hey guys,

Well im tossing a few ideas together. Either d30 it for now, or just wait and d44 it and be done. I will mist likely do the later

Were the 70's f250's or 150's leaf spring?

Does anyone know what b/s they are running with a FW axle?

and is there any possibility to run 15's or will i be selling my tires and getting new ones?

Thanks guys

 

78-79 f250's used a Leaf sprung HP D44, with some F250's using the D60.

F150's of the same era are coil sprung, with cast radius arm wedges.

15" wheels will fit over the 1/2 ton brakes but wont fit on the 3/4 ton F250 stuff.

 

My '77 250 HiBoy has leaf springs. D44 front and D60 rear.

 

yeah i figured the issue with the brakes for the 250's. Now, is that as simple as a hub change, to get the smaller bolt pattern and brakes. Im pricing out some 37x12.5 mtr's but i do love my toyos and since they are virtually new and are pretty much 36's!

so i guess its either get a 150 axle and deal with cast wedges or get a 250 axle and get new rim/tire combo.

Has anyone on here setup a 70's 1/2 ton d44 with leafs? or do the wedges get in the way?

 

any D44 outers will fit the F250 axle. You can run F150 (5 lug smaller brakes) on the F250 Leaf sprung D44 and get the best of both worlds.

 

I know in 1976 Ford was still using the Closed knuckle LP D44 in the F250's, and that in 1978 they switched to the open knuckle HP I mentioned above. Is your 77 closed or open knuckle?

 

what is closed and open?

I think ill run the f250 axle with the 150 outers. Does that mean i have to change the outer axle shafts and everything?

 

closed Knuckle:


Open Knuckle:


To run the F150 outers, you need to get everything from the F150 axle except the housing and inner axle shafts.

You need everything from the Balljoints out and the outer stub shaft.

 

yes, outer axle shafts will need to be changed.

i am running a f150 housing and f250 outers.

i had all the parts you are looking for, but gave them to a buddy. he still has not used them so maybe he will sell them to you? contact Big04ranger

 

77s are a split year. Some 76s are different too.

late 76s were drums but they have high pinion and the big old red hubs like mine.

early 77 has disc brakes and the big red hubs, also high pinion.

77.5 is the smaller hubs and different brakes. they are high pinion.

 

Well i found a 78 f250 axle. yay!!!

Does anyone know what the width is compared to an explorer rear end? I JUST put 4.56's in my rear so id have to either keep that axle, get an f150 8.8 and swap my gears or just sel the axle ans make some coin off it. hmm, decisions decisions.

Zach, I'll definately email big04 thank you!

Unfortunatley the axle already has a flat top knuckle. so now i have to make a decision, go with the 250 bolt pattern and high-steer or 150 bolt pattern and non hi-steer.

is there any way to keep the 250 knucles and change to 5 on 5.5?

 

not that i know of but reid racing makes f150 knuckles that are high steer and 5on5.5

width difference is the f250 D44 is 65.5" WMS to WMS explorer is like 60.5"

 

5" is all? I thought it was more like 7. Thats not bad at all. Thanks Zach!

 

I think instead of new knuckles i may just get these. But i thought you can mill and drill f150 knuckles?

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Dana-44-D44-Ford-...QQcmdZViewItem

 

you are not supposed to mill and drill f150 knuckles, the thickness on the top is not thick enough to support high steer.

 

I didnt think so. So I would have to get after market knuckles? Or is there any other way to get hi-steer with 5 on 5.5 BP?

 

aftermarket. there is one other way...

get some chevy knuckles that are flat tops, have them milled and drilled, then use the small bearing and the ford hub, this will allow you to have the 5on5.5 with ford rotors and calipers.

 

oh okay, so you can use the chevy spindle and knuckle and just bolt the ford hub with it? Will the ford calipers bolt onto the chevy caliper bracket?

 

I am not 100% sure, there are a few threads on here that tell you exactly what it takes. Edge_Wannabe started a thread about that redranger4.0, zainyD, and myself posted in and it talked about it. take a look for it

 

not to hijack but i need some help on identifying an axle.
at the junk yard there is a f-150 ranger with a leaf spring 8 lug front axle. no door so i cant see the year. any idea what the heck it is? cause im lost.
f-150 should be coil so i'd say its a 250, but it clearly says f-150 on the side.

 

look at hte pumpkin, does it resemble yours? or larger? what year?

 

is it a supercab? It could be an f150 s/c with leafs..

 

I would guess that the 150 ranger package got the D44 HD with the 8 lug knuckles, otherwise its a D60... if you want get the BOM number off the long tube and post it up and we can tell you exactly what it is.

 

^^k. i should be going back soon cause i need another OHC. mine stoped working. ill try and get that # or at least a little more detail

not sure on the year zach

 

i went back today. here is the tag on the diff cover

50D8YA-AA
610048-1


does that mean anything?

and i was wrong before.
it is a 79 ranger f-150 with 5 lugs and leaf springs.
pumpkin looks like a 44 (same size as mine)