78 Ford
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Washington Pa
Ok thats exactly what I thought except I didnt know which company used the name. I feel a little better about myself now. And is there any chance I could have LS up front already?
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Cleveland, WI USA
I doubt there's a limited slip in the stock dana 44 unless the previous owner added one. I've never heard of them from the factory, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. To make this more confusing, Ford calls it's limited slip a Track Lock
The rear axle in your truck is already a 9". You can tell by looking at the pumpkin. If the rear cover is welded on, it's a 9". To get the gears out of a 9", you have to pull the axles, remove the 10 or so bolts on the front, and pull the entire 3rd member out.
As for the axles, 28 and 31 spline axles are about the same diameter until you get to the end with the splines. The 28 tapers down to a smaller diameter which makes it weaker.
It's my opinion that a limited of some sort or a selectable locker is the way to go for a front axle. Especially if you do any street driving. Spools or regular lockers put a little too much stress on the axles and u-joints for my taste, and you'd have to run with one hub unlocked most of the time. That being said, I'm putting a mini-spool in my front D44 this winter, but that's strictly an off-road truck. Not sure how I'll like getting out and locking the hub all the time, but we'll have to see.
Just my $0.02.
Kevin K.
The rear axle in your truck is already a 9". You can tell by looking at the pumpkin. If the rear cover is welded on, it's a 9". To get the gears out of a 9", you have to pull the axles, remove the 10 or so bolts on the front, and pull the entire 3rd member out.
As for the axles, 28 and 31 spline axles are about the same diameter until you get to the end with the splines. The 28 tapers down to a smaller diameter which makes it weaker.
It's my opinion that a limited of some sort or a selectable locker is the way to go for a front axle. Especially if you do any street driving. Spools or regular lockers put a little too much stress on the axles and u-joints for my taste, and you'd have to run with one hub unlocked most of the time. That being said, I'm putting a mini-spool in my front D44 this winter, but that's strictly an off-road truck. Not sure how I'll like getting out and locking the hub all the time, but we'll have to see.
Just my $0.02.
Kevin K.
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From: Washington Pa
Whats difference between mini spool anda spool? Im about 99% sure i have an 8.8 rear. If i do go to a nine I saw somewere i lose anti lock brakes. Also is the with going to be the same if i just go buy a 9 inch from a junk yard or somthing? or will i have to change something? Also why would you run 1 hub unlocked in the front im guessing your saying you normally in the winter leave your hubs locked so you dont have to get out in the cold? I feel like a pain in the *** asking all these questins but this is the only place i know to get answers.
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From: Cleveland, WI USA
Are you sure you're talking about a 1978 Ford F150? I didn't think the 8.8 was available until the 80s, and I know ABS wasn't.
You have to leave the front hubs unlocked if you install a spool or mini-spool or you won't be able to steer. A spools is basically a steel collar that locks the axles together so both wheels turn at the same speed all the time. Unlocking the hubs is really the only way to unlock the front wheels from each other with a spool.
K.
You have to leave the front hubs unlocked if you install a spool or mini-spool or you won't be able to steer. A spools is basically a steel collar that locks the axles together so both wheels turn at the same speed all the time. Unlocking the hubs is really the only way to unlock the front wheels from each other with a spool.
K.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Bonita Springs FL
We need to know what year your truck is. Yes, if you ditch the 8.8" axle in your truck, you will lose ABS. If your truck is 92 to 96, you will also lose your speedometer and your electronic tranny (if you have one) will not shift correctly.
Nearly everyone here will disagree with me, but I don't care and I'll say it anyway. If you're not doing any hardcore wheeling, a lifted TTB will work for you. There are plenty of people (in other forums
) that run a TTB with a 6" lift.
If you just want to put 35" tires on it, run some trails, play in the mud, and play in the snow, you don't need a solid axle conversion.
It's not a top notch, but it will work. Swapping to a solid axle is expensive and LOTS of extra work. If you're going to swap to a solid axle, then you may as well go Dana 60.
You need radius arms because they hold the axle in place. F-150's are coil sprung front axles and the coils can't keep an axle from falling to the front or the rear. Leaf sprung axles don't have a radius arm because the leaf spring will keep the axle in place.
Keep asking questions.
The people here are very good to strangers, and as long as you have a good attitude about it (and you do) you will definitely get your questions answered.
Nearly everyone here will disagree with me, but I don't care and I'll say it anyway. If you're not doing any hardcore wheeling, a lifted TTB will work for you. There are plenty of people (in other forums
) that run a TTB with a 6" lift.If you just want to put 35" tires on it, run some trails, play in the mud, and play in the snow, you don't need a solid axle conversion.
It's not a top notch, but it will work. Swapping to a solid axle is expensive and LOTS of extra work. If you're going to swap to a solid axle, then you may as well go Dana 60.
You need radius arms because they hold the axle in place. F-150's are coil sprung front axles and the coils can't keep an axle from falling to the front or the rear. Leaf sprung axles don't have a radius arm because the leaf spring will keep the axle in place.
Keep asking questions.
The people here are very good to strangers, and as long as you have a good attitude about it (and you do) you will definitely get your questions answered.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Longvalley, SD
Yes a lifted ttb would probably work for what you are wanting to do with it. But putting in a solid 44 from the 78 is not that big of a deal, just take out all of the ttb and suspension, then swap all of the 78 suspension and solid 44 to that. If you have the basic hand tools and jacks to do this you could get it all done easily in your driveway on a weekend.
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From: Elkhart IN
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From: Washington Pa
My truck is a 95 F-150 I6. And yess i just want a 34-35 inch tire and the 6 inch Skyjacker lift to run through some deep snow or mud nothing to hard on the truck becuase honestly it will be more show then go. I plan on the 6 inch lift a detroit locker front and back and some 34 maybe 35's. I did plan on doing the 9 inch axel swap because it seems that i should. And it is an easy swap. It has an 8.8 but its a stick so i wont lose my tranny electric shift all though since this is a road truck I will need a speedo. As far as the front axel i am pretty sure it will be ok for me. I still cant figure this swap out some say its hard some say its easy. I saw a site were i guy did this on an older bronco and was talking about all kinds of mods he made cutting things out and the driveshaft not clearing the tranny cross member sounded like a big job. I do have a pretty good mechanical ability for a 20 year old. And lots of tools. If this was a purley bolt on job and maybe drilling some holes i could probably handle it. And it may be worth it simply because it would be so much cheaper to lift. Or would it not be any cheaper to lift?
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From: South Dakota
A SAS on an F150 is pretty much a bolt in type deal. You will need an F-350 tie-rod and fab up a track bar mount, nothing major. I've done a TTB lift and if it was me I would do a SAS before dealing with all the bolts and misc crap that you have to deal with on the TTB.
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From: Washington Pa
Well problem is when you talk about Fabing a track bar mount i dont even know what that is. I wish some one near me know what they were doing and could help. I think I will just swap the rear to a nine inch and keep the TTB.
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From: South Dakota
Post Fiend
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Originally Posted by mustange70
Its the 250 and higher that the tranny's are affected by an axle swap, 8.8's only need the tone ring for abs and speedo.
Wiseguy, if you swap to a 9" axle you will not have a functioning speedo. If you care about ABS, you'll lose that too.
Also, I doubt that the swap will be as cheap and easy as everyone suggests. Check out post #13 in this thread: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=416094
Last edited by andym; Dec 22, 2005 at 03:05 PM.