Ok, I have a thought for a new project. I have an 87 F250 supercab, which I would like to make into a 4 x 4, mainly for use in soft sand. Currently I have available many parts in our yard. For some of you who may have a little more experience than I, I have a few questions. Looking at a bronco we have that rolled, the I beams look like they will bolt right in. Checking the hollander interchange it looks like ford uses the same frame on a 2WD and 4WD, at least on the 1/2 ton. Now if ford uses the same frame, that means that the 4WD I beams will fit with out any major mods, the question is, can I use the 4WD I beams, off a 150 to keep the coil springs, and change out the spindle from an F250? I don't need the truck for heavy off road, mainly, to pull my trailer when we race out ATVS. I have got stuck more than once, trailer is very heavy. If this can be done, great, if not, I can install leaf springs off an F250. But would like to keep it simple.

Thanks Dave

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Dave,
Look at the 61-79 forum.
Unless they changed the frames after 80 then they are not compatible. Look at the front end of the frames for a visual comparison. If that seems to check out then break out your tape and go to work. A lot of time under both trucks with a tape will save you a lot of headaches later when you've got them both torn apart. If you're dead set on doing this then it can be done, but it's not going to be a weekend project. Don't forget about gearing. If you're going with 1/2 ton parts on a 3/4 ton it might be easier to order in a set of 16" wheels with the 5x5.5" pattern. If getting stuck seems to be the only problem have you considered things like wider tires and/or a dual tire setup for the rear? Just my 2 cents.

Trail Rider

 

Thanks for the reply, just for info, the frames from 79 are totally different than that of 80 on up. I do have a good supply of parts, as we have a wrecking yard. I do have the I beams and front set up both from a 3/4 and a 1/2, both rear ends being 3.54 ratio, which is what I need. The idea was to stay simple, and try to use the 1/2 ibeams as they have coil springs and use radius arms, having the the same mounts. Being that the 1/2 ibeams would just bolt in, the biggest question was will the F250 spindles fit the F150 ibeams. The only difference that I can see between the two (without pulling them off yet) is that the F150 uses coil springs and the F250 uses leaf springs. Staying with coil springs would make it a lot easier, as every thing bolts up.

Anyone out there have a thought at this?

I do need to stay with the F250 brakes and wheels.

Thanks Dave

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Dave, I see where you're heading with your idea; a coil-sprung D-44 TTB F-250...why not? But, consider this: the F-250 uses the same frame as an F-350--are 250/350 2WD the same frame as 250/350 4WD? If so, for simplicity, why not do the D-60 monobeam/leaf-spring conversion?
Though I gotta admit, a coil-sprung F-250 has a certain charm...
Ed

 

Ed, the F250/350 have a different frame than that of an F150, as the 250/350 have the spring shackles in the frame. Other than the spring shackles, the frames are basically the same. What I would prefer to do, is just a bolt on type, without having to weld shackle brackets. Though I do have a donor F250 4 X 4 frame, at this point it is not totally out of the question. We could cut the front horns were the frame shackles are bolted, or integrated into the horn, and just weld a rear shackle bracket. But I would like to stay away from this if possible.

Thanks Dave

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Dave, let me rephrase my question: Are 2WD F-250 frames with coil springs and Twin-I-Beams directly interchangeable with the frames of 4WD F-250s with Twin-Traction-Beams and leaf springs? Does your existing 2WD F-250 frame have the mounting bolt holes and frame cutouts for the bracketry associated with leaf spring mounting? If the answer to both of these questions is "yes", then it follows that leaf springing would be a bolt-in...as would the F-350 Dana 60.
Ed

 

Ok the F250/F350 use different frames under there 4 x 4. Though looking at my F250 and having a 4WD frame next to it, it the 2WD frame can be modified to accept the leaf springs. It will require the drilling for the brackets and the cutting of the front frame horn to accecpt the front shackle. Though it does not look to difficult.

One of the reasons I wanted to stay with the coil springs, is my truck is a diesle and finding the leaf springs for a 4WD would be difficult. The 6.9 is consideratly more heavy than a 460.

