regarding the 8 lug swap you did on the front of your Bronco. What is needed to do this swap? Did you transplant the whole front out of a F-250 or are just a few select parts needed? I have seen this question posed before but I don't think anyone ever had a definitive answer on converting the IFS Dana 44 to an 8 lug. Care to share a bit of wisdom?

DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, T-18 but looking for a ZF. 3.55's.

 

>regarding the 8 lug swap you
>did on the front of
>your Bronco. What is needed
>to do this swap? Did
>you transplant the whole front
>out of a F-250 or
>are just a few select
>parts needed? I have seen
>this question posed before but
>I don't think anyone ever
>had a definitive answer on
>converting the IFS Dana 44
>to an 8 lug. Care
>to share a bit of
>wisdom?
>
>DannyP
>89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6
>now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
>
>MSD 6A, T-18 but looking for
>a ZF. 3.55's.

Sure, I'll share a little bit of wisdom, not much available anyways ;-) Well, for starters- I still have the TTB Dana 44 up front, only thing different is everything from spindles on out and outer axle stubs. I used parts from an '70's K-20 Chevy (3/4 ton 4x4). What is needed:

caliper brackets (these need to be the kind that sits in front of the spindle, not in between the knuckle and spindle)

spindles and matching spindle studs (Chevy ones are longer to compensate for the caliper brackets)

rotors, hubs, wheel bearings, calipers and pads

outer axle stub shafts

extended brake lines for a Ford 1/2 ton (if you have a lift)

Best thing to do is to purchase a whole front axle from an Chevy/GM 3/4 ton 4x4 (has to be a straight axle, Dana 44 or 10-bolt). I got mine for $150 because the center section was trashed but I took it because it had most of what I needed and also had premium Warn hubs. Basically, the only thing you have to modify is the existing Ford knuckles- cut off the caliper ears and grind down the excess so that the Chevy caliper brackets will sit flush onto the knuckles. You also need to swap out the Ford spindle studs and put in the longer Chevy studs. Everything else is a bolt on. Oh, and swap out the outer axle stub shafts, would be the perfect time to replace the u-joints. I've been planning to do a write-up on this but haven't had the time. I've got about 4,000 miles on this so far- this includes some pretty tough trails in CO and a mudfest here in MN. If y'all are interested- here's some video clips from those trails- http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/gear/40/videos/index.html

Dustin Siebert
mrlaserboy(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
Registry: http://www.superford.org/cgi-bin/sf.cgi?uid=default&vr2=1&ID=201
Home Page: http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/gear/40
'88 Bronco XLT 302EFI/AOD/BW1356/44IFS with 8 lugs(open)/10.25 FF(Lockright locker)/4.56/6" Superlift complete/35's-street/38.5's-trails
2 BIG BRONCOS 4X4 CLUB - GREAT LAKES CHAPTER

 

Whew!!! How did you ever figure that one out?
Sounds like something I would do. LOL
I am sure lots of folks here will be interested in this bit of info. I better start looking for the appropriate Chevy axle right now as there may be a shortage pretty soon.
Again, Thanks for enlightening me.

DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, T-18 but looking for a ZF. 3.55's.

 

Well, I can't take all the credit. Someone named DoubleA helped me out with it. You can read the post where I got my info from- https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/80_96/2029.html

Oh, and here's a pic of my setup minus the new extended brake line-

http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/gear/40/lift/8lugfront.jpg

Dustin Siebert
mrlaserboy(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
Registry: http://www.superford.org/cgi-bin/sf.cgi?uid=default&vr2=1&ID=201
Home Page: http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/gear/40
'88 Bronco XLT 302EFI/AOD/BW1356/44IFS with 8 lugs(open)/10.25 FF(Lockright locker)/4.56/6" Superlift complete/2" BL/35's-street/38.5's-trails
2 BIG BRONCOS 4X4 CLUB - GREAT LAKES CHAPTER

 

Yeah, I remember that string, thats the one I was thinking of. I guess I lost track of it. I didn't know you had found a solution. I am in the process of putting a 10.25 rear in mine right now. For now up front I am going to use those 16" 5 lug rims off the '97 up F-150 that I bought. Come to find out they will work. I just had to elongate the lug holes outward by about a 1/16-3/32" and knock about .002 off the center hole for them to fit. Since the center was about right, I didn't figure it would hurt anything to try it. Aftermarket companies have made unilug wheels for years. I am going to be on the lookout for the Chevy axle needed for the 8 lug swap, or perhaps better yet, watch for a axle from a F-350 4x4. Thanks for the insight.

DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, T-18 but looking for a ZF. 3.55's.