Got a line on a '75 F250 'hiboy' for $2500 negotiable. Besides the standard , drive it , make sure everything works and check every seal you can possibly see is there anything specific to this model I should be looking at?

It's been a while since I've been looked at one of these, is there a quick and easy way to identify the danas?

I think the price is reasonable , the pics look good.

Thanks in advance!

 

if it has the power assist steering(hydraulic ram on front axle) make sure it works good and does not leak. can be expensive to fix/replace. the dana axles, look at the lower right corner(when looking at the diff. cover) it will have a number in the casting,44,60,etc.

 

Your 75 has a low pinion closed knuckle D44 with drum brakes. When considering the purchase of this, consider how much it will cost if you want to upgrade to discs. The original axle is probably the least desireable axle available.
Also make sure which t-case you have. Be able to identify the large output housing on the 203 vs the smaller output on the 205. While the 203 is not bad, the 205 is quite a bit more desirable.
Watch for eaky in cab gas tanks, and the usual 73 to 79 f series little issues.

 

also check the frame make sure it is in good shape, got some real hacks out there with welders.

 

Thanks for the advice all - looks like it's got a D44 rear and a 205. Someone correct me if I'm wrong -

NP203 (from lever back to forward) are Hi-Loc,Hi,N,Low,Low-Loc.

The NP205 shift possitions are 4-High,2-High,N,4-Low.

Should make it easy to identify , besides crawling under the truck and looking.

 

switching ***** wouldn't be hard. id just take the minute to crawl under and see what else is going on underneath the thing too.

 

You mean "front" correct? Your truck has a D60 rear, and a D44 front????

Dont rely on the shift lever to determine which case, you have. Identify it by recognizing the differences between the two. I looked at an F150 the other day, and it was advertized as having a 205. The shift **** indicated a 205, but after I crawled under I found a 203. Not the forst time this has happened.

 

First, thanks for all the advice everyone!

I thought I'd post a follow up -

I finally got down to take a look at the 75 F250 , a bit of a disappointment.

The good -
Strong rebuilt 390 ( but not the original motor )
205 t-case ( once I found some pics of complete drive lines it was EASY to figure out a 203 from a 205)

The bad -
-- edit D44 front and rear - I was under the impression it *should* have a D60 rear . what the heck is a D40?
rear main seal suspect
left front ball joint (?) and hub needed to be rebult ( not a big deal )
blown left front locking hub ( again, not the worst thing )
overall abused - lots of rust for a truck thats been in CO all its life.
blown break power assist ( you could hear the vacuum leak driving the truck around )
Needed valve cover gaskets ( this I expected )
tranny leaked
I *think* the 205 was leaking and it sure as heck clunked when I put it in 4H.
I couldnt get it in 4L - the guy had a really talk **** on the tcase shifter ,wouldnt allow the thing to move forward far enough !

the ugly
owner wouldnt budge on price - 2500 firm , even though he said the price was negotiable.
a momo sport wheel on a truck with no power / power assist steering - those big factory wheels provide leverage fer chrissakes!

Oh well, I'll keep looking - just saw an ad for a 70 f250 , but I know squat about them

You all havent seen the last of me!

Thanks again !

 

I assume you mean D44 axles since I have never even heard of a D40, and also are you sure? a F250 will NOT have a D44 rear axle, those are semi float 5 lug only, the 3/4tons had full float 8 lug axles which would be a D60 or better for rear. If they are the same front and rear are you sure someone hasn't swapped in a D60 front?

Of coarse I still wouldn't pay that much for a rust bucket with lots of problems

 

monsterbaby -

yeah D44 sorry - the front and rear covers looked exactly the same. from what I remember, they are not interchangeable.

Check this out Axle Identification Chart - unless thats really inaccurate they were both D44's. I was shocked , as it was an 8 bolt lug pattern on the hubs but the covers matched the D44 , front and back exactly. A hatchet job maybe?

I should have taken a pic !

 

This is an exact quote from the above link:
"A Dana 60 looks deceptively similar to a Dana 44".

The dana 44, dana 60, 61, and 70 all share similar cover designs and the things are mistaken for one another all of the time.
In fact all of them have 10 bolts and are almost identical in design. The 44 uses smaller fasteners, but still look suprisingly close. In fact the 60, 61, and 70 all use the exact same cover.
The 44 is just a smaller version of the same cover. Difficult to tell the difference, but it is smaller.

 

yup - I read it , re read it - looked at a D60 in the parking lot at work - looked at hi res photos on the net of both. From that diagram and what I saw elsewhere it was a D44. Brought along a buddy more knowledgeable than I , he was confused as well.

I could be totally wrong here , it wouldn't be the first time today!

Either way , it was a bucket