straight axle conversion help
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New User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Canada
straight axle conversion help
I was wondering if anybody knows anything about coverting from ifs to straight axle. I would like to stay with the 3 inch lift i have now but I can only find info on 6 inch lifts and bigger. fabritech has info but it's all too big for what I want. I know about most of the changes I have to make but would like some info on messurements or just anything at all.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: GANS
straight axle conversion help
I think broncograveyard.com has kits. if you get a 73-79 dana 44, as long as you move the radius arm brackets back and do a little fabbing for the track bar, it shouldn't be too hard. Do a search, i've read a few sites that have pics&info on the swap
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: GANS
straight axle conversion help
F-250 swaps are easy. you need a donor F-350 4x4 SRW (single rear wheel) with a Dana 60 front (85 1/2-97)
you have to drop your current IFS. Take the IFS off of the leafs, leave the leafs. Pull the IFS pivot brackets off. pull your pitman arm. F-250's wacky leaf sprung IFS uses a weird pitman arm. The F-350 (or an F-150) should work.
Take the track bar mount off of the f-350, and bolt it up on the rear f-250 pivot bracket.
bolt the axle from the f-350 up to the f-250. (this should give you about 1-2" of lift, about 2-4 with the F-350 leafs).
finish the brake lines, tierods, etc.
its all pretty much bolt on. its not cheap. expect to drop around $1000 on an F-350 Dana 60, plus another $20-50 on ubolts, not to mention any thing else that needs replaced (tierods, balljoints/kingpins etc)
you have to drop your current IFS. Take the IFS off of the leafs, leave the leafs. Pull the IFS pivot brackets off. pull your pitman arm. F-250's wacky leaf sprung IFS uses a weird pitman arm. The F-350 (or an F-150) should work.
Take the track bar mount off of the f-350, and bolt it up on the rear f-250 pivot bracket.
bolt the axle from the f-350 up to the f-250. (this should give you about 1-2" of lift, about 2-4 with the F-350 leafs).
finish the brake lines, tierods, etc.
its all pretty much bolt on. its not cheap. expect to drop around $1000 on an F-350 Dana 60, plus another $20-50 on ubolts, not to mention any thing else that needs replaced (tierods, balljoints/kingpins etc)
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Joined: Sep 2003
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straight axle conversion help
hmmmmmmm........ a 60 up front would outclass the semi-floater in the rear. SRW would be a 70? What gears am i likely to find in a SRW? my 250 has a winsor that i'm pretty happy with. I assume a 350 would have been a big block no questions? my gears are 4.10's and i think that's just right for the smaller motor. i will be using the truck as a driver/ work truck/ hauler/ and occasionally for play. will the 1-ton axles eat a noticeable amt. of power or add a great deal of weight? and my biggest concern - driveshat length/location.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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straight axle conversion help
'nother thought 1 to 2" of lift would just level the fron w/ the back i suppose. any ballpark on the HD 44 conversion? just not sure if i NEED a 60.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: GANS
straight axle conversion help
I imagine they be close to the same. SRW f350s have Sterling 10.25 full floatters. A lot of people say they find steep gears in small motors (ie 302 or six 6). My guess is you will find 4.11 a popular gear. manuals generally have steeper gears than autos.
1 ton axles will be a little heavier, but i don't think it'd eat any power, as long as you keep the hubs unlocked.
btw, just use the CV front driveshaft that was on the f350. I believe they are a bit shorter.
Do you need a Dana 60? Do you plan to run anything bigger than 33s locked or 35s unlocked? if so, you probably should if you offroad a lot. if you don't, the dana44HD should ok, unless you beat it hard.
1 ton axles will be a little heavier, but i don't think it'd eat any power, as long as you keep the hubs unlocked.
btw, just use the CV front driveshaft that was on the f350. I believe they are a bit shorter.
Do you need a Dana 60? Do you plan to run anything bigger than 33s locked or 35s unlocked? if so, you probably should if you offroad a lot. if you don't, the dana44HD should ok, unless you beat it hard.
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