My main question is, How do you think a 104" wheel base 4x4 truck with a leaf sprung front end would ride?...I'm thinking Ruff as He11

I got a 76 F 250 4x4 high boy that needs work, and I am going to be picking up a 78 or 79 (not sure with it is yet) short bed 4x4 F series parts truck with the radius arm front suspension like the 78 Bronco up front

OK I want to turn the F250 into a short bed, and I don't like the way the leaf spring front end rides. so I want to take the 250's axle's and put them under the short beds frame and use all the best body parts between the two

I could probably save a lot of work by just shortening the 250's frame?
but I really want the radius arms up front? I could swap that over to I guess but then again it all depends on which cab I go with? I have to use the windshield out of the parts truck for my 250 so if the cab is as good as the 76's ? I'll just swap axles over and go that route

this truck will see some light plowing, some off road use, but mostly street driving, and eventually I might want to run 44's on it??, the 76 250 also has hydraulic front steering? which I know nothing about?, should I keep that or go with the setup from the 78? I am thinking that the 76's hydraulic set up might be better if I went with the bigger tires down the road?? or is there a way I can use both??

if any of this make sense and you would like to lend some advice? please do ...thanks...Rick

 

OK lets break this down

You have:
76 F250 D44/D60

79 F150 D44/9"

You want:
a trail rig with radius arm front susupension?

OK here goes in 4 words. BUILD THE 79 F150

Reasons:
The D44 in the F150 and D44 in the F250 have the same size shafts. One isnt stronger than the other only differnce is 8 lug and dual piston calipers....basically

The 9" in the F150 and the D60 in the F250 again have basically the same size shafts. The benefit of the 60 is being a full floater...ie if you break a shaft you can still limp home. The which is stronger 9"/D60 debate is rather ugly. Please lets dont get into that.


My reasons for going with the 79 F150 over the shortened 76 F250 is the brake and steering systems are infinately better in 79. You will not want to run a d44 5lug or 8lug with tires bigger than 36-37" without breaking junk all the time. 9" or D60 with 44" tires will also give you problems without some heavy mods (esp to the 9". please dont start 9" guys)


I also think a 79 F150 is 113" wheel base. Correct me if Im wrong.

 

well thats why I am running it by here. it is just a though in process right now.
OK so what you are saying is that there is no sense in doing this?
how about this? I hate the way it rides, STIFF up front, what if I used the radius arms suspension on it or should I leave the leafs?

 

build the 150 sell the 250 if you don't like the stiffness.

 

Well then thanks for participating, have a nice night

 

you know I'm not talking about destorying a prestine truck here!
I just want to build the best truck I can with all the parts I have availible
I have a 78 Bronco and I like its wheel base
so why not build something I want out of it?
but I am not an expert with 4x4's so I thought I would ask you guy's?
if all you have to say is sell it? dont bother posting because that aint going to happen
thank you if you try to help with my question like STGFordCrazy04 did

 

Coil spring/radius arm suspensions as a general rule ride better than leaf spring suspensions. Especially if you use Cage coil springs. Also as a general rule leaf springs carry weight better than coils. The snow plow may be too heavy for coils. I just dont know. Ive only seen it snow 3 times in 26 years and 9 months.

I think (please correct me if Im wrong) you want to use the F250 components because you think they are stronger? The sad truth is they arent. Like I said before being 8 lug and the bigger brakes are the only basic difference between a F150 44 and a F250 44. Also as said before a F150 9" and F250 D60 are just as strong as the other. Brakes are bigger on a 60 8 lug and full float.

Im saying if it were me Id build the F150 for now with the coil spring radius arm suspension and D44/9" combo with a 4" lift and 35" tires. Then when you are ready buy a $1000 D60 front axle and D70 or Sterling rear with 5.13 gears and install the necessary lift for the 44s.

Bottom line none of the components of either truck is ready for the stress 44" tires put on a driveline

 

its not necessarily because they are stronger, and if I do put a plow on it? it will not see heavy plowing. if I wanted a strictly plow truck I would leave it the way it is and fix it up, I have to do alot of work to it anyways, so I figure why not build it the way I would like it? I have a 78 bronco already and I like the short wheelbase of it. I understand what you are saying about the axles. and that is good to know. what the truck will mainly get used for is street driving and some off roading

 

Then maybe Im not understanding what you are wanting/asking

 

I'm with the others. Chopping the f250 frame or swapping axles around sounds like a ton of work to me, and I can't see what the benifit is. put heavy duty front springs in the F150 and put your plow on it. There's no advantage to the extra wheelbase of the f250 or the D60 rear unless your towing a trailer. As for the lift and really really big tires, like the others said, your gonna need more than the D44/D60 combo anyway. Meanwhile if you don't chop up one of the trucks you still have another truck you can sell or keep around and drive while the other is taken apart while your building/repairing it. The only reason I see to go the other way is you just want to build some frankenstein creation- that's ok, but unless your really good, that's all its gonna be- a hacked up (worhless) truck that once was a pretty rare and desirable highboy.

 

This is just an idea I'm throwing around while its to cold to work on it right now
yes I want to build something I would like better. being that it needs a ton of work any how.like I said it is not prestine here, I have a lot of rot to fix
can I do the work, Yes
do I like frankensteins, Yes
would I do a Hack Job, No!

I tried real hard to explane what I was thinking as clear as I could, maybe I did not do that?
if it does see a plow?? it will only be for personal use
I just want a nice, unique truck capable of handeling whatever I may throw at it?
Help me out here? what makes it rare?

 

Well IMHO swapping in a 8 lug D44 and D60 into a 79 swb F150 is a waste of time. No benefit to outweight the "neat" factor. On a different side of the same coin a chopped frame swb F250 would be "cool." Cool > Neat. For the simple reason noone does it. You are correct it would probably ride rough. Here is why I dont like this side of the coin and suggested the first side: all the components are arguably inferior to the 78/79 components. I doubt anyone will disagree the power steering is tremendously better especially when you do crossover steering. The open knuckle design of the later axles are also much better/stronger. Brakes are better also.

IF you were asking me about a 77.5-79 F250 or 78-79 F150 honnestly Id still tell you to build the 150 because you want coil springs radius arms and swb.

The cool/rare factor for a 79 4x4 swb would be swap in a D60 on 9" coils and D70 rear with 6" springs and shackle flip trim the fenders some and slap on 44s of choice.

 

that is all great things to concider. thank you. like I said this is just an idea right now,
and you hit it right on the head. the No One does it thing, I do like to be different

 

well I decide I'm not doing it! I am going to fix it as is and modify the 78 Bronco the way I want, let me ask this though, should I get rid of the hydrasteer and use the 78's set up??

 

I am assuming you are talking about the 75?

It is a common swap to convert highboys over to 77.5-79 250 steering. I will admit I dont know anything about doing it though. Do some searches. I know you will need the PS box and tie rods from the later truck and if you are going that far you might as well get the front axle also....remember open knuckle disk brakes and none of the power assist steering junk.

Good luck on your project!