TIB TTB beam lengths?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 243
Likes: 2
From: Kremlin, Ok
TIB TTB beam lengths?
does anybody know how long they are? what beams (if any) will swap out. still thinking of a SFA. ran across a 205 today cheap. thinking of making Mater 4wd. still going to keep air bags up front though.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
The big thing here is the axles used under the 250 and 350 trucks were leaf spring units.
The 2 wheel drive 250 and 350 have front coil springs.
The 150 and Bronco used coil sprung 44 TTB axles.
In my opinion, your best bet is find a donor 250 or 350, get the leaf springs and related mounting brackets with the axle.
With the ZF 5, your options are either a divorced transfer case, or a tranny tear down to swap output shafts for a married transfer case or swap trannies to a 4x4 model.
Lot of work any way you go, but a much nicer vehicle with much more capabilities when done.
The 2 wheel drive 250 and 350 have front coil springs.
The 150 and Bronco used coil sprung 44 TTB axles.
In my opinion, your best bet is find a donor 250 or 350, get the leaf springs and related mounting brackets with the axle.
With the ZF 5, your options are either a divorced transfer case, or a tranny tear down to swap output shafts for a married transfer case or swap trannies to a 4x4 model.
Lot of work any way you go, but a much nicer vehicle with much more capabilities when done.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 243
Likes: 2
From: Kremlin, Ok
Two freightliner airbags under the back, two firestone ride rites under the front. a/c compressor converted to air, with an unloader valve on the 10 gallon tank. Going to redo some stuff pretty soon on it. Going to a 3" X 3" square tubing off the leaf spring mounts, put new spring pads under the axle, a track bar (panhard rod), leveling valve and a dump valve.
Dave, thats why I was thinking about getting that 205 divorced tcase i saw the other day. I know it's in really good shape. I sold him a 203 transfer case a few years ago so he could build a doubler out of it.
With the TIB or the TTB, I can keep the bags in the spring buckets. but then again, I can still have them if i change over to leaf springs (room permitting). I really want to do a solid axle under the front even if i keep it as a 2wd. Thought about trying to find a 2wd solid axle from an early super duty, or a dare i say, dodge.
Dave, thats why I was thinking about getting that 205 divorced tcase i saw the other day. I know it's in really good shape. I sold him a 203 transfer case a few years ago so he could build a doubler out of it.
With the TIB or the TTB, I can keep the bags in the spring buckets. but then again, I can still have them if i change over to leaf springs (room permitting). I really want to do a solid axle under the front even if i keep it as a 2wd. Thought about trying to find a 2wd solid axle from an early super duty, or a dare i say, dodge.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,501
Likes: 5
From: Faibanks Ak.
I may still have a set of air leaves off a freightliner if your interested in them may be easier than fabbing maybe not.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
If I were trying air suspension, a coil spring setup with radius arms, sway bars and all that stuff would take a lot of fabrication time out of the build.
But the Dana 44 IFS leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion.
An 8 lug F150/Bronco axle just don't have what it takes under a diesel.
To much weight, to much torque for the 44 in the long run.
If you don't try plowing snow, and don't try anything off road, and don't tow anything in conditions that need 4x4, you may be OK.
My opinion, if I didn't do all of those and more, I would drive a car that got much better fuel MPG, cost less to maintain and rode a lot better.
But the Dana 44 IFS leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion.
An 8 lug F150/Bronco axle just don't have what it takes under a diesel.
To much weight, to much torque for the 44 in the long run.
If you don't try plowing snow, and don't try anything off road, and don't tow anything in conditions that need 4x4, you may be OK.
My opinion, if I didn't do all of those and more, I would drive a car that got much better fuel MPG, cost less to maintain and rode a lot better.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1
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From: London
TIB front airbags
Hey I'm new to FTE but a long time ford driver. I'm just wondering about the air ride set-up you have on the front end. I have air out the back with 3 springs removed(7 spring pack). all I have frond for the front end are spring towers from airbagit.com, and I'm not sure if I want to trust them. To see your set up would be awesome, and very helpful.
Thanks
Jason
Thanks
Jason
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