Ford Axle question

Kevinr678

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
I've been looking into a SAS for my 95 K1500 6.5TD for a while now, just been saving up money and looking for the right axles for the right price. I found a set online that includes a 76 Highboy F250 Camper Special D44 and a D60 rear both geared to 4:10 for $260. Guy completely rebuilt them but scrapped the project and wife wants them gone so he's trying to get rid of them. Just want to make sure from people with more experience that it's a good axle since all anyone ever mentions are 78/79 HP axles. Also, if I do get these axles should I keep my Chevy 14 bolt and convert to 8-lug or replace it with the D60 rear? I figure I can't go wrong with that price but who knows. Forgot to mention, most I'll be going in tire size is 37" which I'm already rolling around on.
 
I did an SAS on a 95 Tahoe and used a 78 model Ford D44 8 lug. Worked good but if you're going to beat on it, save up some more money and buy a 60 for the front. That's a good price for those axles. As far as the rear goes, if you covert your 14 Bolt to 8 Lug it will still be a semi floater which will be plenty strong enough if you're not going to beat on it. It would be cheaper and stronger to just weld new perches on the 60 for the rear. My local parts house had a hybrid U-joint in stock that went from the tahoe driveshaft to the yoke on the 61 I used. The pinion was longer on the 61 so I didn't have to extend the driveshaft. You could do the SAS now with the 44 front and swap to a 60 later, just remember if you do that, you'll be limited to the 79 and older 60s because of the 31.5" spring perch width. In 1980 they changed to 36.5" spring perch width. Here is the kit I used and it was very well made and easy to install. http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=CHEVY-SAS25-001. Feel free to call me if you have any questions. 828-778-4598
 
76 would be a low pinion D44...I wouldn't do it. For as cheaply as you can get a front 77.5-79 44 I'd hold out. And D60's were the predominant rear axle for that body style. I typically scrap them since I can't get more than $100-150/ea out of them. Do they have to be 'rebuilt'...I'll see what I can scrounge up.
 
Since you have an 88-98 truck, you can use a newer Ford Dana 60 with the 36" spring width. They're much cheaper than the 78/79 axles and easier to find. For the rear, just find a 10.5 14 bolt from a similar 2500 truck and it'll bolt right under the truck. Very, very simple. There are numerous companies that make SAS kits for those trucks. Off Road Design makes a very nice setup now and if I remember right, it's a bolt on deal.
 
UTfball68 said:
76 would be a low pinion D44...I wouldn't do it. For as cheaply as you can get a front 77.5-79 44 I'd hold out. And D60's were the predominant rear axle for that body style. I typically scrap them since I can't get more than $100-150/ea out of them. Do they have to be 'rebuilt'...I'll see what I can scrounge up.
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$30-$35 max for scrap, I believe I'd take the $100-$150...;):beer:

As for the axles, It's a close call but I believe I'd take the full floating D60 rear over the semi floating 14. Guess desired lug pattern would answer that for me. Only thing you'd need to do to the 60 would be to flip 1 spring hanger around and possibly move spring pads???

The Dana 44HD is more valuable basically only to Highboy owners / restorer's. Especially if it's disk brakes. And the large hubs are desired for restoration purposes for Ford and Chevy used them (maybe others). But not wheelin purposes for a few reasons. The pro's of a 44HD would be limited to if you was wanting to run a divorced t-case with low lift or if it's all you got. And that all of them are 4.10. I guess another pro is the ability to mount it under anything...

But that's a very good price not even including them being rebuilt. I think you came out sweet! I have a few of these axles and usually looking to buy them myself, but I have all I'll ever need now...
 
^^^Assuming I could get anyone to buy them, I have expiration dates on my parts...big parts I've never had any luck selling. And 3.5x's were also available. 76 would have had disk brakes standard (unless of course it's been swapped over the years for something earlier)

Gonna be out your way to pick up a 1970 Lincoln. Gonna snag the 460 for my Bronco, the grille for garage art and probably scrap the rest. Know anyone that wouldn't want me to scrap it or want parts off it before I do???
 
UTfball68 said:
^^^Assuming I could get anyone to buy them, I have expiration dates on my parts...big parts I've never had any luck selling. And 3.5x's were also available. 76 would have had disk brakes standard (unless of course it's been swapped over the years for something earlier)

Gonna be out your way to pick up a 1970 Lincoln. Gonna snag the 460 for my Bronco, the grille for garage art and probably scrap the rest. Know anyone that wouldn't want me to scrap it or want parts off it before I do???
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No time dude. Did you score the DOVE heads???
 
6BangBronk said:
No time dude. Did you score the DOVE heads???
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That would be correct. I'm pretty stoked...whole car for $600...can barely get smogged 460 core for that.

6BangBronk said:
If your old motor (351M / 400) is still good, I'd be interested in that believe it or not.
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Of course it is. Huge 400 lover. DEH255 cam kit, typical eddy intake, have a set of old Hedmans that were on it when I got (went back to mani's), blah blah blah. Have a guy that wants my heads for a set of aussies, and the carb is staying with me. Not sure if that's too cannibalized for you...but the short block at least would be all yours. Have no idea how many actual miles is on it, got it as a core from a member here about 5 years ago. One of my first engine 'builds', been through several different renditions. No leaks, smoke or blow by. When it comes out...you'll be the first to know.
 
UTfball68 said:
That would be correct. I'm pretty stoked...whole car for $600...can barely get smogged 460 core for that.



Of course it is. Huge 400 lover. DEH255 cam kit, typical eddy intake, have a set of old Hedmans that were on it when I got (went back to mani's), blah blah blah. Have a guy that wants my heads for a set of aussies, and the carb is staying with me. Not sure if that's too cannibalized for you...but the short block at least would be all yours. Have no idea how many actual miles is on it, got it as a core from a member here about 5 years ago. One of my first engine 'builds', been through several different renditions. No leaks, smoke or blow by. When it comes out...you'll be the first to know.
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Awesome score on the Lincoln!
I have a set of good heads and a carb. Keep me informed!
 
Well, apparently he decided to either sell them to someone else behind my back after we already had a deal or decided against it since he's ignored my texts when I was supposed to pick up this morning. Back to the drawing board I guess . Appreciate allthe input guys. Probably just going to saythe hell with it and pull a newer axle since most people want 1200+ for a 77-79HP which is ridiculous.
 
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