What leaf springs to use for a ford 60?

[elbastardo]

The balljoint 60 ford front has a 36.5" center line. And IIRC there leafs are 3.5" wide stock. So do you have to use a 3.5" spring to use the ford front? Or is there a way to use the more common 3" leaf spring pack?

And does anybody have the eye to eye #s on a stock 99 F250 leaf spring pack? Thanks

[Stuka]

Ford has never used a 3.5" wide leaf. They have used 2.5" and 3" wide springs on their ball joint 60's depending on the year. But, you are going to have to partially outboard you leaf springs to match up with the axles mounts regardless of the spring width that your axle has. A 1999 axle should be 2.5" leaf springs.

Also, you are aware that a super duty axle has a metric bolt pattern, and not a 8x6.5 that is common for most 8 lug axles right?

[elbastardo]

So the 99s had a 2.5" spring? So then a spring "saddle" with 3" ID will work up front?

I dont suppose you have the center to center #s on a factory 99 leaf spring? Aswell as eye widths? And possibly eye to center line pin?

Thanks:thumbsup:

Do you know anything about the solid axle D50 fronts?

[Stuka]

Well, I was wrong on the width, went outside and checked one, it was 3" wide. So then I dug around, and found this: http://www.generalspringkc.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=82&pg=1

As for the D50 front. Its basically an ultra heavy duty D44. The F250's were too heavy for a regular D44HD. So the D50 basically has a D60 housing, with D44 axles, and a 9" ring gear. Its quite a bit stronger than a D44 as far as the R&P and housing go, but the shafts are a weak link. Great if you get it for very cheap along with the sterling 10.5 to go with it.

[elbastardo]

Those are the #s i was looking for:thumbsup: . I still want to run the chevy 2.5s, so is it possible to run a 3" perch with a 2.5 spring? Running the 2.5" spring would allow somebody to use springs with allot more choices in lengh and readily aviailable.

[Stuka]

Yeah, I don not see why you could not run a 2.5" spring. As long as the centering pin is the same size.

[Prime]

Yeah, I don not see why you could not run a 2.5" spring. As long as the centering pin is the same size.

Hey Stuka,
You seem pretty knowledgable, maybe you can help me? I am new to this FJS thing. I just brought a 79 chief wide track which I plan on doing some mild crawling in. I want to run a dana 60 up front, and one in the back as well. Which ones do I need to look for? I am also thinking about replacing the quadtrac transfer, will a GM N/P 205 work for me? I would appreciate any help.

[elbastardo]

Yo PRIME. Theres allot of guys here that know allittle about allot:thumbsup: And some that that know allot:D

Welcome to IFSJA:thumbsup: There is allot of info here.

[Desert Rat]

The downside of a 205 is the 1.96:1 low range gearing, but I believe 3:1 conversion gears are available.

[Stuka]

Hey Stuka,
You seem pretty knowledgable, maybe you can help me? I am new to this FJS thing. I just brought a 79 chief wide track which I plan on doing some mild crawling in. I want to run a dana 60 up front, and one in the back as well. Which ones do I need to look for? I am also thinking about replacing the quadtrac transfer, will a GM N/P 205 work for me? I would appreciate any help.

For up front, a GM D60 is what most people use. You can also use a dodge D60, but the springs have to be stretched a little wider to work, and all the mid 80's and newer use drive flanges up front. So you are best off finding a GM D60. For the rear, You can go with a D60 from a ford or dodge (a lot of the dodge ones bolt right in), but using the 14FF from the rear of the GM truck that came with the D60 up front would probably be cheapest. And the 14FF is much stronger in stock form (D60's do have more upgrades and gear selections however).

As for the T-case, you can get a GM NP205 to work. It requires changing out the tail shaft on your transmission however (not a terribly hard job). As mentioned above, the NP205 has a horrible low range. And if your ultimate goal is to rock crawl, you should look into a 203-205 doubler, or go straight to an atlas. All depends what you are looking to spend.

[Prime]

Thanks, sorry I took so lomg to reply but work has got me tied up. I think I am goin to give the d60, and 14ff combo a try. I want to do some crawling so that 205 may not work. I keep hearing some good things about a d300. I may do that with a novak kit. Thanks yall have help me a bunch, and stukka you are right.

