dana 60 front swap?

[zack]

hey guys Im thinking about swapping in a dana 60 front axle from a 79 f 350 into my 72 highboy crewcab. I was wondering if anyone else has done it and what it takes to get it done ......I think the sterring is definately diferent and I think the axle with disk brakes is a little wider than my drum brake axle. is this a major mission or can I do it in a long weekend and use most of my current mannual sterring set up......just because this is my daily driver truck and the current axle in the truck needs tie rods and king pins, seals, etc.etc.etc......and if Im rebuilding a axle I would rather sink money into the dana 60.....the power sterring upgrade will be in the future......I just didnt want to much down time right now.......thanks guys...

[mlheppl]

The first thing is to make sure that the gear ratio is the same as your current ratio. If not you will have to change out the ring & pinion in either the front axle to match yours, or change the ring & pinion on your rear axle to match the gear ratio in the new front axle.

I believe you're right about the steering configuration being different. If possible buy a axle that still has all of the steering linkages and tie rods on it. Not sure if your current setup will swap over without mods (my guess is it won't).

You will need to change out your brake proportioning valve. Your current pv is configured for drum brakes front and rear, you will need one configured for discs on front and drums in the rear. If you don't change this out, the disc brakes will "grab". This would probably be a good time to swap in a power brake booster/master cylinder as well.

I don't know if the overall axle width on a 79 dana 60 is wider than your current dana 44 or not, but I do know that the frame is wider on a 79 than it is on the bumps. This will mean you've got to relocate the spring mounts to match up to your frame.

The 79 dana 60 is a high pinion axle, your dana 44 is a low pinion axle. The front driveshaft will likely have to be modified for length. Someone with more experience on this could give more accurate advice on this, but I believe that the 79 trucks with a dana 60 front had a CV joint on the front driveline to accomodate the high pinion axle. You may have/want to go this route.

I've been contemplating this change myself. When I find the Dana 60 for the right price when AND I've got the money (seems like the 2 never seem to happen at the same time) I'll be doing this swap. Anyways, these are the things I've come up with as the mods needed. Hopes this helps and if I'm wrong on any of this info, please someone correct me.

Mike

[averagef250]

Mike, much of your information is inaccurate.

The 76 and newer Ford F-250 4x4 axles are all 1.5" wider than than the earlier drum brake axles. This translates into 3/4" per side. The spring perches are in exactly the same location, the 78-79 F250 4x4's did not have wider frames in the front. The rear frame was wider, just like the 73-79 2wd trucks. The steering is exactly the same, there is no difference.

The three big differences are shock location, driveline and brakes- you will have to move the shock towers on your frame to match up with the mounts on the 60. The bolt holes are already there in your frame for this. The master cylinder, brake lines and proportioning valve from the 79 are the best way to switch over. The 79 parts will bolt right up. The driveline can be interesting. If you have no lift and an FE with headers the 60 will not fit, there's no way to make it work without going to manifolds or shorty headers. Your front driveline will need shortened by about 2" for the HP axle.

[71PA_Highboy]

Zack,

Com on up to Warren County one weekend and you can help me do mine.. then you will know exactly what is required to do yours...

Eric

[mlheppl]

Dustin, thanks for the correct info.

[zack]

wow dustin , thats really all thats involved? thats great! I thought it would be alot more involved than that. my stock 72 draglink will work ? my truck already has power brakes and it looks like it has a disk brake master cylinder, it has a small compartment in the front and a large one in the back and when I jump on the brakes hard the back brakes lock up, I think someone already changed it......but I will definately look into it and the P- valve.....for me the shock mount fab wont be a problom, I thought I would have a whole lot of fabrication for the stearing, I didnt know they were the same, I d like to keep the mannual stearing for a while till I have all the power stearing parts ready. the truck currently has a great running 6cyl and Im ok with that for now, I have cummins , or fi 460 on the brain but thats later.......I just bought this truck recently.....I will post some pic of it soon I will post some here and on the crew cab pics thread.... I guess its time to gather the parts to rebuild the D60, the gear ratios are the same, and was in a running driving truck, so Im not planning on doing more than a once over and oil change to the diff parts.....but the kingpin/ balljoint will be replaced and brake parts.....
dustin are there any pics posted of your rigs?, they seem to be killer from whats listed in your sig....is that a pic of an early bronco in your avatar? .......thanks for the help I will post updates when they happen , thanks again.

[zack]

Zack,

Com on up to Warren County one weekend and you can help me do mine.. then you will know exactly what is required to do yours...

Eric

hey man that would be great especially since , according to your signature,were cut from the same cloth and all, meaning great minds think alike
I have a 70 fastback,that Ive had since 18, and a 72,wheelin bronco, and a 68 driver, along with all my other junk .....and I do like driving....the mustang might actually make it up to beaver springs dragway this summer, which is close to the middle of our great state!!!!!

[averagef250]

There's a picture of the '71 F-250 4x4 with a 4BT Cummins I recently sold floating around this site somewhere. I'll see if I can find it. My avatar is my best friends '73 Bronco going through a Culvert under a forest service road in the Mt Hood National Forest.

[zack]

Im finally getting around to swapping the front rear and doing the power steering swap can I use a stock 79' f250 draglink with a 79' f250 4x4 box and 79' dana 60???? will the box clear the rad support?? oh and are the bolts that hold the rear in the same as my drum brake crew cab front rear (u bolts?) thanks guys

[wam50ae]

you will have to mod your radiator mount to fit the steering box.oh and i have a 79 dana 60 in my 72 with a FE 390 and headers fits fine

[crewdcab]

You will probably also need the brake hose brackets on the outside of the frame. The hole in the drum bracket is smaller than the disc bracket. I suppose you could just file the hole bigger, but is easier to swap the brackets IMO.