straight axle conversion?
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straight axle conversion?
I want my truck to sit on 36's but from what I have heard I certainly don't want this set up with twin I-beam. Is the straight axle conversion the way to go. Is it relatively easy to find the parts myself or should a shop carry out this conversion? A buddy of mine has an '84 bronco converted to a straight axle front end and as far as I know he has no problems. I am under the assumption that a 3/4 ton axle out of a junk ford would be the way to go? would i also need to convert the rear to a 3/4 for weight distribution? Thanks.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
you don't HAVE to switch the rear, but if you don't you will need to carry 2 spares, a 5 lug for the rear, and a 8 lug for the front. by swapping front and rear diffs, you will have 8 lug wheels all around.
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From: Chester County PA
As long as you can find a good cheap junkyard its not a dad sawp. Get the axil from a 1992-1996 f250 or 250 because from 1980-1991 even the 250s and 350s were trin I beams, The just has leafts instead of coils. It also helps if you can weld good. Good luck. -Mike
Owner of 1991 F150 (1ton suspension underneath)
Owner of 1991 F150 (1ton suspension underneath)
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At the Broncograveyard they have a nice kit to convert a twin i-beam truck to a straight axle but i think the price is a bit high i have the link here
http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...t%20%20axle&sy=
http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...t%20%20axle&sy=
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From: Midwest Illinios
The easist way for you to do a sas is to put in a solid dana 44 front axle from a 1970s Ford f-150. It would be easiest to put 6" of lift on when doin the swap. If you do that then you wont have to change the rear axle or convert your front suspension to leaf springs. If you set on going to leaf springs, i would suggest geting a dana 60 from an f-350. good luck
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You can use a dana 60 with coil springs to just like the 70s dana 44 but you but then you have to weld the c bushing tabs on you can get them at the broncograveyard.com
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Yeah I found out that I should pull a dana 44 from a 70's 1/2 ton ford. I can utilize new lift coils and shocks correct? I need to modify the plate that connects to the frame back towards the rear of the truck though won't I? The one that connects to the arms that wrap around the axle. I need to get more information so I can name all the parts correctly. I have a good buddy who is a whiz welder (so I'm told). He's also the one with the straight axle bronco. I am looking forward to doing this conversion.
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From: Midwest Illinios
Your right with the dana 44. you should be able to utalize new lift coils and shocks. those arms that come back off the axle and connect to the frame are called radius arms. i would suggest using ones from the older truck as they are much longer and allow for better articulation. you will need to/have someone fabricate new brackets or a way to drop the existing ones down and back. if your buddy has done a sas before, he will probably be alot of help with getting everything right
good luck
good luck
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From: Bartlett, TN
I did this swap not that long ago, and used a 78-79 Bronco as my donor vehicle. You can look at my gallery for a few pics. The truck drives much nicer than before, and I could clear 36s without any problems with only a minimal lift.
Sean
Sean
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Mustangsean,
Yeah I checked out your gallery. Do you have a better picture of the finished product to show the lift and such? Also how much did you get that axle and the other components from the bronco for? In the coil bucket mock up, what is the main factor of information to know? I would imagine it's position is extremely important.
Ford 4x4, about the plate that connects the radius arms to the frame, is the objective to have the radius arms sitting level or what?
Yeah I checked out your gallery. Do you have a better picture of the finished product to show the lift and such? Also how much did you get that axle and the other components from the bronco for? In the coil bucket mock up, what is the main factor of information to know? I would imagine it's position is extremely important.
Ford 4x4, about the plate that connects the radius arms to the frame, is the objective to have the radius arms sitting level or what?
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From: Midwest Illinios
With the raduis arms, i believe that you want them to have a slight downward slope towards the axle once everythings done and all the weight is back on the front of the truck. perhaps mustangsean can correct me if im wrong or be more precise but i believe thats howthe y should go.
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From: Bartlett, TN
If using the stock radius arms, then you are correct. I used the factory radius arms and laid back the face of the factory '78 brackets back an additional 15 degrees to relieve some stress on the rad arm bushings. I'll try to get a pic of my arms sitting at ride height.
Sean
Sean
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