I have a 1978 F150 4x4 and wonder if anyone has put on the front an adapter to take 8 lug rims. I was thinking of putting a Dana 60 (same year) diff in the back and I do not want to carry two spares. Can some let me know of the good or bad experiences doing this and who supplies a good product. Hard to find this sort of stuff down under so any help woud be appreciated. Cheers, Frank

 

Hello Frank,

Arrowcraft - Dual Wheel Conversions

Why don't you try these, i guess that their product is what you are looking for?!?

Good Luck!

Bart

 

Thanks Bart,
Was really trying to find an adapter where I did not have to go to a dually type wheel. I have only got singles all round now, but we put a sterling in an F350 and now have a spare Dana 60. A full floater is always better than a 9 inch. Just an idea kicking around in my head.

 

Oke, but if you look troug their website a little better, you'll see that they also sell adaptors from 5 or 6 lugs to match with the 8 lug wheels.
That was wat i meant.

best of luck, Bart

 

A custom hub, can accomodate any wheel bolt pattern, and 5 lug patterns are done all of the time. While 6 lugs are more common, it is not uncommon to see 1 ton (not just 3/4 ton) axles with 5 or 6 lugs.

That being said, a full floater axle has only slight advantages over a semi floater, and the dana 60 rear has only a weight capacity advantage over the 9 inch.
Depending on the spline count, it is possible that the 9 inch actually has a better axle than the dana 60 rear.
heak depending on the gear ratio, the contact area between the ring and pinion may actually be better on the 9er than the 60 as well.
With the added pinion support, and potentially larger (minimal) axle, the 9 inch could very well be a stronger axle.
The only thing the 60 ff has over the 9er, is the simple fact that the full float rear can break an axle without the wheel falling off, and it has a larger weight carrying capacity.
Spending money on a rear d60 is probably nothing I would be in a hurry to do.
Find a rather rare D60HD rear, and you might have something, but a run of the mill 60 rear, actually shares the same axle diameter and spline count as a toyota.
Much easier to turn a 9er, and if it is just as strong, it might not be a bad idea to leave it in there.

 

Thanks 75F350. I have a spare Dana 60 when I put in a Sterling in my F350 and was thinking of giving it to my son for his F150. He just had to replace an axle as it was bent. A full floater would stop this again. Just trying to put 8 lugs on the front really. Thanks again

 

Man, I must have been out of it when I say this the first time. I though you were taking the already 8 lugs, and want ing to convert to five.
The opposite is true. You do not need any adapters, you simply have to change the spindle and hub to accomodate the 3/4 ton units just like the 3/4 ton trucks. The Dana 44's are virtually the same and easily converted. You will just have to take the outer components from a donor 3/4 ton truck with the d44, and install this stuff on your 5 lug d44 Viola, instant 8 lug dana 44.
This is done all of the time. Pretty easy to do.

 

Thanks again 75F350.
Would you believe I have 3 NOS front spindles I got for $30.00 when a Ford dealer was quitting all his pickup stuff and was told they wouldn't fit. Good that we have a forum like this where REAL people play with trucks rather than desk jockeys telling us that the parts are not interchangeable. Sometimes something stupid like a different stud length shows a different part number so they think parts are not interchangeable
Will be looking at that again. Thanks again, Frank