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Solid Axle Swap

BigBlueChevy said:
hahaha thanks guys. Yeah shes in need of some new rubber alright. But I gotta level out the rear first, that way it doesn't look stupider. Just waiting on Alcan really, by then Tax Returns should be in and done and hello lifted Chevy with wheels and tires!

Hey Clarky so you know ORD makes a bolt on swap kit for the 02 trucks. Its expensive($1000), but IMHO its worth it. Biggest pain was ligning everything up and figguring out how I was going to do things. As is I'm going to end up redoing the front leaf spring mounts and making a bracket/brace to go in place VS the tongues I just welded to the frame. If I did it again, I'd probably go with the ORD kit, its very nice :D
Click to expand...

Great thanks for the info... I will check it out...
 
Well I found out why big blue leans on the drivers side about 2" more than the passengers. At first I was blaming the front leafs figuring that the drivers leaf was weaker than the passenger side and would either need replacing(just an excuse to get those orbit eye leafs from Alcan:D) . Oddly enough its NOT the front! I ended up hitting a really bad pothole on the way home from work that basically killed what was left of my front drivers tire. Swapped it out when I got home with my spare and now have 2 tart tires in the back :eek:.

Thats when I discovered that my drivers REAR side is sitting about 4" lower than the passenger side! Go figure, the junkyard leafs hold up and do fine, but my rear leaf is shot! Now I'm really looking forward to the Alcan's :D
 
Looks great Jamie! But like was said previously, time for some new wheels and tires. Got to fill out the wheel wells.
 
I am thinking of doing this to my '05. I need all new steering components to the tune of $700 for parts just for the IFS POS. Do you have any pics of your spring hangers or is it possible to make them using the donors parts?
 
Golddigger said:
I am thinking of doing this to my '05. I need all new steering components to the tune of $700 for parts just for the IFS POS. Do you have any pics of your spring hangers or is it possible to make them using the donors parts?
Click to expand...

with your '05 I would go coil sprung and not use anything less that a D60, I might even try to find an 8.8 from a Superduty (a little stronger that A D60) (I assume 05 still has a driver drop T-case?)..... or build the hell out of a D44 and be real nice to it in 4Lo....
 
Anubis said:
with your '05 I would go coil sprung and not use anything less that a D60, I might even try to find an 8.8 from a Superduty (a little stronger that A D60) (I assume 05 still has a driver drop T-case?)..... or build the hell out of a D44 and be real nice to it in 4Lo....
Click to expand...


Whats an 8.8?
 
Anubis said:
the Ford 8.8 is used as straight axle for the Superduty.

its the the rear axle for F-150 and big broncos from 86 - 96.
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The only two axles used in the SuperDutys on the front is the dana 50 and the dana 60 They stopped the 50 in 03 I think on even the 250's and all used the 60. Going back even to the TTB front setup on the F series 250's and the 85 350 was a dana 50 just setup in the TTB housing.
 
I beg to differ ...... my uncles 2001 F250 has an 8.8 in the front.... I have replace the ring gear. and the Dana 50 was never avail on the super duty..... D50 has always been a TTB axle.

the Pre-98 F series is not a super duty. and the F-superduty was a 2wd...... D60 was the only axle used on the F350 from 1980 to 1999..... i have never seen an F350 with a TTB unless somebody was dumb enough to swap one it.


I just went and looked it up, the D50 was indeed used on the F350 from 1980 -1985...... and richmond gear lists a locker for the D50 used on F-250 from 1998-2000....... (don't know why they would do this, a straight axle D50 would be the same as a Dana 60)

the 8.8 front axle was used on the 5.4L powered F150 and LD F250..... and on the 5.4L F 250 super duty. the V10 and 7.3L got the D60...... hhmmm .... thats interesting ..... I have never broken and 8.8, always thought they were stronger that a D60..... I have broken a few Dana 60s.


still .... the 8.8 is stronger that the D44 HD. I would not use a D44 HD on a 2005 unless you got the smallest gas engine avail for it.
 
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Anubis said:
I beg to differ ...... my uncles 2001 F250 has an 8.8 in the front.... I have replace the ring gear. and the Dana 50 was never avail on the super duty..... D50 has always been a TTB axle.

the Pre-98 F series is not a super duty. and the F-superduty was a 2wd...... D60 was the only axle used on the F350 from 1980 to 1999..... i have never seen an F350 with a TTB unless somebody was dumb enough to swap one it.


I just went and looked it up, the D50 was indeed used on the F350 from 1980 -1985...... and richmond gear lists a locker for the D50 used on F-250 from 1998-2000....... (don't know why they would do this, a straight axle D50 would be the same as a Dana 60)

the 8.8 front axle was used on the 5.4L powered F150 and LD F250..... and on the 5.4L F 250 super duty. the V10 and 7.3L got the D60...... hhmmm .... thats interesting ..... I have never broken and 8.8, always thought they were stronger that a D60..... I have broken a few Dana 60s.


still .... the 8.8 is stronger that the D44 HD. I would not use a D44 HD on a 2005 unless you got the smallest gas engine avail for it.
Click to expand...


The 8.8 was only offered as an IFS front diff on the LD trucks. It was never offered on the superduty trucks as a solid front axle.
For the 99 model year the dana 50 solid axle was used in the F250 and some single wheel F350's. In 2001 or 2003 they stopped using the dana 50 solid axle completely.
Comparing the 8.8 and the 44hd is impossible as the 8.8 was IFS and the 44hd was a solid setup.
 
All useful information up above. But the reason that so many of us GM guys go with the older style SFA's is because of the bolt pattern. 8X6.5" is what we need. The 77.5 to 79 Dana 44HD and Dana 60 both have that bolt pattern. Other years have it too(mainly Fords) but that's the reason this type of axle is chosen. There is no need to switch out steering knuckles, spindles, and whatnot, its almost a "direct bolt on"

On a better note. Jason from Alcan Leaf Springs called me back today. My overly large, and rather heavy custom built leaf springs are being shipped from there shop in Colorado. ETA is mid to late ext week via UPS. The customer service was outstanding. They hooked me up with the greasable Poly bushings(not el cheapo factory rubber), lots of grease, the hardware, and the U bolts I need to bolt everything up. If all works as its supposed to, it should be as simple as removing the old stockers and replacing it with the Alcan's.

I'll be sure to do a nice writeup / review on them.
 
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