converting EB D44 to 8 lug

[Jeffh555]

my friend is swapping a narrowed D60 in the rear of his EB and we have decided that it would probably be easier to convert the front D44 to 8 lug than the D60 to 5 lug. i thaught i remebered something about just bolting on everything from the nuckles out off of a 3/4 ton D44. will this work? what will work?
thanks,
Jeff

[broncoboy]

yeah thats all you got to do, use chevy stuff, its better <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"> OPPS did i just say that
pat

[cobo9]

well your only going to be able to find chevy stuff
nobody lets the ford shit sit around they all take it
but all that 8 lug shit is compatible from ford and chevy

[Jeffh555]

thanks... i know chevy stuff is better <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"> , but why? and by how much? the local PnPs dont have a huge selection of trucks.

[patooyee]

I just finished buying new parts to do this to my Chevy d44. After looking for them in yards for over a year, I could find none. You can use 3/4 ton Chevy 10-bolt stuff, too. It's all interchangeable. I can give you parts numbers if you'd like.

J. J.

[cobo9]

what i meant was the reason there is never a ford rearend (one ton sterling etc) or motors laying around, is because everybody wants it. then you see the chevy shit sitting around and you have no choice. so i disagree that chevy is better. both ford and chevy components will work for what you are doing.

well no chevy stuff isn't better. I actually think ford is better but their axles are on the wrong side. if you do find a ford front end 44 8 lug immediately pull the knuckles and everything outwards off.

so i hope that clears it up and yes the chevy 10 bolt stuff is compatible with 44 stuff but the pass knuckle is not flat top. you should be able to keep your knuckles from your existing set up

[ 08-05-2001: Message edited by: cobo9 ]

[patooyee]

As far as who's stuff is better when talking about front d44's, there's no difference. Most of the stuff is made by the same manufacturer with the same materials. I think it's stupid to argue over who's is better when it's the same thing.

[bogger]

got me curious here then, whats the outers off a dana 44 hd 8 lug worth? cause i can get a couple of thease axles, if the parts will sell good enough, i'll get em. both are disk brake. 77's, one is highboy, the other is late 77

[patooyee]

I've seen them go for around $250. I know RockJeep is looking for some right now.

J. J.

[bogger]

hey, cool, thanks, i may have to look into this more, as in getting thease axles for the 8 lug stuff

[bogger]

another question, are the steering link mounts higher on the f-250 knuckels? i dont remember, and if so, can the 8 lugs knuckels be ran with the factory, say 77 bronco spindles (same bolt pattern?) and the eb brakes and stub shaft?

[Abba]

There is a difference on the spindel, the Ford spindels are thinner than the Chevy spindels. The high pinion axel was a good idea, but it was not built by Ford. The front 60 is built a lot weaker on a Ford than a Chevy, and how do you figure a Ford is better, most all rigs up in the hills run chevys. But since you are in the Ford section you are right. I am happy running Chevy shit under my Scout. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

[emsoffroad]

Using the chevey stuff is just easier. you don't have to knock the balljoints apart. all you have to do is bolt the spindle and backing plate on install the hub/rotor and forget the outer snapring on the axle. or you can swap the chevy stub axle.