Straight axle!
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Straight axle!
ok guys I know my way around a ford pretty well. but I need some input on what some of you have used to swap out your twin I beam crap from your 4x4s and made em' straight axle. one thing i've learned from working in the dealership, they're nothing but balljoint eaters and you can't lift them sucessfully without more money than it's worth!
My background is engine and electrical, this is my first 4x4 project and i wanna do it right. My current ratio is 3.55's but if you guys have better ideas, lets hear em'. If any of you have an axle that will work,...let me know!
My background is engine and electrical, this is my first 4x4 project and i wanna do it right. My current ratio is 3.55's but if you guys have better ideas, lets hear em'. If any of you have an axle that will work,...let me know!
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
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From: Bend,OR
you want a 78-79 Dana 44 . this was the only year of the hi pinnion model. anything older is a pointless swap. or look into a Dana 60 for strenght. do a search on the web for SAS forums you will find a lot of info including a parts list and much more.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Quesnel, BC, Canada
on as F250 the easiest swap is going to be grabbing some 4" lift springs and swapping in a leaf sprung solid axle from a 70s f250/350 or from an 85-96 f350. Any solid D44 is a huge improvement over TTB. A D60 even more so. You need the 4" lift springs (at least) so the axle wont hammer into the engine x-member. You do need the trac bar...not all that hard.
For an F150 if you pull the axle off a 70s model f150 the coils are different than the 80-90s styles. So you need to get adapters to run the later model springs, or even better get the coil buckets off the 70s model youre getting the axle from and buy 4" lift coils for that style truck. You still need the 4" lift for clearance. And you still need a trac bar.
fullsize bronco dot com has a SAS forum, in that forum in the stickies there is a thread called "ultimate sas project source" and in that thread you will find links to the members builds, from leaf sprung to coil sprung d60s and d44s. There are write ups and pictures in the links in that thread, start there.
For an F150 if you pull the axle off a 70s model f150 the coils are different than the 80-90s styles. So you need to get adapters to run the later model springs, or even better get the coil buckets off the 70s model youre getting the axle from and buy 4" lift coils for that style truck. You still need the 4" lift for clearance. And you still need a trac bar.
fullsize bronco dot com has a SAS forum, in that forum in the stickies there is a thread called "ultimate sas project source" and in that thread you will find links to the members builds, from leaf sprung to coil sprung d60s and d44s. There are write ups and pictures in the links in that thread, start there.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
4" leaf pack wont be enough to clear the cross member of a TTB equiped bronco/f150/f250 . also you have to get a special cross member from ORU to run that type of setup on an f250. the early 70's model axles are low pinnion which you dont want. hi pinnion is the way to go and there are lots out there.
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Kent WA
Originally Posted by Sycostang67
I think the easiest axle to swap in is a straight axle from a 70's model F-150. It still uses the coils and radius arms, I think you just have to mount a track bar some how.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: lino lakes, mn
wow all this advice and we don't know if you got a 150 or 250 . 150 all have the hi pinion, 73-77 250s have low pinion, 77.5-79 250s have the high pinion, 150 5 bolt spindels,250 eight bolt spindels, 150 coil springs, 250 leaf springs thyer is a tech article for 150s on this site
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so yeah...it's a 250, but my file said that...>? the advise is great, do any of you have any in mind for sale?
i've heard from the 4x4 world that a d44 has worked from a jeep cj, and if so is it any more fab. work?
i've heard from the 4x4 world that a d44 has worked from a jeep cj, and if so is it any more fab. work?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Quesnel, BC, Canada
why. theyre narrower and you can buy a d44 or d60 that will literally bolt in with lift. My 96 f350 has the same x-member as an f250, and only sits 4" higher than an F150. You dont need more than 4" lift to clear the xmember, and you dont need a special x-member unless you dont want to lift it. You only need 4" of lift to clear the x-member on a ttb f150, an f250 sits about 2" higher, so technically you only need a 2" lift.
Ford didnt design a new x member for the 85-96 F350s and thats why they all are so much taller than a half ton.
Ford didnt design a new x member for the 85-96 F350s and thats why they all are so much taller than a half ton.
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