I have my old chassis from my '68 Highboy sitting behind my shop and it still has a good Dana 60 and the Dana 44HD on it. A friend just bought a '75 4x4 to restore (not delivered yet from the place he bought it) and he'd like to use my old 44HD front axle. He seems to think the frame width is narrower on the later dentside trucks though, and I'm just not sure. Does anyone know if they would be readily interchangeable between those years? If it's only a matter of spring perch width, they could be moved pretty easily, but if it's more involved than that, he may just keep the 44 that's in it.

 

Front driving axle has nothing to do with the width of the frame rails, because...

All 1967/77 F250 4WD (High Boys) have 33 1/2" 'narrow' rear frame rails. The front frame rail width is the same for all F100/350's.

33 1/2" width between the inner frame rails behind the cab: 1961/72 F100/350; 1973/77 F250 4WD (High Boys); 1973/79 F350 Cab & Chassis and Regular Cabs on the 140" wheelbase.

37 1/2" width between the inner frame rails behind the cab: 1973/79 F100/150 2WD/4WD; 1973/79 F250 2WD; 1977/79 F250 4WD (not High Boys); 1973/79 F350's except as noted above.

 

Thanks for that. I didn't know the specifics between the years, but I couldn't see how the front frame rails could be different, or that would have made issues with engine mounting...unless it was only a small amount.

 

If he is going to restore the 75 go for an open knuckle axle with disc brakes. The closed knuckle axles are getting hard to get good parts for now.

 

F250 4WD's were not available with disc brakes until 1976 to 1977 as low pinion Dana 44's and Dana 60's. In 1977.5, they went to high pinion D44's and D60's.

 

He wants to restore it exactly like one he had when he was in school, and it had the closed large knuckle 44 on it. He doesn't care if it's the 'best' for street use or whatever, just wants it like the one he had.

 

1976: First year F100/250 4WD's available with disc brakes.

 

This may be a truck forum but going by "69 cjshaker", I'd like to see pics of that car.

 

Well I hope this doesn't get me in trouble, but since my truck is in the background, maybe I can get away with it..lol

The shaker was removed for the 2x4 intake, but it's an original R-code 4spd car. I've been a member of the FE forums forever and driven bumpsides for the last 25 years.

 

AWESOME. That got my Ford Blue blood up.
Thanks for posting.