F superduty conversion questions
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F superduty conversion questions
I have an 89' F Superduty that I would like to convert to 4 wheel drive. It has the ZF 5 speed, which is the 4X4 version because of the tranny mounted parking brake. I could use a BW 1356, or NP205 transfer case. And probably could use a Dana 60 up front. I read somewhere, that the forest service and some utilities had these F Superduties converted to 4 wheel drive. Has anyone heard this, or maybe know of any of the conversion companies, or any other info that could help with the conversion? Thanks in advance. John.
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Back when these trucks were new, there was a company or two that did 4x4 conversions for trucks for the Forest Service, fire departments, etc. I would try doing a search on the internet to find out what they did about the parking brake and what transfer case they used. I know they used Dana 60s out of F350s for the front axle, but I'm not sure what they did about the parking brake and transfer case.
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There is a wealth of info from the Bronco forums: Solid Axle Swaps
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The company that did the work was called Pickup Van and Four wheel Drive out of Pennsylvania because at the time Ford did not make an F-450 {superduty} in four wheel drive
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Not quite - the F-Superduty is a very different platform from the lightweight Bronco. For one, the F-Superduty uses 10-lug wheels, so if a regular 1-ton D60 front axle is swapped in there will be 8-lug wheels in the front, while the rear still has the 10-lug Dana 80 axle. Also, Broncos have coil springs up front, while the F-Superduty has leaves - that makes installing a D60 (that also uses leaves) a piece of cake, but if the spring perch width of the D60 don't match the one of the F-Superduty I-beam front then the D60 will need some fab work done to it. There's also the matter of the parking brake - the F-Superduty rear D80 has no integrated parking brake, it relies on the transmission-mounted parking brake, which is lost when the transfer case is installed in its place. It may be possible to bolt up the brake to the rear of the transfer case, but I'm not sure what kind of adapters would be needed for that... So see, when you're working with an F-Superduty, very little of the Bronco tech applies.
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I am looking for some info on the F-Superduty 4x4 conversion as well. I have one - a 1995 Powerstroke 5-speed that I just purchased. I am curious what bolt pattern the 10-lug wheels are? Also curious what transfer case was used. I can't find an ID plate anywhere on it, it is passenger side drop. Front axle is stamped 70 on the web of the differential (assuming a Dana/Spicer 70) and the rear is a Dana 80 - both tagged 5.13 ratio. Replies are appreciated!
Thanks.
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That's correct, D70 front and 80 rear. To figure out the bolt pattern of the wheels just measure the distance between the center lines of two opposing bolts across the wheel hub - this will give you the bolt circle diameter (BCD), so the bolt pattern will be 10 on whatever number you measure up. For instance a regular 1-ton of the same vintage has a BCD of 6.5" and also lugs, which makes it 8 on 6.5" bolt pattern. Makes sense?
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Four paws, Do you know who has done the conversion? I've heard that companies that converted F Superduties for customers used the Dana 70. The F 150, 250, and 350 of that year, used a Borg Warner 1356 transfer case. But as you know, they're driver side drop. They also came with Dana 60's under the front. Your tranny is a ZF S547. Its the 4X4 version, in order to mount the parking brake directly behind the transmission. And, that is my next question. What was done with the tranny mounted parking brake? Was is removed totally, or was it able to be mounted up to the transfer case, and the drive shaft attached to the parking brake?
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