Notices
Offroad & 4x4
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Tossin around idea of 2 1/2 ton rockwells

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 24, 2009 | 08:45 AM
  #1  
hav24wheel's Avatar
hav24wheel
Thread Starter
|
FTE Chapter Leader
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,273
Likes: 100
From: North Dakota
Club FTE Silver Member

Tossin around idea of 2 1/2 ton rockwells

I've been thinking about getting a set of 2 1/2 ton rockwells to put under my pickup. But im wondering how much stronger in stock form are they them what i have. I know there are HUGE shafts for rockwells, but spendy. so running the stock shafts what could i expect with my 44s? i already located wheel centers to run my 15 inch wheels and getting them under the rig is not a problem. Right now i have a D60 front 35 spline shafts with drive flanges, rear 10.25 stock shafts.
 
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2009 | 10:34 PM
  #2  
Dave Sponaugle's Avatar
Dave Sponaugle
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Club FTE Silver Member

With 6.72 gears in the Rockwell's, your stock drive shafts will be fine.

You will break an axle shaft before you loose a drive shaft.
 
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2009 | 12:22 AM
  #3  
Prozon's Avatar
Prozon
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,092
Likes: 0
From: Olympia
Originally Posted by Dave Sponaugle
With 6.72 gears in the Rockwell's, your stock drive shafts will be fine.

You will break an axle shaft before you loose a drive shaft.
....are you sure? That just doesn't sound right.


But i'm all for the idea of rockwells. That is, if you're breaking stuff with your D60. Otherwise, whats the point?
 
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2009 | 06:48 AM
  #4  
hav24wheel's Avatar
hav24wheel
Thread Starter
|
FTE Chapter Leader
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,273
Likes: 100
From: North Dakota
Club FTE Silver Member

Well so far in my D60 I have broke one stock 30 spline outer and one 35 spline outer. Alond with a couple lockouts, and most recently a ring and pinion.

I have never worried about the driveshafts in the first place. I'm runnin 1410 joints in the rear and little 1330s in the front. I'm wonderin if the stock rockwell shafts would hold up. (The ujoint style) I wouldn't want to go through the trouble and cost of puttin rocks in, than have to turn around and spend $1000 some on some new shafts.
 
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2009 | 10:57 AM
  #5  
RawPower's Avatar
RawPower
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 0
From: Rep. of Texas
The rock shafts are going to be stronger than what you are running.

A D60 w/ high spline made of some unobtanium will definitely be stronger than stock rockwells. But stock to stock, rocks are going to be way better than a D60. I've literally tried to break my shafts to no avail. I'm not running 500+ hp though (yet).

You won't break a ring and pinion. A couple people have though.

Dave S. is right, your rock shafts will go before your D-shafts. You can use your current D-shafts since you have 1410's on the axle end, some companies make 1410 flanges for rocks.
 
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2009 | 11:12 AM
  #6  
hav24wheel's Avatar
hav24wheel
Thread Starter
|
FTE Chapter Leader
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,273
Likes: 100
From: North Dakota
Club FTE Silver Member

Well if the shafts in the rocks are stronger than what i have, than i'm going to keep an eye out for a set of rocks, in my area i've seen then sell for as little as $500 for a front and rear. than i'll just keep my D60 and 10.25 for another project down the road.. the only thing i dont like is that i would have to lift the front of the pickup higher to clear the front of the oil pan, or cut out a crossmember and have the front axle closser to the fromt of the pickup. I already found some wheel centers to run my wheels i have and i could get the overall width of the pickup about the same as it is now.. Also i think i worded the joint size wrong.. the rear Dshaft has 1410s at both ends, the front Dshaft has 1330s at both ends.. I would like the little lower gearing that the rocks would give me vs. my 5.38s i have now too.
The reason i asked about the rocks shaft strength in the first place is a friend of mine had a bobbed 2 1/2 ton that broke one rear shaft and 2 fronts within a month of each other. i thought they broke rather easy..
 
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2009 | 12:12 PM
  #7  
RawPower's Avatar
RawPower
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 0
From: Rep. of Texas
Originally Posted by hav24wheel
the only thing i dont like is that i would have to lift the front of the pickup higher to clear the front of the oil pan, or cut out a crossmember and have the front axle closser to the fromt of the pickup.
Well you could just notch the engine crossmember or cut it out and make your own side mounts leaving the oil pan exposed, then put a crossmember up front.

Originally Posted by hav24wheel
Also i think i worded the joint size wrong.. the rear Dshaft has 1410s at both ends, the front Dshaft has 1330s at both ends.. I would like the little lower gearing that the rocks would give me vs. my 5.38s i have now too.
You can still run the front shaft too, if you can find a b_astard joint 1330/1410

Originally Posted by hav24wheel
The reason i asked about the rocks shaft strength in the first place is a friend of mine had a bobbed 2 1/2 ton that broke one rear shaft and 2 fronts within a month of each other. i thought they broke rather easy..
Bobbed as in his front and rear are bobbed, or as in he narrowed the axles?
 
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2009 | 12:35 PM
  #8  
hav24wheel's Avatar
hav24wheel
Thread Starter
|
FTE Chapter Leader
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,273
Likes: 100
From: North Dakota
Club FTE Silver Member

Originally Posted by RawPower
Well you could just notch the engine crossmember or cut it out and make your own side mounts leaving the oil pan exposed, then put a crossmember up front.


You can still run the front shaft too, if you can find a b_astard joint 1330/1410


Bobbed as in his front and rear are bobbed, or as in he narrowed the axles?
Well the front crossmember on mine is not under the oil pan, i have a 78 frame under my 92 body. its in front of the engine.. but yes i could remake it into something to clear.

by bobbed i mean he took a 6x6 and cut the back off and made it into a 4x4. wheelbase about 135-140 inches.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 25, 2009 | 11:26 PM
  #9  
Dave Sponaugle's Avatar
Dave Sponaugle
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Club FTE Silver Member



Running 99 Stroke drive shafts with 1410 U joints.

If you have a 205 transfer case you need 1410 flanges for it, can't remember what he said they cost.

His Rockwells came with 1410 flanges on them.

First time out with the 390 power plant, slightly modded, right rear axle shaft.

All of the mud guys here run together, and between them they carry several axle shafts (front and rear) and the tools to change them.
Don't forget the broom handle, pull the opposite axle shaft and push the inner broken piece out with the broom handle.

40 minutes and they have it running again.
 
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 02:33 PM
  #10  
etldak's Avatar
etldak
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: HAMPTON
I built a 98 chevy with those axles had to get a shafts built for it. the stock one kept snaping I had a 402 30 over and a richmond 6 speed and a dorvored t-case 52" tractor tires top speed 55 67 down hill. never ran in mud i lived in northern pa then and did alot of rock crawing.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Kirbys73F100
Offroad & 4x4
102
Nov 17, 2014 09:41 PM
ty_mock
New Member Introductions
2
Feb 21, 2014 02:16 PM
parkerparkerm
Clutch, Transmission, Differential, Axle & Transfer Case
0
Mar 9, 2013 08:21 PM
Prozon
Offroad & 4x4
15
Feb 15, 2009 03:03 AM
rbloodhound
Offroad & 4x4
51
Jun 13, 2007 10:55 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:27 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE