convert 1983 f-150 IFS to solid axle
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convert 1983 f-150 IFS to solid axle
Hey, I have a 1983 F-150 with IFS, which stinks. I have nothing but trouble with the bolts loosening and tires bowing so I want to make it a solid axle. I was thinking about getting a solid 44 from a 70's F-150 but I want something stronger. I want to put 40'' boggers on the truck and a 44 wont last long. Right now I have 33's with a 4-6'' lift. I am wondering if anyone knows of an axle or a company that has an axle that will work under my truck. The truck has a 460ci motor which has a lot of power to blow most small axles. I also want to keep the coil springs too. If any ideas or company's known it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Andy
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From: House Springs, MO
Then you'll be wanting a dana 60. Only problem is that they never came from Ford as a coil sprung option. You'll either have to make it a coil spring axle, change over your current setup to a leaf sprung system, or get a late-model dodge D60. The pumpkin is on the correct side from Dodge, plus from the new style, they're all coil spring. But you'll still have issues with that, because Dodge uses a 4-link type setup for the front, as opposed to Ford's usage of a single trac arm on each side.
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i had an 83 F250 with IFS, with leaf springs. I searched the junk yards for ever and finally had to use a 75 F250 (Dana 44) front axle. Had to change the spring perges if i remember out like an inch. But anywho i know dana 60s are too exspensive. I paid 100 bucks for the 44. WHen i was looking for the 60 it was like 300-500 thats insane but i was on a budget lol. You do have leaf spring front IFS right?
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1983 IFS to solid axle
Right now I have coil springs with the IFS. I would like to keep them coil but if it's not possible I guess I will have to change it to leaf. I wouldn't know what leaf spring to put on it either though. I'm not sure only a 44 would b strong enough. Most people say I could only put tires up to 35's and I don't want too much stress because i'm building up my 460 that's in it and I don't want to break anything that I just put in. Thanks, Andy
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From: Reed Point, MT
Originally Posted by GTBksRule
I'm not sure only a 44 would b strong enough. Most people say I could only put tires up to 35's and I don't want too much stress because i'm building up my 460 that's in it and I don't want to break anything that I just put in. Thanks, Andy
This is related, but only sort of......
A good friend of mine has an 89 Chevy that he put a '78 Ford 3/4 ton D44 in because he didn't want to deal with the IFS in the mud bogs. That's what he uses it for. Mud bogging. I guess he's had it like that for 4 years now. That's not too special until you hear about the power he's putting through it with NO PROBLEMS...anymore
. Up until this year he's run a 454/TH440/NP205 with 250 HP worth of nitrous. He found the weak links (spider gears/factory axleshafts/case spreading) and fixed 'em. This past winter/spring, he redid the engine....8-71 Blown 489 (4.25" stroke 454) w/Merlin heads, full roller, and 2 Holley Pro-jections. Desktop Dyno 2000 says roughly 750 HP. He found the last of the weak links and he has NO TROUBLE with 39" Boggers, 4.10 gears, chromoly axleshafts, stronger diff. cover (case separation), front spool (because of weak spider gears), and OX brand knuckle joints. I am a huge believer in saving money by beefing a D44 (for mud, not rocks) than spending $1000+ dollars on a D60. YOU CAN MAKE ONE LIVE!!!Cody
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Originally Posted by cleatus12r
This is related, but only sort of......
A good friend of mine has an 89 Chevy that he put a '78 Ford 3/4 ton D44 in because he didn't want to deal with the IFS in the mud bogs. That's what he uses it for. Mud bogging. I guess he's had it like that for 4 years now. That's not too special until you hear about the power he's putting through it with NO PROBLEMS...anymore . Up until this year he's run a 454/TH440/NP205 with 250 HP worth of nitrous. He found the weak links (spider gears/factory axleshafts/case spreading) and fixed 'em. This past winter/spring, he redid the engine....8-71 Blown 489 (4.25" stroke 454) w/Merlin heads, full roller, and 2 Holley Pro-jections. Desktop Dyno 2000 says roughly 750 HP. He found the last of the weak links and he has NO TROUBLE with 39" Boggers, 4.10 gears, chromoly axleshafts, stronger diff. cover (case separation), front spool (because of weak spider gears), and OX brand knuckle joints. I am a huge believer in saving money by beefing a D44 (for mud, not rocks) than spending $1000+ dollars on a D60. YOU CAN MAKE ONE LIVE!!!
Cody
A good friend of mine has an 89 Chevy that he put a '78 Ford 3/4 ton D44 in because he didn't want to deal with the IFS in the mud bogs. That's what he uses it for. Mud bogging. I guess he's had it like that for 4 years now. That's not too special until you hear about the power he's putting through it with NO PROBLEMS...anymore
. Up until this year he's run a 454/TH440/NP205 with 250 HP worth of nitrous. He found the weak links (spider gears/factory axleshafts/case spreading) and fixed 'em. This past winter/spring, he redid the engine....8-71 Blown 489 (4.25" stroke 454) w/Merlin heads, full roller, and 2 Holley Pro-jections. Desktop Dyno 2000 says roughly 750 HP. He found the last of the weak links and he has NO TROUBLE with 39" Boggers, 4.10 gears, chromoly axleshafts, stronger diff. cover (case separation), front spool (because of weak spider gears), and OX brand knuckle joints. I am a huge believer in saving money by beefing a D44 (for mud, not rocks) than spending $1000+ dollars on a D60. YOU CAN MAKE ONE LIVE!!!Cody
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gtbksrule sorry this is off topic but i have just received a '83 f150 that had 302 in it (has nothing now). I would like to put a 460 in it, if you know what i have to do or if you put yours in yourself , could you please help?
plz email
i am also interested on any more ifo you may hod gotten ahold on tha axle swap i will probly want to the same thing
thx in advance
plz email
i am also interested on any more ifo you may hod gotten ahold on tha axle swap i will probly want to the same thing
thx in advance
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