axle swap or just brake parts for disc brake conversion?

[bike5087]

I recently picked up a 4wd 73 f250 to swap under my 68 2wd f250.

The 73 has the closed knuckle Dana 44 front end with drum brakes. From what I've read on these forums, if I want to do an axle swap to get the disc brakes I need to look for a 1976 or 1977 dana 44 with discs?

Couple of questions - does the 76 or 77 have closed knuckle? Can I just grab every conceivable brake part from the knuckles out to do the swap?

Will newer axles (say 78 or 79) swap easily?

Thanks!

[averagef250]

I recently picked up a 4wd 73 f250 to swap under my 68 2wd f250.

The 73 has the closed knuckle Dana 44 front end with drum brakes. From what I've read on these forums, if I want to do an axle swap to get the disc brakes I need to look for a 1976 or 1977 dana 44 with discs?

76-79

Couple of questions - does the 76 or 77 have closed knuckle? Can I just grab every conceivable brake part from the knuckles out to do the swap?

no

Will newer axles (say 78 or 79) swap easily?

yes
Thanks!

[bike5087]

How about the different pinions? Mine is a low pinion. Will the driveshaft from a truck with a low pinion axle hook up to a high pinion 44 without modification?

[averagef250]

nope

[bike5087]

So... Can I make a high pinion work somehow? Or do I really need to search for a low pinion Dana 44 with discs to make this swap work?

[averagef250]

You certainly can run a later high pinion disc brake axle under your highboy, but the driveshaft length will be different.

The only real issue with a HP front axle under a highboy is if the truck doesn't have atleast 4" front lift springs longtube headers on an FE engine will not clear the pinion/driveshaft. I'd rate decent longtube headers higher up the need list than a HP axle, but with a lift everything is just peachy, lots of room for anything.

[bike5087]

I think having disc brakes on a truck that will be loaded for close to 50% of the time I am using it is a real plus, so my goal is to figure out the least expensive and easiest way to get disc brakes under this thing. I'm not interested in lifting this truck.
If I do end up having to put a high pinion front axle under it, will I need to have a drive shaft custom made - or are there donor trucks out there with high pinion axles and divorced T-cases? I sincerely appreciate all the responses!

[Tpdaniels]

I think having disc brakes on a truck that will be loaded for close to 50% of the time I am using it is a real plus, so my goal is to figure out the least expensive and easiest way to get disc brakes under this thing. I'm not interested in lifting this truck.
If I do end up having to put a high pinion front axle under it, will I need to have a drive shaft custom made - or are there donor trucks out there with high pinion axles and divorced T-cases? I sincerely appreciate all the responses!

You can "MAKE" anything work, Here is a disc kit for the dana 44 closed knuckle axle, but the cost is $535 just for the kit.

http://www.blackbirdscustomtrucks.com/i ... l#balldisc

But the 76 to 771/2 F250 4WD is the best option, it has a drivers side low pinion, open knuckle, disc brakes and is a direct bolt in for the 67-72 "Highboys" with a few small changes. New flex brake lines to bolt to the calibers and proportioning valve to have the correct pressure between the front and rear brakes. they are not hard to find if you look at the right places. I saw three of them at my local 4WD center last week, one was complete and the other two had the hubs and rotors missing, of course I bought the complete one to put in my 72. A 78 high pinion will work with the same changes plus you just have to shorten the drive-shaft several inches and it will work fine.

[bike5087]

Thanks for the replies - have a lot to do before I get to the axle swap, but I can start looking for one now!

[Doug Comer]

Don't know weather I was wrong or right, but I ran my 44HP for years with no front driveline modification. I did shorten it when I changed to the 60HP.
Doug