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I have a 1997 F350 crew cab long bed that has been a project for a while now. I bought it as a 2x4 automatic with I beam suspension. I converted the truck over to a ZF 5 speed with a married transfer case.
I still have a bit more left to do; equip the truck with a 4x4 front end. I plan to install a Dana 60 straight axle with leaf spring front suspension, however I am uncertain on performing this conversion with out a better understanding of what I am getting into.
I heard a few years ago they made a kit for it, and all I would have to do is box in the frame, and install the kit with some drilling here and there. I have not found such a kit on my own.
I do not know if a thread is open already for this, but I am away from home in another country, and it took me almost an hour of waiting on pages to load before I decided to make this thread.
As well I would like to share the conversion process I've already gone through, and the conversions to come. I will try to post some pictures of completed work already.
For any one who might be interested in this conversion I have found the direction I am going to steer this in.
I will include links to sights I found so far.
I am going to go with the 99-04 front axles. (due to the different lug pattern I will have to get the rear with the front so that I don't have a 8 on 170mm on the front, and 8 on 6.5 lug pattern in the rear)
I am going to use the Sky-manufacturing RSK kit which is going to give my truck 4" of lift.
I have new tires and wheels for the truck. I have 37x12.5R16.5 military tires with the split rims. I will have to buy an adapter to accommodate the wheels to the axles though.
You might wanna rethink split rims. There very dangerous. Id bring them to a shop to get the tires off the rims and then switch to a set of steelies for cheap.
I'm not a fan of split rims myself. I bought them as a set though.
The reason the military uses them is to accommodate the run flat. I intend on getting a nice set of wheels for it eventually, but I'm already spending about 4k on this conversion. I'd like to keep the cost down as much as possible.
They split different anyway. a little safer to use this style.
Why do a spacer/adapter? You will be better off with a recentered wheel than the spacers due to the amount of spacer you will need to deal with the ridiculous offset in the H1 wheels. A new set of centers is not particularly expensive.
Out of interest does anyone know what size back spacing I should run with these 37x12.5 tires?
I was looking on a couple sites for wheels. If I dont find a nice set for cheap I will see if I can find a set from the junk yard.
I found a set, but they are only rated for 2,000 lbs a piece. My truck ways at or maybe even over 4 tons. It weighed in at 7,600 lbs on the scale before the I beam to solid axle conversion, bigger tires, stout winch bumper, winch in front, and PTO drive winch in the back, PTO, etc. I dont know if the factory wheels are any better, but I literally wouldnt be able to haul anything in the truck on those wheels I found.
I dont particularly care for coils, or independent front suspension. Just a personal preference is all. I feel like Its stronger, and more reliable to go the rout I'm going. I will say that this truck is the smoothest ride I've had yet, but I can do with out that, and I can bag the springs to get that smooth ride back if I want.
I'm always open to suggestions though. I'm building this truck up so that I can use it for my line of work, and my daily driver. As she sits now I sometimes even cant pull off into the gravel.
The truck will be used for over the road, and recovery operations. I have a 24,000 lbs PTO winch in the back, and a smaller 8,000 lbs electric winch on the front. I have a 12,000 lbs electric I could drop in, but its a cheap badland winch. The little one is a ramsey.
with the weight of the winches, ****** blocks, chains, etc the truck will weigh a good deal. Thats why leafs seam a little more practical to me.
So the 05+ is still a solid d60. The coils just give you a better ride and turning radius. Instead of doing the rear shackles, you attach the rear control arm mount to the frame under the cab.
Edt: it appears that for a 2wd to 4wd conversion it is actually easier to use the 05+ setup
Coil to leaf spring conversion help.
