93 F150 solid front
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Elder User
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From: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
93 F150 solid front
ok so I have a 93 F-150 5.8L/351W 4X4. I was wondering if I can put a solid in the front? Like from say another older F-series. If I can what truck and year? One more thing can I put an F-250 rear instead of my 8.8? and how much fab would I ahve to do for this to be completed? when I say fab I mean making stuff on a break press. I can weld and such.
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Just curious, what is making you want to change this? I understand the solid front axle, but why the f250 rear? The frame on a 250 is much much thicker and designed to take a lot more stress. Maybe the axle is the weakest link, but it is designed to take a similar amount of weight and stress as the rest of the truck, (springs, drivetrain, frame), so i don't know that you'd accomplish much putting in a 250 rear. If you need the truck to be more heavy duty, you might just want to look into getting a heavier duty truck. I know I have heard of all sorts of axle swaps on the 250's and 350's, but they have leaf springs all the way around. i don't really have much experience in this area though, so maybe someone who knows more can help you out. This is just my 2 cents.
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From: Bonita Springs FL
If you want to go with a 3/4 ton suspension, you're looking at picking up a Dana 60 out of a 86.5 to 97 F-350 and a sterling 10.25" rear axle out of a 87 to 97 F-250 or F-350.
If you get them from different vehicles, make sure the gear ratios match. For the front axle, if you want to go leaf-sprung, you're going to have to transplant the shackles and hangers for the front leaves. If you want a coil sprung axle, you're going to have to do some fab work.
You need the VSS in the rear axle because your speedo and tranny rely on it. If you put any other axle in, including a 9", you're going to lose your speedo, odometer, and your tranny will go into limp mode and not shift properly.
Thing is, by the time you spend all the time and money to do this, you could just buy another truck. But if you want to do it just because you can, then go for it. The swap is going to cost you at least a couple grand.
If you get them from different vehicles, make sure the gear ratios match. For the front axle, if you want to go leaf-sprung, you're going to have to transplant the shackles and hangers for the front leaves. If you want a coil sprung axle, you're going to have to do some fab work.
You need the VSS in the rear axle because your speedo and tranny rely on it. If you put any other axle in, including a 9", you're going to lose your speedo, odometer, and your tranny will go into limp mode and not shift properly.
Thing is, by the time you spend all the time and money to do this, you could just buy another truck. But if you want to do it just because you can, then go for it. The swap is going to cost you at least a couple grand.
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Originally Posted by jb1390
Just curious, what is making you want to change this? I understand the solid front axle, but why the f250 rear?
Like andym said, be sure the rear axle has the speed sensor. I believe its 1987 and later where they have it on the differential.
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From: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
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Lead Driver
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From: Senoia, GA
if you are gonna put a solid front in you have 2 options... the D44 5 lug 1/2 ton which is coil sprung OR the Dana 60 front 1 ton 8 lug big boy that'll take more crap than you'll ever be able to dish out with a 1/2 ton.
the frame is a little thinner than the 3/4-1 ton trucks but i haven't heard of many issues with the thinner frames.
if you plan to do any opffroading pull the crappy 8.8 out. yes ppl will always contradfict me and say they aren't as bad as i think they are. i grenaded an 8.8 in my old 93 F150 supercab with street run 33's. if you're gonna do it, do it right.
i do have some good news depending on where you live. i have both a D44 front startgith axle as well as a D60 ready for coil springs, along with a rear to match each. PM me if you think we could work out a deal
the D60's were only ever used in 1 tons, not 3/4 and you will not lose your speedo, all of the newer (balljoint versions) have VSS on the sterling
-cutts-
the frame is a little thinner than the 3/4-1 ton trucks but i haven't heard of many issues with the thinner frames.
if you plan to do any opffroading pull the crappy 8.8 out. yes ppl will always contradfict me and say they aren't as bad as i think they are. i grenaded an 8.8 in my old 93 F150 supercab with street run 33's. if you're gonna do it, do it right.
i do have some good news depending on where you live. i have both a D44 front startgith axle as well as a D60 ready for coil springs, along with a rear to match each. PM me if you think we could work out a deal
the D60's were only ever used in 1 tons, not 3/4 and you will not lose your speedo, all of the newer (balljoint versions) have VSS on the sterling
-cutts-
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From: Rocky Ford, Colorado
I'm doing this exact same thing right now actually!
I already swapped in a rear dana 60 out of a 72 F-250 and rigged up disk brakes for it out of front 4wd rotors and the stock 93 F-150 front calipers. I'm rebuilding a front dana 44 HD out of a 77 F-250 for the front.
My 93 150 did have the automatic, but I bought a standard for it recently so the limp mode shifting won't be an issue.
For the engine I've got a stroker crank, rods, and small dome pistons and I'll probably end up just throwing an intake and carb on it rather than messing around with the fuel injection b.s.
As for the speedo I haven't quite decided what to do there yet, but I've seen where they make a GPS speedometer and I'm thinking there has to be a way to convert the signal from the GPS unit to the VSS frequency and then use the stock speedometer.
I already swapped in a rear dana 60 out of a 72 F-250 and rigged up disk brakes for it out of front 4wd rotors and the stock 93 F-150 front calipers. I'm rebuilding a front dana 44 HD out of a 77 F-250 for the front.
My 93 150 did have the automatic, but I bought a standard for it recently so the limp mode shifting won't be an issue.
For the engine I've got a stroker crank, rods, and small dome pistons and I'll probably end up just throwing an intake and carb on it rather than messing around with the fuel injection b.s.
As for the speedo I haven't quite decided what to do there yet, but I've seen where they make a GPS speedometer and I'm thinking there has to be a way to convert the signal from the GPS unit to the VSS frequency and then use the stock speedometer.
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