Conversion
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Conversion
ok i got a ?
I would like to convert my 99 psd from a 4x2 to a 4x4. i dont know if this has ever been done but i would like to know if it possible and what am i going to need to get the job done.
I would like to convert my 99 psd from a 4x2 to a 4x4. i dont know if this has ever been done but i would like to know if it possible and what am i going to need to get the job done.
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From: Elkhorn, WI
it would probably be much cheaper just to sell your truck and buy a 4x4. it would be a lot of work and im not sure if the frames are the same, but if you had the time and tools to do the conversion i think it would be a fun but long project. you would be the first one ive heard of that did the conversion
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From: iowa
yes you can do it, you might try and do some searching in the offroad forum. The frames are the same but there are lots of things you would have to change, I would suggest getting a donor truck that is wrecked and taking all the parts you need but in this case I would make an exception because the D50 front end is junk and just plain a bad idea all the way around, so other than that get a donor truck then also get a D60 kingpin front end.
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From: Buena Vista VA
I would have to disagee with the last comment on the dana 50 being junk i've done many things with mine including using truck as skidder, hauling many loads of fire wood out of rough places and also hooking chains with other trucks and have had no break downs because of 50 model front, i know the 50 model is not as strong as the 60 but i only use mine on occasion and it suits me just fine.
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From: iowa
Lets see, first you have sealed unit bearings that list for $540 each (you can usually find them for about half that but still) and they can't be serviced or rebuilt, and cannot handle larger tires without going out three times as fast, next you have axle shafts that neck down to the size of a Dana 44. and then you have a ring and pinion thats about the size used in the half tons, and lastly you have ball joints that with easy use are likely to go out before 75,000 miles and any hard use will take them out even faster expecially with a 1200lb engine on top of them, but other than that your right the D50 isn't a bad axle at all.
Oh and that opinion comes from a guy that makes a D44 live with 900hp contrary to peoples belief yet I don't like hte D50 go figure.
Oh and that opinion comes from a guy that makes a D44 live with 900hp contrary to peoples belief yet I don't like hte D50 go figure.
Last edited by monsterbaby; Mar 18, 2006 at 08:50 PM.
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From: iowa
usually by the axle tags, or you can tell by applications or to some degree by covers except that a D50, D60, and D70 all use the same shape covers.
99up superduties use a Sterling 10.5" rear diff, and a Dana 50 front for the most part (I do believe some of the heavier duty F350s used for things like fire trucks and such may have had the D60 but I can't verify that )
99up superduties use a Sterling 10.5" rear diff, and a Dana 50 front for the most part (I do believe some of the heavier duty F350s used for things like fire trucks and such may have had the D60 but I can't verify that )
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From: Buena Vista VA
well my 01 is a dana 50 and my opinion u got all this talk about the 60 vs 50 but give me real world data and then i will agree with u u know i know all about my front end because since i work at dana in buena vista va i build bout 250 or so a shift u aint gota tell me bout it but fact is all u gota say is specs on axle i wana hear real world stuff
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not to be rude but back to the ?
my thought was to find a site where i can order the whole front axle completed.
the order the suspension.
order a transfercase and a drive shaft.
find all the electronics and hook them up.
i just need the walk through. and a list of parts and sites to look to.
my truck is a standard.
as for trading the truck, mine is paid for and i dont want to spend the extra 8k to tade it in. they will only give me 10k for mine and charge me 16 plus taxes and fees for the 4x4. so i was hoping for just puting about 4k into the conversion and doing all the labor for my self.
my thought was to find a site where i can order the whole front axle completed.
the order the suspension.
order a transfercase and a drive shaft.
find all the electronics and hook them up.
i just need the walk through. and a list of parts and sites to look to.
my truck is a standard.
as for trading the truck, mine is paid for and i dont want to spend the extra 8k to tade it in. they will only give me 10k for mine and charge me 16 plus taxes and fees for the 4x4. so i was hoping for just puting about 4k into the conversion and doing all the labor for my self.
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From: iowa
Brolli, my best suggestion is still to find a wrecked truck and get all the pieces off of it, thats the simplest, and probably cheapest in the long run.
and countrysF250 you want real world data ok I have already replaced both front bearing units, and the balljoints plus one ujoint in my D50 front axle and all that before 80,000 miles with stock tires never used offroad, and only occasionally pulling more than 5000lbs and so far never used in a pulling contest. I have built I don't know how many D44s and know for a fact that the ring gear in that D50 isn't much bigger and the axle shafts do infact neck down to a size of the D44 which is considered a light duty front end even in a half ton. Also I have helped replace the unit bearings in another truck with 35s several times now and that truck only has 70,000 miles on it with 3 complete sets of wheel bearings ($272ea X 6 = $1632 plus labor) plus balljoints atleast once that I know of for another couple hundred after alignment, so for almost $1800 dollars so far the front end has almost lasted as long as most people run D60s without even servicing them. And for that money you could have bought a D60 complete ready to drop in. Is that enough real world data for you?
and countrysF250 you want real world data ok I have already replaced both front bearing units, and the balljoints plus one ujoint in my D50 front axle and all that before 80,000 miles with stock tires never used offroad, and only occasionally pulling more than 5000lbs and so far never used in a pulling contest. I have built I don't know how many D44s and know for a fact that the ring gear in that D50 isn't much bigger and the axle shafts do infact neck down to a size of the D44 which is considered a light duty front end even in a half ton. Also I have helped replace the unit bearings in another truck with 35s several times now and that truck only has 70,000 miles on it with 3 complete sets of wheel bearings ($272ea X 6 = $1632 plus labor) plus balljoints atleast once that I know of for another couple hundred after alignment, so for almost $1800 dollars so far the front end has almost lasted as long as most people run D60s without even servicing them. And for that money you could have bought a D60 complete ready to drop in. Is that enough real world data for you?
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: iowa
well you can check local wrecking yards or watch evilbay for parts vehicles, I have bout a couple vehicles on there like a V8 ranger mounted on a early bronco frame and running gear listed as parts vehicle for $500.