[elbastardo]

The 205 has the 1.96 to 1. But the 300 IIRC only has 1.69 to 1. If you want to crawl. Then to start with use a tranny with a "granny" A SM465, a T18 or a NP435. If you run the auto trans......Talk to the other guys:rolleyes:

If you think all the differance is in the Tcase, Your wrong. If you dont know when to power it out or slow down. Then just bieng in 4wd will help.

Do you have spare hubbs?

[Prime]

El bastardo, Thank you brother. I really never thought of a standard. All I have seen on the trails where automatics, so I guess I haven't been thinking outside the box. I don't want nothing to extreme, but who knows maybe one day so it would help to start on the right foot. Now I need to start pricing plan B. Thanks :D

[Stuka]

The 205 has the 1.96 to 1. But the 300 IIRC only has 1.69 to 1. If you want to crawl. Then to start with use a tranny with a "granny" A SM465, a T18 or a NP435. If you run the auto trans......Talk to the other guys:rolleyes:

If you think all the differance is in the Tcase, Your wrong. If you dont know when to power it out or slow down. Then just bieng in 4wd will help.

Do you have spare hubbs?

No, a D300 has a 2.62:1 low. I don't know of any t-case with a higher low range than an NP205.

Prime: If you want to use that 205, and you want a great crawl, look for a NP203 range box to put in front of it. Lots of kits out there for this exact setup (known as a 205 203 doubler).

[Prime]

Cool, now let me ask your advice on this. I found a 85 chevy 1ton with a d60 front,a 14b rear, and a th400 with a 205 transfer for $2000.00(old military truck). Now is this a good deal? It sounds like everything I need:confused: . From what I have read all I have to do is swap tranny tail ends install the 205, and make the axels fit. I really need yall on this one, since I really don't have the money:banghead: , but if I have to, I can make it happen.

[elbastardo]

85 is the last year of the figure8 patern. It has a 10 spline front output. 86 is the first year of the circle pattern 32 spline 205 chevy one ton stuff.


85 is good 86 is the one you want. Any 205 is good:thumbsup:

[Stuka]

If it is a military truck, then it may be a CUCV, which means it will have a detroit locker in back, and 4.56 gears in the axles. The axles on their own are worth about 1500 or so. So the whole truck for that, personally I would buy it. Part out everything I don't need, and keep the stuff I do.

But don't put yourself endlessly in debt if you can't afford it either.

[J10Mike]

You can also use a dodge D60, but the springs have to be stretched a little wider to work, and all the mid 80's and newer use drive flanges up front. So you are best off finding a GM D60.

I know this doesn't quite answer the original question. But, to elaborate on Dodge D60s a little more, if you will...All Dodge front D60s thru 1990 had either drive flanges or external locking hubs (Selectro hubs) depending on the transfer case (NP203 for full time case 74 thru 79 or NP205 for part time case) on the 1 ton trucks.
In 91 and lasting thru 93, Dodge went to the Warn internal locking hubs on their 1 ton front D60s and CTD D61s.
Like Brandon mentioned, the GM front D60 would be a better fit for passenger side drop FSJs. But, the earlier Dodge front D60s can be had for relatively cheap compared to the GM D60 or the more expensive 78 & 79 Ford D60.

[Prime]

Thanks that is what I needed to hear. Now one last thing (86 is the first year of the circle pattern 32 spline 205 chevy) is whats the difference? easier to install? Stronger?

[elbastardo]

Talk about off topic:dancingbanana:

The circle patern GM 205 was the strongest version, they had 32 spline front output, and the 465 205 combo had the 32 spline input.

The earlier versions had 10 spline front outputs and 32 spline rear output.
And the 465 205s were 10 spline.

Myself I have not seen anybody blow a 205 of any kind 10 spline or 32 spline;) .

[Prime]

Thanks, and am sorry about the of topic deal. I am trying to soak it all in so I can make the right choice.

[elbastardo]

:thumbsup:

You might want to do a post on your questions:rolleyes:

You might change your mind on your direction agine:D