Compatible-ish axles

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Dec 9, 2019 | 07:08 PM

Ezra Vardaman

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Compatible-ish axles

I have an 83 f150 4x4 and I’m exploring the idea of putting wider axles on so I can fit larger tires, since I want the optimal clearance/mpg/utility/aesthetics. Basically, I want to drive a mud truck as a dd, but I don’t want the gas bill. I’ll put a lift on it as needed, but I want to fit 44s with minimal turn impediment and minimal lift. I was thinking Dana 60s or 70s, but I just want the widest axle that is even remotely possible to rig up. Adaptation brackets are not a problem, I’ll figure something out. I just want to know what the widest ford axle is.

Dec 10, 2019 | 06:17 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

Not sure why you want a wider axle, when you can offset the rim and get plenty of clearance. All the 80's and 90's trucks are the same,, even the rearends in the 70's trucks are the same width as these. The wider rearend is the dually, it's 2 inches wider on each side. But of course there is no matching frontend. And if you are talking putting a dana 60 up front, that will require a lot of fabrication on a f150. The f150 had coil springs up front, the f250 and 350 had leaf springs up front and are made to install the dana 60 frontend. Like I said, I would not re-invent the wheel so to speak, just buy offset rims. If you are putting all those heavy duty axles under your truck, it would be easier to buy a f250 or f350, cheaper to buy a 1985.5-up f350, that has the dana 60 frontend already, and then just plop your cab and frontend on that frame. The heavier truck will already have the 8 lug heavier axles mounted under it.