Did all '78-79 F250 4x4s have D60s up front? I found one that has a 302 4spd, but dont want to dig around under it and give away what I'm after. Unfortunely, I dont have the driver's door tag to go by...its been swapped out.

 

I could be wrong, but i belive that 150 and 250 were d44's and the 350's had the 60's in them, unless the 250 is has the snow fighter packadge.

 

correct.....

 

stryder just take a look under the front and see if it has kingpins. Just act like your lookin a thte frame or for any leaks.

 

Thanks guys! Sorry for the already burned to the ground question, but I had almost no time to deal with the search last night. I'll look the best I can, but its sitting in the dirt, so hopefully I can see KPs or not. Maybe one of these days I'll how remember ID a 60.
Thanks again!

 

wasnt there a different number of bolts, like 10 and 12 or something like that?
I could be wrong here, anybody?
I think the 44 had like 10 bolts and the 60 had 12?
Am i wrong?

 

Almost all Dana axles,,,,,,well I guess I can say that all Dana "solid" axles will have 10 bolts holding the cover on. Guess I cant really say "all" but after the Dana 80 there is some interestinf stuff.
D27, 28,30 44, 50, 60, 61, 70's, and 80 all have 10 bolts.

Quick ID for a D60 is to look at the steering arm. 4 bolts (studs) retain the straight appearing steering arm, and the D44 uses a bent or "boomerang" style arm and only has three studs holding it to the knuckle.
Easy to see, regardless of condition. Ball joints and King pins are sometimes confusing.
Add all of this up and you should be able to identify a 60 in the field like a pro.
After looking at a few it becomes second nature. Soon you will be able to recognize loose and misc parts scattered about.

 

1969/79:

Ford never offered a 302 engine with 4WD (except on 1968/77 Bronco's).

302's were only available in F100's or F150's. No F250 or F350 ever came with a 302 engine.

No F100 or F150 4WD came with a Dana 60, all were Dana 44's.
-------------------------------------------------------------
1973/79 F100/250 & 1979 F350 4WD engine choices:

1973/74: 240 or 300 I-6 / 360 2V

1975/76: 300 I-6 / 360 2V

1977/79 300 I-6 / 351M or 400 2V.

No 4WD F100's after 1976.

 

Thanks Bill, but he was referring to a 250....
Is all of that still the same?

 

F250's were not available with 302 engines...at least thru 1979.

No 1969/79 302's w/4WD's either.

The 4WD engine choices for 1973/79's are listed in post #9.

 

It turned out to be a D44. I knew the 302 most likely wasnt original, but typed it in anyway, as I was in a hurry. I've booked marked this thread for future reference..so reps to all .....if the site will let me.

Bill, wasnt the 351W first offered in '79?

 

First factory 351W in an F150/350 & Bronco = 1981.

btw: Notice I typed F150/350.

The largest engine available in 1980/83 F100's was the 302.

1980/83 F100's were not available with 4WD.

 

If I find a D60 with king pins or ball joints witch one should I go with. Found a guy with a few of these for sale and I want to pick one of them up Just dont know witch one to get... Im doing a SAS in a 94 bronco..

 

This is actually a very good question and has many answers. You have found a gold mine of D60F's and you want to know what to buy? If you can get a good deal on them, then buy all of them. For the ones you cant buy, or dont want to buy, contact me privately, and I will make a run at the rest.

Alright, now that business is out of the way, which D60F is best suited for you Bronco?
This will depend on which style front suspension you wish to use. If you use coil springs, and early style radius arms, then you really want to use the 78/9 D60F. The reason behind this is that the longer driver side axle tube will require less modification to accept the radius arm.
Should you chose to use leaf springs, then you can use either axle, but the 80's style king pin axle would be more desireable, since the frame would be the same width as the larger truck, and a leaf spring modification would permit you to use the stock spring perches. Using an earlier axle would require the installation of weld on spring pads. This requires some fabrication, but is not all that hard in retrospect.
Should you decide to use a coilover, than again the 78/9 axle is desireable, but the later axle can still be used.
Ball joint axles will have the same spring pad advantages wince they share the same dimensions as the 80's axles, but do not permit the use of bolt on steering arms, so fancy crossover steering will require a custom knuckle. This can get expensive but can still function. This would probably be the last resort.
Late axles after 99 would be the worst. These would actually be D50's unless it was a dually axle. These did not become single wheels axles until 2002, and all shared the less desireable ball joint design, weak and poor unit bearings, metric wheel lug bolt pattern, some had ESOF semi automatic locking hubs, and a funky flange style u-joint. ALright that flange is cool, but probably about the only cool thing about the later axle..

Axles after the 79 had non tapered shafts and were considered the strongest, however all had weak 30 spline outer shafts. The 78/9 is believed to have the strongest factory lockout assembly,a nd perhaps is the most desireable because it can be easilly modified to fit any ford truck. The later models require quite a bit of work to fit early trucks.

Hopefully this was enough info to help make a decision. I guess the choice is yours, and you will have to make a decision on which style suspension you wish to use.