Ha! Or you could just be a moron like me and not pay attention LOL. Or forget to reply. The worst is when I can check it while I'm out then forget to hit send. DOH!

Where can I find u-bolts? Im sure they don't cost THAT much.
Once again I'm a moron...I'm thinking I have to remove my springs. Duh. Ok it's an easy swap then. I've done rears before but on GM where they use trailing arms and coil springs. Thank god ford uses a leaf I knew there was a reason I liked ford better!

 

Wow! $1,400 to r&r the rear?

Gears and bearings: $300 (minus the axle bearings)
Labor to install: $350
Axle bearings, seals and install can't be more than $200, call it $250.

That's around $900... $1,400 is too high. I'd call around if you decide to go that route.

But if you find a 3.55 rear to swap in that's probably your cheapest.

 

I wouldn't swap the whole rear end, just the differential. That is a whole lot easier. Put it on jack stands, remove the rear wheels and brake drums. On the end of the axles there is a hole. Rotate the axle until you can access a nut. Take that nut off and you can pull the axle out about a foot, just enough to get them out of the differential. You might have to use a slide hammer. Then you can take the u-bolts loose on the driveshaft/differential, take the nuts off and pull the differential.

 

Are you referring to a 9" rear??? The pumpkin is welded to the axl tubes and there's a cover on the back. Swapping just the diff is not possible LOL I wish it was!

 

Did you ever find a rear?

 

Actually i did. Searched high and low for a matching set with no luck. The Craigslist guy never called back and anything else was out of my budget. Ended up going with a 3.08 rear out of an 85 f150 for an affordable price and the gent even threw in the door panels! I know this isn't ideal but I'll hang onto my original rear and front driveshaft in case I ever want to put 4x back together, or find a matching front diff! For now I just need my truck back I'm loosing enough without it. Sucks cramming stuff into a car. LOL

 

Yes I was referring to the 9", thought that was what you had.

 

If you need to drive the truck, disconnect the driveshaft going to the back axle, stick it in 4WD mode and you've got a semi-working front wheel drive truck. I wouldn't recommend driving on it for long, but it'll get the truck moving at least.

 

No, I wish it was that easy lol

As for the front wheel drive idea that's good to know for the future if I ever get stuck again haha