Highboy question?
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Freshman User
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From: Boone Iowa
Highboy question?
I have a 74 f250 that i did the power steering swap on 2 weeks ago with a 78 steering box works great! But today i bought a 77 f250 for parts that has the power assist on it that works and it has the Dana 60 front and rear and has front disk brakes can i use the front axle out of the 77 in my 74? or would u guys use the 74 body and put it on the 77?
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: So. St Paul, Mn
I have a D44 out of a 77 highboy under my 74. I bought it that way. seems to work great! I've been looking for all the power assist parts. my 74 doesn't have power steering and i just bought a snow plow for it! how hard was it to install that 78 steering box?
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Freshman User
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From: Boone Iowa
It was not that bad to do the swap I just did alot of reading on here how to do it! Lot of cutting welding and grinding. I have the power assist stuff that i took off, but think it needs rebuilt?
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Freshman User
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From: Boone Iowa
I only had it hooked up once and if i remember right it was leaking but dont remember where from this was like 10 years ago that i had it hooked up been armstrong steering till i did conversion!
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Freshman User
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From: Boone Iowa
Well i am a little confused the axle dosent look any bigger than my 44 but it has the big lock outs and it looks like a low pinion cause it looks like it comes straight out and not angled up? did any of the 44s have bigger lock outs?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: West Virginia
HD D44's had the 8 lug hubs and I'm not 100% sure but I think the hubs were slightly larger on the 8 lug than the 5 lug but I couldn't tell you... I'm at work and can't measure em.
High or low pinion refers to where the driveshaft enters the differential at. Low pinions enter the bottom of the pumpkin, closer to the ground. High pinion enter towards the top of the pumpkin, closer to the chassis. They look quite different.
You may run into front axle issues if you try to use the low pinion axle with a married transfer case.
Additionally, the high boys had narrower frames than the non highboy trucks so the spring perches will not be in the correct locations for a non highboy....
Does this answer your questions? I wasn't sure exactly what youre aiming to do.
High or low pinion refers to where the driveshaft enters the differential at. Low pinions enter the bottom of the pumpkin, closer to the ground. High pinion enter towards the top of the pumpkin, closer to the chassis. They look quite different.
You may run into front axle issues if you try to use the low pinion axle with a married transfer case.
Additionally, the high boys had narrower frames than the non highboy trucks so the spring perches will not be in the correct locations for a non highboy....
Does this answer your questions? I wasn't sure exactly what youre aiming to do.
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Post Fiend
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Frame width for all 73 to 79 f series trucks were identical in the front. Spring perch spacing is the same for all of these front axles. Only the 73 to 77 (actually earlier too) F250's had a narrower rear section of frame, not the front though.
As far as a large hub, this is probably the number one biggest mistake made when folks get excited about finding a Dana 60.
Large external hubs were found in low pinion closed and open knuckle dana 44's:
That is a Dana 44.
Using hub diameter as an identifier can be a little mis leading, and many have made this small error.
As far as a large hub, this is probably the number one biggest mistake made when folks get excited about finding a Dana 60.
Large external hubs were found in low pinion closed and open knuckle dana 44's:
That is a Dana 44.
Using hub diameter as an identifier can be a little mis leading, and many have made this small error.
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From: Boone Iowa
They both have the divorced transfer cases so i am guessing that the 77 is the low pinion angle it was built in 1/77 and i think that they swithed in march of 77 but not sure? the axle code on the door is 24 j but dont know if there is a place on this site do do axle search with these numbers that are on the door or not i will try to get some pics loaded so it will help so u guys understand what i am trying get guestions answered thanks in advance.
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From: Boone Iowa
That is what it looks like only the **** is blue and it says spicer not ford. So i should just match the gears 4.09 to my 4.10s? and for the disk brakes use the proportioning valve off of the 77? thanks for posting a picture for me
Lead Driver
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From: West Virginia
Thank you for correcting me about the front frame width. Brain fart.
If they have divorced transfer cases than they came from the factory with low pinion axles. I'm pretty sure about that. But as for whats under them now, there is no sayin for sure without double checking. A lot of people swap parts on these older trucks. 1/77 and divorced transfer case should equal high boy.
My 77 lowboy has the HD44 and looks just like the one '78 posted, with red *****.
Yes for disk brakes keep the proportioning valve off the vehicle donating the disks.
If they have divorced transfer cases than they came from the factory with low pinion axles. I'm pretty sure about that. But as for whats under them now, there is no sayin for sure without double checking. A lot of people swap parts on these older trucks. 1/77 and divorced transfer case should equal high boy.
My 77 lowboy has the HD44 and looks just like the one '78 posted, with red *****.
Yes for disk brakes keep the proportioning valve off the vehicle donating the disks.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 11
From: West Virginia
Oh and by the way, I got a rear dana70 off a 79 F350 2wd and it is the same width as the high boy frames in the rear. Just a random fact.
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