I'm in the process of building a 53 Ford F350 into a tow rig/street rod. I've got a dually C&C 14 bolt in the rear, and now I'm looking for a front axle replacement. The truck will stay 2wd, but I'm looking for a more modern disc braked dually I-beam axle with 8 lugs. So far it seems like some F450's might work, and I think that early C30's had a straight axle. But here in MN, 2wd trucks arn't really common. Any thoughts on other donor vehicles?

oldjeep,

GM 3500HD's that are the 88-98 body style have I beam straight axles.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=86878&item=4506578240&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39410&item=4505081863&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=84152&item=4506821921&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=63739&item=4506836341&rd=1

Thanks, looks like I can get a complete beam with brakes and outters off one of those locally for about $350. Much cheaper than trying to upgrade the original axle.

The GM 3500HD BP is 10-7.25", Early F-450 is the same, late F-450/550 is 8-225mm. Might be simpler to get the rear as well and have matching BP. Another place to look would be Grumman and others in milk truck style van, we have one with 8-6.5" drop I beam but it might be wider than you want.

The GM 3500HD BP is 10-7.25", Early F-450 is the same, late F-450/550 is 8-225mm. Might be simpler to get the rear as well and have matching BP. Another place to look would be Grumman and others in milk truck style van, we have one with 8-6.5" drop I beam but it might be wider than you want.


Looking at the pictures in the ebay auctions I should have noticed that.

Guess I need to check out the truck yard in person and do some looking. Any idea on the width of the milk truck axle? I need something standard dually front axle width 74-75". I've already got a 14 bolt rear and a full set of wheels, so I need to stick with the 8 lug pattern.

I think it would be close, the body is 82" wide and the front wheel hubs stick in ~3" from the body. I am out of town due to some training and won't be back to the shop until Dec. 3 so this is the best I can do for now.

2wd dodge HD's have basically what your looking for.

I'm quite sure the GM I-beam hubs/rotors are 8-lug after you take off the hub extension. ;)

I'm quite sure the GM I-beam hubs/rotors are 8-lug after you take off the hub extension. ;)


You would be the man that knows this as my GM experience is limited, even more so if it is 2wd. How long are the extensions then as oldjeep seems to want 74-75"? Can the 1Ton adapters bolt on the 3500HD axle then?

Well... here's the GM I-beam rotor:
http://198.208.187.182/servlet/com.entigo.acdelcocatalog.servlet.ProcessImageServ let?languagecd=EN&countrycd=US&user=InternetUser&mfgname=ACDELCO&prodlinecd=14&acpartnbr=18A274

Some of the UPS vans around here run the I-beam and 8-lug 19.5" SRW type wheels. Could there be an inner bearing hub, and an outer extension? Does a 1-ton 2wd rotor fit on the same spindle? :confused:

If its the 2-piece hub, my guess is you could replace it with a 8-lug DRW extension from an old drum-brake dually, or get them from a 88-up IFS 4x4 1-ton.

Come to think of it... I seem to remember the 88-98 F-450 is an 8-lug rotor too. I'm not entirely sure if it works out to a proper bolt pattern or not.

Isuzu NPR's have them

If you wanted to hassle with the twin I beam look at the mid seventy ford 3/4 ton and up