Sinking Creek 4WD Association

Just curious to see how much of a pain it will be to swap in a Dana 60 of the same generation truck. I picked up a '91 F-250 and the TTB is shot and I don't feel like fooling with it. It would be worth it to me to buy a Dana 60 and not have to deal with the TTB. I was just checking to see how bad its going to be. Grubb, I'm hoping you'll chime in 'cause I know you've at least thought about doing this to your truck.

Oh yeah, this is going to end up being my tow rig for a while.

Adam,

Everything I have heard about that generation of Fords, a solid axle is a bolt in. Spring pad width is the same, and I think even the shocks line up just fine. You might need to cut out some of the TTB brackets.

Why not stick with the TTB if you are using just for towing purposes? Tire wear is questionable with heavy loads, but it will ride a bit better.

I do know however you seem to have a special place in your heart for rough riding solid axle trucks.

You'll need to remove all of the TTB brackets and modify/replace the engine cross member. The member hangs down lower than the F350 piece to accommodate mounting the TTB.

jac6695 wrote:Adam,

Everything I have heard about that generation of Fords, a solid axle is a bolt in. Spring pad width is the same, and I think even the shocks line up just fine. You might need to cut out some of the TTB brackets.

Why not stick with the TTB if you are using just for towing purposes? Tire wear is questionable with heavy loads, but it will ride a bit better.

I do know however you seem to have a special place in your heart for rough riding solid axle trucks.

Yeah, I was checking that out and apparently from '80 - '97 the Dana 60 fronts were identical as far as perch width goes. They switched from kingpins to ball joints in '93 or so.

I figured I'd have to cut out the TTB brackets and hopefully I won't have to modify the engine cross member too much. It's just got a little old 351.

The TTB is entirely too busy on the front end of those trucks. Too much to wear out. Dana 60 and leafs, I'll just buy good seats.

Fonger wrote:Dana 60 and leafs, I'll just buy good seats.

adaptation at its finest

If you run a slight lift (2.5" or so) you won't need to alter the cross member. Remove all the TTB brackets and the D60 will bolt right up, use the F-350 steering.

With that being said, a D50 TTB (assuming thats what you have) is more than adaquate for a 3/4ton tow rig IMO. I have close to 250,000mi on mine and and the only thing I've had to do to it were a couple u-joints, brakes and a couple TRE's over the years. However, I am running a 2.5" tuff-country lift which has camber adjusting cams in the center brackets which helps with the alignment.

If you do decide to get rid of the TTB (and its a D50, not a 44), let me know, I might be interested in it.

-Grubb

VerticalTRX wrote:If you run a slight lift (2.5" or so) you won't need to alter the cross member. Remove all the TTB brackets and the D60 will bolt right up, use the F-350 steering.

With that being said, a D50 TTB (assuming thats what you have) is more than adaquate for a 3/4ton tow rig IMO. I have close to 250,000mi on mine and and the only thing I've had to do to it were a couple u-joints, brakes and a couple TRE's over the years. However, I am running a 2.5" tuff-country lift which has camber adjusting cams in the center brackets which helps with the alignment.

If you do decide to get rid of the TTB (and its a D50, not a 44), let me know, I might be interested in it.

-Grubb

I'm sure we can work something out for the front end, because it's gonna go. Is there an easy way I can tell if it's a D50 vs. D44. I'll pick up a set of small lift springs for it then. Any recommendations on a low lift spring for that truck Grubb? Do I want to go for a F-250 front spring or go to an F-350 front spring?

Fonger wrote: I'm sure we can work something out for the front end, because it's gonna go. Is there an easy way I can tell if it's a D50 vs. D44. I'll pick up a set of small lift springs for it then. Any recommendations on a low lift spring for that truck Grubb? Do I want to go for a F-250 front spring or go to an F-350 front spring?

If it has big hubs the size of a D60 its a D50. Also the D50 axleshafts use a 1350 series u-joint which are also retained externally like a driveshaft would be. The TTB 44 uses standard 297x joints and they are internally retained like a normal D44.

As for lift springs, you might be able to just use a set of add-a-leafs or a 1.5" leveling kit for a F-250. I'm running Tuff-country springs and I'm pleased with them, but most any leveling kit would work.

there is tons of great info here

http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=29

the info is relating SAS into full size broncos but it will give you an idea on parts at least. I think 92+ were the years to avoid because of E4OD tranny speed inputs or something.

I too would stick with the TTB, its not hard to work on but its your truck. Only thing that it really needs are pivot bushings(i have done these without unbolting anything else), radius arms(which you dont have on a leaf sprung unit) and ball joints.

As far as i knew all 250s were D50 ttb from 80-96. I thought the d44 was only broncos and 1/2tons.