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Front axle change Help needed please.

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Old Dec 4, 2012 | 12:44 PM
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Front axle change Help needed please.

I have a question for anyone who has possibly dont this. I have a 1990 F250 and a 1991 F350 and I am thinking of swaping the Front end out the gear ratio is the same short time before I pulled the F350 off the road for good I had rebuilt the upper and lower ball joints. Now the F250 needs the same thing was thinking of just swapping them out. Any pros or cons in doing this.
Thanks
Tim
 
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Old Dec 4, 2012 | 12:54 PM
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Are they 4x4 or 2x4? Your 91 f350 would be a straight axle Dana 60 with kingpins and your 90 f250 would be TTB Dana 44 or 50 with ball joints. Straight axle swap is very common. Or are you dealing with 2 wheel drive?
 
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Old Dec 4, 2012 | 01:53 PM
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1990 and 1991 both 4x4

Guess that would help on information needed. Both are 4x4 if the swap is done is there any major modification that has to be done for any steering linkage or anything else for that matter.
Thanks
Tim
 
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Old Dec 4, 2012 | 02:05 PM
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basically springs, steering (tie rods and pitman arm), axle, track bar, and rear block is whats needed to make your 250 sit like how your 350 is now.

here are some pictures...he did a little lift tho

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post12450738

Originally Posted by 91dirtydiesel
(Yes my truck is warming up idling in the back ground lol)

Bad ball joints/tie rods - YouTube























Enjoy
 
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Old Dec 4, 2012 | 06:23 PM
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If I were you I would look into the Sky MFG shackle reversal kit. It is about 300 bucks, you get about 3" of lift and IIRC it is a pretty easy install on a 90. All the components from the pumpkin back will interchange between the Dana 50 and 60. I did my 94 with a shackle reversal kit with some mods, and It rides so much more solid I can't believe it! You will also save a fortune on tires and alignments!
 
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Old Dec 4, 2012 | 07:00 PM
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would a shackle reversal work WITH the D60 swap and on an 86? (;
 
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Old Dec 4, 2012 | 07:16 PM
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In short, yes. I believe that pre 89 trucks require a slight frame mod. Go to Sky MFG's site for the shackle reversal kit, and they refer to it, or do a search in this forum. There are a lot of threads on the subject.
 
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Old Dec 4, 2012 | 07:21 PM
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Yeah i just did some readon on it in one of the threads, one thing i'm confused about though is i read that 80-98 model trucks have front shackles and after that they did rear shackles? So when doing a shackle reversal on MY truck(1986), it would ONLY be a front shackle reversal kit? correct? which brings up the question that wouldn't need any aftermarket steering drop brackets or extensions or anything like that with a lift kit would it?

Don't mean to hijack the thread hahah
 
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Old Dec 4, 2012 | 07:32 PM
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In a nut shell

I would need to strip every thing from under my 91 front end and do the same with my 90 and then install the 91 front end. The 91 one is my old truck that finally gave up or I retired however you want to put it. The good thing most all the parts swap over the reason I have been keeping it as a donor for the 90.
Thanks
Tim
 
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Old Dec 4, 2012 | 07:42 PM
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which brings up the question that wouldn't need any aftermarket steering drop brackets or extensions or anything like that with a lift kit would it?
Again, I'm not too sure about the 86, but my 94 was just a front reversal kit. I already had a 4" lift on my Dana 50, so my swap was straight across. I think you need a drop pitman arm to do the shackle reversal kit. I run a 3" block on my rear axle that levels my truck out perfectly. A lot of guys do a shackle flip on their rear axle for lift.

TWDIT,

I think if you have a full 1 ton suspension, the swap is pretty simple. I hear that a lot of guys that get a Dana 60 don't get all of the spring hardware with it, and that causes problems, but if you have a complete truck, you should have all that you need.
 
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Old Dec 5, 2012 | 08:20 AM
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Thanks

Thanks to all that replied to this post.
I knew keeping that old truck would be a good idea in keeping my other old truck going for several more years. Getting ready to strip most major and useful items and then send it to the scrap yard.
Thanks Again
Tim
 
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Old Dec 5, 2012 | 04:50 PM
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after you get the D-60 and all the springs and other goodies in, pull the blocks out from between the springs and the rear. some 350's had a taller rear block than the 250's did.
instant rear leveling kit!!
 
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Old Apr 18, 2013 | 07:01 PM
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how important is it to

How important is it to change the springs out and not just use the springs under the F250 They are not as heavy as the F350 springs same length.
I made some mistakes and might have to start over to get this thing correct.
I did not change the pitman arms and I made a mess out of my track bar have to change the mounting bracket and get a new one.
Thanks
Tim
 
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Old Apr 18, 2013 | 07:10 PM
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you can use the 250 springs, it will just be a stiffer ride than the 350 springs.
i left the 250 springs in 2 trucks i converted because they also carried HEAVY snow plows.

the one that got the 350 springs sagged pretty good with the plow, but the guy wanted the softer ride the 350 springs gave.
 
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Old Apr 18, 2013 | 07:13 PM
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Thanks

I was not wanting to have to redo what I have already gotten done. Now I have to change the pitman arm and the track bar mounting bracket.
Tim
 
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