Sorry about the delay to respond, I was not in yesturday

Dave

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OK, the truth comes out...You want to put a half-ton front end under a HD 3/4, which is probably OK; Ford used to put Dana 44HD straight axles under 3/4 ton pickups, but in those days Ford didn't have big ol' heavy grease-burner motors (though, to be fair, the DID have the big ol' heavy FE engines!).
Two considerations you may want to think about:
1. What is the GAWR of the Dana 44 IFS you want to use? How close to it are you going to come?
2. That axle has five lug bolts. Your rear has eight. How are you going to address that?
Your point about leaf springs is well taken. I wonder if a Ford-issued coil from an Econoline might work? Ed

 

Ok what I would like to do, is use the Ibeams off a 1/2 to keep the coil springs, and use the spindles off a 3/4 ton. This would allow the use of the 8 lug rotors and have the same stopping power by using the larger caliper and rotor. The main questions was will the F250 spindles fit on the F150 Ibeams for the 4wd? Also the truck is a 1987 not a 70s, Ford did not use straight axle on the F250 in these years.

Thanks Dave

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Sounds like a well-thought-out program. I guess your next step will be to start laying out the parts side-to-side and see what's different.
Do you have access to a Dana master parts book?
If you do, I have a question that perhaps you'll be able to answer for me: My '91 Ford Spec book sez that the '91 F-250 had two TTB front axles available, the Dana-44 IFS HD, and the Dana-50 IFS. I am assuming the 44HD came in the Light Duty F-250, with the 50 underneath the F-250 HD.
I've posted this question before, and here it is:
What are the differences between the standard 44-IFS TTB as used in the F-150, and the Heavy-Duty 44 IFS? Could this be a cheap upgrade for a 150?
Ed

 

Thats almost what I am trying to find out. As soon as I have an answer I will post it.

Dave

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Dave,
The easiest way to find out if the 3/4 parts will fit your 1/2 spindles is to do a little research. As I understand it you're running a wrecking yard so it shouldn't be to hard to find out. Start by seeing if the bearings are the same. If so, the 1/2 ton spindles should accept the hubs from the 3/4 ton. Next see if the rotors are the same, if so then it should be a bolt in swap as long as the length of the spindle is the same between the two.

Trail Rider

 

>Dave, The easiest way to find out
>if the 3/4 parts will fit
>your 1/2 spindles is to do
>a little research. As I understand
>it you're running a wrecking yard
>so it shouldn't be to hard
>to find out. Start by seeing
>if the bearings are the same.
>If so, the 1/2 ton spindles
>should accept the hubs from the
>3/4 ton. Next see if the
>rotors are the same, if so
>then it should be a bolt
>in swap as long as the
>length of the spindle is the
>same between the two.
>Trail Rider


I am following this thread with great interest because what Dave is trying to do is exactly what I am trying to do. I have an '88 Bronco with the Dana 44 TTB axle and flange style hubs. I also have an '91 2wd F-250 HD and I am considering taking the full-float 10.25 rear axle from the F-250 and installing it into the rear of my '88 Bronco. The reason I want to do this is that I will be running 38" tires on the Bronco and I don't think the 8.8 axle I currently have will stand up very long and I already have the 10.25 axle at my disposal and its a very easy bolt-in. The only problem to this is that I have 5 lug fronts and the flange hubs are weak. I want to convert the front into 8 lugs and I am thinking the knuckles and spindles from a light duty 4wd F-250 with the Dana 44 IFS-HD axle might work. Dave has a great advantage because he has a whole junkyard at his fingertips and can try this out. I've heard that only the F-250s with the single piston calipers will work in this situation but that's just what I heard. Let me know how your project goes, Dave and if you have the parts needed so I can possibly try this also.

Dustin Siebert
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Well, I read your post and found it interesting what you are doing.....but here is my thought.......Why not go with a solid Dana 44? Back in 76-79 they ran a solid Coil Dana 44 axle. The performance would be better and (I can also see what you are trying to do here) the ride would be less harsh than leafs. That is what I am trying to do with mine. I converted to a TTB from my TIB and now I want a monobeam. BUT i am trying to find a monobeam. That is also my next question.....do you have access to like a 76-79 4x4 ford f 100 or f 150 parts? Or know someone with some? i am still doing some work on planning how it will bolt up......lil different than the TTB....got some weird Traction bar on it......and the radius arms are like 1.5 feet longer too....and the trans bracket is the radius arm bracket too.....weird.....well ill let you get.....i would try to help with the whole knuckle thing but i don't really know if it would work.......have to see if they ran bigger axel shafts and larger hubs in the axel...that would be a big thing. Other than that i don't see why is shouldn't work....well i need to get....talk later

 

Thanks all for the replies, the idea is to keep it as simple as possible, though my truck has the dual piston calipers, which I would prefer to keep, but if I have to use the leaf spring set up, I will. I was hoping that I could with minor changes using a 1/2 ton Ibeams and 3/4 spindles. One of the things I don't have and have not been able to find, are leaf springs for an F250 4 X 4 with a diesle motor. Anyone have any ideas where I could locate one?

Dave

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