fab everything, so what will be the best 8 lug to go with.

 

not the newer supper duty , the lug pattern is different than what you have , unless you went with both the front and rear from the same truck then that would be fine !

 

Would then the ABS stuff give me trouble? It might just be easier to locate an older wrecked superduty. The wheels for those things are crazy high though!

 

liking the project but what's making you go down the hard trail with your front axle and frame setup? if i were you why not build your own front solid mount leaf spring crossmember and run 99-04 or newer super duty leaf springs and drop in a 70's dana 44 or 60 with disc brakes. this is exactly what i did on my 71 f250 crew cab 4x4 it was pretty simple to do and is a great setup also will ride alot better then what these trucks stock suspension is. sounds alot easier then what your trying to do

 

when i cut the frame on the half ton after the hangers i get the 44 high pinon and i get the three link then comes the softer ride with more travel. disk brake front . it is all ford 4 in lift coils in front i can 3/4 or 1ton spring it in the rear and haul anything via 60 series east change to the serling 10.25 if i want all disk and the 400m and 351m have same bellhousing so i get my 460 powered stump puller

 

I want to stay 8 lug 6.5 centers on the wheels. I'm not married to the dodge front end, it is just all that i can find locally. I don't think i could afford to build the dana 44 to stand the torque of a 5.9 cummins. It would be great to find a 97 or older front differential that i could build the carriers for.

 

A Dana 60 front axle from a 70's Ford will bolt right in no problems with factory leaf width and will handle the cummins no problem what kind of suspension are you wanting in the front and how high of a lift 4 link coil spring or leafs this may help determine what axle would be best to use also what transmission and what side front output t case drive will you have drivers or passenger side?

 

i'm running a 50 in my excursion (7.3) and it is a 44 with a bigger set of axles 44's are tuff if gets and after market long axle, replace it and they are a hard nut to crack ..just make sure and keep and eye on the bushings on the dodge front end and you wont get a death wobble there is where the problem is. other than that it should make you a good runner need to bush them bout 90k or so most often and they are good to go.

 

I'm not going to put any lift on the truck. I believe the 69 Crew is on a High boy frame (per another forum). Whether it is or not i'm leaving it as it is. The tranny is a a518 and the TC is a 241dhd with drivers drop. If i could find an 8 dana 60 i'd be happy!