Hi,

My friend has a 1990 Bronco and we started to look for parts to swap it to a solid axle.

Our first stop we hit the jackpot - a completely assembled solid axle from a 1979 Bronco, complete with radius arms, steering linkage, trac bar, rotors (good shape), Warn hubs, dual shock mounts (got the ones from the frame as well), and 2 seemingly new coil springs. We got all for $470. It also looks like the coils that were with it were not only new, but taller than stock.

Anyone else done this same swap before? What can we expect to have to change, and what problems are we going to run into?

Will we have to change the front drive shaft?

I saw and read the article about the 1995 F150 using a 1978 solid axle, and I'm assuming the 1990 Bronco will be close?

Thx

 

I've done the swap on a 94 F-150 and it went pretty smooth. There are some pics in my gallery. I have 10 inch lift on mine ( 6 inch coils, $ inch drop coil buckets). I would suggest buying all new bushings, its easier to replace them now. One important thing is to make sure your trac bar and drag link are parallel. If you use a drag link from an early 90's F-350 4x4 it's a bolt on deal. Do a search in this forum for SAS. You will find alot of info and details. If you run into any problems feel free to yell.

 

Sounds like that thing is gonna be strong. Sweet deal on the axle too.

 

you need to reread that article. If it is the one I am think of, it will have said to stay away from the 79 Bronco front axle specifically because of weak spots jsut inside of the hub.

You should also check out this site: http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Dana44.htm


Also do a search on this site for more. This has been talked to death around here and other sites. Where this parts list says 94 just use the year of your rig. I got this information from 78F3504x4 here on this site.

-78 F150 Dana 44
-78 lower coil cups
-94 F150 upper coil buckets (stock)
-4" lift Skyjacker coils for a 78-79 F1504x4
-90 F3504x4 drag-link
-78 F1504x4 tie-rod
-78 calipers
-94 brake hoses
-78 brake line (on the axle)
-78 ford hubs
-94 F1504x4 pitman arm (Rancho drop)
-4" lift shocks for a 94 F1504x4
-78 F1504x4 radius arms
-78 F1504x4 radius arm brackets
-custom 18" adjustable track bar ($40 from local race car shop)
-custom front shock mounts (single)
-dual steering stabilizer I rigged up from my old TTB one.

We welded 1/4" thick steel to the engine crossmember before drilling a 3/4" hole to mount the track bar. I used the track bar mount on the axle, and it lined up perfect to the crossmember. Its been a while, so I can't remember everything. If you want I can take some pics and send them (digital). Seems every swap I see was done different. Later man!!!! Steve

Also, some other stuff:
-4 degree c-bushings
-front 94 front driveshaft fit perfect on the 78 axle
-the 78 driveshaft u-joints are the same as 94
-If you like the dual front shocks, you can get the bracket from a 77-96 bronco

 

Ponyracer/All,

Yea, if you could find the time to take some pics and send them, that would be great!

Here's the article I was speaking about. I read it but didnt see anything about not using the '79 system.

Is there a way we can tell a 78 from a 79, to verify which one we got?

At least everything you list above from a 78, we already have in the axle we bought.

Thx for the other info on the front driveshaft.

 

you want more resources check out f u l l s i z e b r o n c o . c o m they have a SAS forum were thats all they talk about. guys have price break downs and everything. great info

later

 

I would tend to stick with the information I have given because it has specific parts listed and is more concise. The article you are looking it to me is vague, but noticed that he also is using the 78 parts. Please do more research before you start your project.

 

You know there is no differnece between a 78 and 79 Front axle right?

The only difference they made on the front on 73-79 vehicals was the steering and that was in 78 other wise everything is the same from 73-79(f-series, and 78 79 Broncos) other than u joints(they went bigger in 79). Those are the year model trucks I know, love, and work on all the time.

So in a way, the 79 axle will be stronger, only because it has a bigger yoke and takes bigger beefier u joints.

 

you obviously have not read the articles. The one guy shows cutaway pics of the 79 front end and the 78. the pics show the obvious difference at the area between the spring mounts and the back of the hub. That area is thinner and weaker for 79 than 78 and if I remember right the axle "tube" doesnt extend completely through this area which is the cause of the weakness. Read the article by Mr. N, its very informative and detailed. Quote"Picture 14 Shows the 78-79 is not a good candidate for an axle swap, unless you keep the Ford coils. The area between the red arrows does not have a tube in it. The Author cut an axle open and found this out the hard way. Additionally the inner tube was only 1/4" thick from a 79 Bronco that was cut open! ". I digress that 78 and 79 are not good choices, but of the two 78 is a better choice.

http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Dana44.htm

I rest my case and will leave the descision up to you all. I have given you all the information I have gathered and questioned for my own conversion that will hopefully happen this summer.

 

You have a 94 F150 and I have 2 73-79 Trucks, and friends with several of them, and junkyards full of them, and that's all I work on.

I've read some of that guys article before, and and don't trust have the things he says. A D44RS, never heard of it, and IFS in 1980, no such thing, and so on.
I agree with you on the fact that the 73-79 D44s aren't the strongest axles for a axle swap, but they are a hell of a lot stronger than the TTB D44s.
Also, the guy never said he cut a 78 D44 open to see a difference. Because there is no difference. In 79 the only thing that changed was bigger yokes and u joints in a attempt to strengthen their componets.

 

First of all thanks for the partial agreement. Well not to start an argument, but the Independant Front Suspension was introduced in 1980 with the new body styling. The Dana 44 reverse spiral gear front differential is part of the IFS and very well known especially if you try to order gears. If fact it is in the very front differentials that you are experienced with. The RS came about because the diff is on the drivers side instead of the chevy passenger side. If you want to test this, install a rear end on the front with the diff on the drivers side and see which way you go. This is coming from my 11 years of experience as a Factory Ford Master Technician specializing in drivetrain issues. Now I will admit the I dont and will never know everything, but that article is very precise and my friends and I have check it out and seems to be on the level. Now when I say "my friends" I am talking about 4 more Factory Ford Master Technicians with a combined experience of over 100 years.

 

From what I recall he refured to a early 70s front diff as a D44RS, now, I need to reread some, but I thought that's what he said. Ford never called their front suspensions IFS until 97 or so, it was called TTB(which you already know).

Other than that, a sas would be a good upgrade, and if at all possible a D60 would be great, but if not a solid axle D44 with chromoly axle shafts is hard to stop in mud.

 

what's up guys?im doing a swap on my 1990 f-150 my truck has a dual shock set up..but the axle that im swappin' it think is a 79' it only has a single shock.its coil also will my stock shock/coil tower work with a 79' solid axle or will i have to buy new towers?

 

the 78/79 axles will fit and bolt into 80-96 f150/bronco buckets... and the only differance in the 78-79s is u-joints and yokes... never kept anytjing other than my 70s fords, been working on them since i was 12... its all i like...have had 75-79 1/2 tons axle parts are swappable and easily upgraded...ran a 79 dana 44 with open diff and 3.50 gears with 40" groundhawgs on my truck for 5 years...only ever broke 2 u-joints...axle now under wifes bronco with 4.10 gears true trac locker and 8 lug outers...dana 44s are fine axles when put together with a few better than stock parts..

 

get rid of the 80-96 coil buckets and run some 78-79 buckets. Move them 1"-1.5"s forward from stock position for best wheel well position. this is not 100% bolt on. you will need to fab a track bar mount. run F250 shock brackets and plan on getting the stock radius arms extended. this will aid in many ways. the site mentioned further up the page has days worth of reading material.