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Recommendations
Hey guys and gals i have a few questions that i hope can be answered and make my truck even better than what im planning. So i have a 1977.5 f250 highboy and currently has the straight six and is a torque monster but i have a 460 that i am going to put in it with a 5spd out of a 89 f350. the current question is what would be some good recommendation for a good transfer case? it has the dana 60 rear and dana 44 high pinion up front and currently has 35s but bumping it up to 48s to compansate for the saddle bag tanks i want to put on. ive had this truck for 3 years and during that 3 years most of it has been deciding what i want to do project wise and collecting parts. and i came to a conclusion of what i am goin to do and that is to make a one of a kind truck and everything on it im gonna custom make from scratch. id just like some recommendations on parts and pointers to keep an eye out for. ive done a few projects but nothing as big as i am about to get into. appreciate the time thank you. FORD TOUGH
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Joined: Feb 2014
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From: british columbia, canada
So you want to put 48; tires on it with a dana 44, well that should be good for rolling it around the shop floor while building it. also whats this about saddle tanks??? As far as a transfer case, a np205 comes to mind.
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i am taking 30 gallon fuel tanks off of a tractor to serve as steps and to be my fuel source. i am taking the body off and putting all new suspension and resurface the frame and mount the motor, fuel tanks, as well as the tires to fit the body to it and make the modifications as well as custom front and rear bumpers. just want to do the truck justice for it being so good to me and for being my first truck and buying it back to finish what i started. do you have any other mechanical advice along with the added weight so everything will hold up and not fall apart or break constantly? thank you.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Twin Cities
Randy,
Sounds like an ambitious project but if you have the time, money and vision to see it through then go for it. I have a couple questions that will hopefully steer us all in the right direction.
Are the 48" tires in your post a typo? As in, did you mean stepping up to 38" tires? Obviously 48's will require a lot more work as far as lift and drivetrain strength than 38's.
Also, what do you currently have for a transfer case? You mentioned that your truck is a "77.5 highboy"... From my understanding this is somewhat contradictory as an early '77 F-250's were the "highboys" with divorced transfer case and the '77.5 mid-year F-250's became "lowboy" with the reverse arched front springs, wider rear frame width, and most important for this, married transfer case.
Knowing that would likely help some of the others advise which case would work best for you. I have no experience with the 5-spd (ZF?) that you are trying to install, so I will refrain from making an uninformed suggestion!
Sounds like an ambitious project but if you have the time, money and vision to see it through then go for it. I have a couple questions that will hopefully steer us all in the right direction.
Are the 48" tires in your post a typo? As in, did you mean stepping up to 38" tires? Obviously 48's will require a lot more work as far as lift and drivetrain strength than 38's.
Also, what do you currently have for a transfer case? You mentioned that your truck is a "77.5 highboy"... From my understanding this is somewhat contradictory as an early '77 F-250's were the "highboys" with divorced transfer case and the '77.5 mid-year F-250's became "lowboy" with the reverse arched front springs, wider rear frame width, and most important for this, married transfer case.
Knowing that would likely help some of the others advise which case would work best for you. I have no experience with the 5-spd (ZF?) that you are trying to install, so I will refrain from making an uninformed suggestion!
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Taxachusetts
Agree with good to doo - 48" tires on D44 is asking for broken axles and U joints....even if you upgrade to chromo shafts, 38s are the limit. I would spend the dollars on a high pinion D60 for the front....even then, 48s are pushing it depending on how hard you get on it. Mall crawling is about it.....my opinion.
You probably have 4.10s in her now...I would stick some high 5s in, too...overcoming inertia is a big factor with 48s.
Then there's steering/tire clearance problems. What's the upgrade you're planning for that?
You probably have 4.10s in her now...I would stick some high 5s in, too...overcoming inertia is a big factor with 48s.
Then there's steering/tire clearance problems. What's the upgrade you're planning for that?
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i want to go with 48s for the clearance of the tanks. it is a np205 married transfer case i believe. it is a XL custom high boy. from the owner i bought it from he had to custom order it to meet his needs in the mountains its a half year model and has the 78 style front end. the 5spd shoud go right up no problem to the motor i have. thats why i am doing everything on the frame first and mounting the tires and tanks as well so when i lower the body on the frame i can make the needed modifications from measuring everything i need to make the wheel well about 5 to 6 inches larger on either side as in cutting. ik its a very ambitious goal but i am also taking the glass out to make it bulletproof like the mraps for show purposes. any mechanical advice i am open to.
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the leaf springs im thinking about going up to the f450 size and putting dumptruck air bags in the rear.
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has 4.10s in it now and am willing to go even bigger in the front and rear diff to take the force from the tires. any diff recommendations ill definately consider in. i dont mind spending the money it will totally be worth it in the end.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,627
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From: NE Texas
sure hope you are planning a) some MONSTER brakes and b) keeping it off the road. With that much rotating mass, the original brakes will not stop much, and if you hit someone that high, you will kill them. In a world filled with smaller cars zipping in and out, if you can't see (with covered windows) and your entire frame above any normal safety zone - will be a hell of a show vehicle but it has no place on the street.
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i definitly plan on putting bigger brakes on to stop it of course. the windows ive built before for humvees id modify the design a little to allow more sight. overall with the height it will increase about 10 inches. the 460 was set up to do drag. itll be a lot of work for sure and definitly taking notes a long the way. any particular brake set up would be prefered? and definitly not taking to any high speed locations. but when its all done i may take it to the track just to see what it can do. i really appreciate all the advice so far and as the project continues ill post photos of the progress.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,698
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From: Taxachusetts
Hehehe....MONSTER brakes.... ya got that right! Back in the day, stopping always played second fiddle to going.....not so much today as stated.
Punkin Gearing: I would seriously consider taller 5:38s. They might even be too small for your application. I believe 5:38 would fit your D44....
Punkin Gearing: I would seriously consider taller 5:38s. They might even be too small for your application. I believe 5:38 would fit your D44....
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
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From: NorCal
That's a start....
Even thinking of a D44 with 48s indicates that you really need to do more homework because 48s will find the weakest link in the driveline... driveshaft, u-joints, mounts.
Rockwells would be even better.
Even thinking of a D44 with 48s indicates that you really need to do more homework because 48s will find the weakest link in the driveline... driveshaft, u-joints, mounts.
Rockwells would be even better.