I've got an early early 87 f-250 with a carb'ed engine. I thought it was a axle code 35, but on better inspection it's a code 39 (3.55 open).

It's got a 460 with a dana 50 ttb (twin traction beam). It's a farm truck with a lot more tugging, towing, pulling, hauling, and just plain working than ever seeing the speed limit on the high way.

Anyone know the ins and outs of the dana 50? Are there weak parts that need to be welded, cut, gusseted etc? I want to drop either 4.30's or 4.58's in there so I can better crawl on the farm and add a limited slip front center section.

My research shows that the dana 50 axles are good sized right up until the carrier. WTF over? Has anyone heard of guys adding different spider gears to handle dana 60 sized splined axles? Or is this not really a problem because the axles are strong enough? (which I doubt)
If the dana 50 can be made into a great front axle I'll keep it. Out where I live it seems the well of dana 60 fronts has dried up, at least for all the great versions of it, so Im leaning towards upgrading the dana 50 while Im in there "farmer-izing" the old 3/4 ton.
As always, all help is greatly appreciated.
P.S. Does anyone know Ford's logic when it comes to the dana 50? If the dana 44 was not strong enough for the minds of Ford engineers, why not just use the axle that went on the 1 tons instead of invent a whole bunch of parts to make and inventory for a small segment of trucks?

 

I haven't heard of failures related to the spider gears failing at the spline, I think the 50's are pretty tough, share the same u joint size etc. as the 60's. The 60's are preferred I think mainly for lifting trucks, but of course they are stronger as well.


Probably didn't use the 60's in F250's to differentiate from the 350's, and to save money.


BTW, are you sure you have a 50, and not a 44? Other than supercabs, 50's are rare in the early F250's.

 

The 50 is a decent axle for a stock truck. I have seen broken beams on the drivers side just inside of the leaf spring on plow rigs.
1980-1985 the 50 was the one ton axle, the 60 didn't come back until 85.5.
The 50 uses a 1350 driveline style joint with external clips just like a driveshaft. It is the joint found in the old closed knuckle 44HD's. The 60 uses a 1480 joint.
I ran 38.5 boggers on the 50 in my wheeling rig years ago and had no issues, but it was only for one season.

 

The big advantage of the dana 50 is ride comfort on the road like the dana 44ttb, but with heavier duty dana 60 related balljoints and lockouts. It should be plenty strong for your needs as long as it's not wore out(most need some work by now). Mostly snowplow duties i have heard is what brought back the dana 60.

 

Thanks all.
I have verified that it has the external snap rings. I wont start making plans to buy parts until I see a "50" underneath it though.
My plan is to install 4.56 gears and limited slips front/back for getting around the farm. I have done research but havent ran across anyone saying that they welded the open channel or gusseted it up at all, is that because instead of that it's easier to put in a 60?
Again thanks.

 

Never broke one, just chew up ball joints and bushings if you use the truck as a truck. Every D50 I've has been upgraded to a D60 when rebuild time came around. Take your time and find a 60 for reasonable money, build it at your leisure, and roll it under in an afternoon.

 

Probably the biggest downside to a Dana 50 TTB is the big camber changes as the suspension cycles. It makes it impossible to align a truck that sometimes has a plow hanging off the front and sometimes doesn't. Some of us also think that it gives a worse ride and less articulation than a solid axle (although others disagree, at least about the ride). But unless you are really beating on it (heavy throttle with intermittent traction, like when climbing a steep, rocky hill) it should hold up pretty well.