[helirich]

as far as i know, they cant seem to make an 5x5.5 to 8x6.5 adapter. dont know why but maby the position of some of the lugs would overlap? ive heard of someone using 2 wheel spacers on each side to convert to another pattern but then i would have at least 3" of spacer. that would kill my wheel bearings considering what i do with this truck. if i didnt have to worry about bearings, that 3" would help alot since my 10.5 is gonna be ALOT wider than the front.

I believe that the 10.5's are 8x170. In any case, I know the newer wheels are alot bigger back spacing. So the 3" is probubly not really that hard on the bearings. You have to compare where the center of the tire rides. If the stock back spacing is 3 5/8" and you put 3" spacers on, you moved the center of the tire out 3". Then you put a new wheel on with a backspace of 5" and the tire moves in almost 1 1/2".

My truck has 14" wide wheels. All of the extra width is to the outside. (equal to 3" of spacers) I dont have any problems with bearings. On the other hand, ball joints only last about 4 years.

 

[Kingfish999]

i already ordered spacers to change the 8x170 to 8x6.5 so i could match the front when i do this. i dont really want to spend 200$ on spacers for the front alone anyways. also idk how you drive your truck but i drive mine VERY hard to the extreme. its a mostly stock truck but it doesnt stop me from jumping the hell out of it. ball joints dont last 6 months with me and my wheel bearings are a constant worry and need to get replaced every couple months. im going on my 4th rear axle now cause the tubes get soo bent from jumping

basicly if im gonna make this 8 lug, i want to do it right without shortcuts. if it would ever stop raining i would go and see what i can find at the JY.

 

[helirich]

If you really want to do it right, Put a straight D60 in.

 

[Kingfish999]

think i alreadysaid this but no SAS for me. at least in this truck

 

[gafred]

check if late 70s F250 D44 spindle will bolt to your knuckle.

if the do u can use em with same vintage wheel hubs, chevy rotors from 3/4 ton and same calipers along with afermarket brackets.

 

[Kingfish999]

i pulled everyhting from the spindles out of the 79 250 i found at the junkyard to send to CW bronco. the knuckle itself is defiantly different but. while taking it appart, it honestly make me still want to try and expieriment with it. since they were both 5 stud spindles, it might bolt up, then i would have to check to see if the stub shafts are long enough. if it passes both of those then it should work. as for the caliper i would have to cut off the existing caliper mounts on the knuckle jsut like they do when using the chevy parts. if for some strange reason it doesnt work after cutting, i have a whole spare axle i was gonna use for my 88 but it doesnt need it quite yet and i can barrow the knuckles till i gather the chevy stuff i need.

soo busy tho i cant get to the junkyard as much as i need. this will be a long drawn out project that wont even really get started till after i get the rear axle done which is also a slow project.

 

[Kingfish999]

alright im jsut confirming. the spindles do not fit the ttb knuckle even close. the HD spindle is alot bigger bolt pattern. defiantly gonna start looking for chevy parts

 

[bronco12372]

alright im jsut confirming. the spindles do not fit the ttb knuckle even close. the HD spindle is alot bigger bolt pattern. defiantly gonna start looking for chevy parts

when you get all the parts could you be so kind to list all parts needed /year of chevy truck/ autoparts store part #s and a step by step how to thread so all this guess work bs can be resollved ? would you be willing to grind down everything to fit 15 in rims? pictures pictures pictures:thumbup

 

[Kingfish999]

when you get all the parts could you be so kind to list all parts needed /year of chevy truck/ autoparts store part #s and a step by step how to thread so all this guess work bs can be resollved ? would you be willing to grind down everything to fit 15 in rims? pictures pictures pictures:thumbup

as people posted there are write ups. i guess i can make a log of what i did for ya with all that. since im gonna be needing 16 or bigger rimsi n hte back and i want to make them match im not gonna worry about grinding

 

[bronco12372]

ya there are threads nut lots of loose enuendos and dead ends . l yes a parts list , truck year , a good picture of what had to be modified or not . if you read this thread alone people have different ideas very different . pictures !!

 

[DNBELOWBRONCO]

as far as i know, they cant seem to make an 5x5.5 to 8x6.5 adapter. dont know why but maby the position of some of the lugs would overlap? ive heard of someone using 2 wheel spacers on each side to convert to another pattern but then i would have at least 3" of spacer. that would kill my wheel bearings considering what i do with this truck. if i didnt have to worry about bearings, that 3" would help alot since my 10.5 is gonna be ALOT wider than the front.

no id does not but thats why people do the D50 stubshaft swap so that they are stronger



i jsut saw this recently and thats what im gonna be going by now.

i took a quick look at ur ad but all you have left are the knuckles?





lol that sounds like an internet meme ive seen.

why cant ford make parts more inchangeable? why must they always change parts instead of using stuff that works. why i ask why?!?!?

I looked into buying adapters and talked to a couple companies and they all said the same thing, there isn't enough room between the 5.5 lug pattern to drill the 8 lug pattern, it isn't physically possible. I never found a company anywhere offering one. You use mid '80's Ford knuckles because they have 6-stud spindles and the Chevy's do too since they use a D44 also. I grabbed a set of knuckles off a member who lives next door and he has an 85 Bronco. I found a guy on Craigslist selling a Raybestos hub/rotor set with the wheels studs already installed complete for the Chevy's also a set of longer heavy duty Chevy pads and some custom caliper mounting brackets like you see on Ruffstuff's website (actually I think that is where he bought them) both sides for $225 completely new! He used to sell conversion kits and was getting out of the business. Now all I need is the Chevy 3/4 ton spindles and calipers and outer axle shafts because they are a hair longer than the Fords so they pass through the Chevy spindles etc. So in a nut shell it is early Ford knuckles and then Chevy from there out.....don't stack spacers that is just way too much trouble, stress, and it's your brakes man be careful don't screw around! :thumbup -Kevin-

Edit: Here are the part numbers for the Chevy stuff I have so far...

Raybestos hub/rotor asy same both sides....56287R http://www.raybestos.com/wps/portal/...oductId=981328

Raybestos Service Duty Pads....SGD153M http://www.raybestos.com/wps/portal/...ductId=1166135

**Caliper brackets 6-hole for Chevy 3/4 see Ruffstuff.com website**
..........................................................................................................................................................

(You need)

6 stud knuckles off a TTB (80-91) Ford Bronco/F150

80's straight axle 3/4 ton Chevy/GMC Dana 44 8 lug rotors, calipers, spindles, outer axle, and caliper bracket.

You hubs will work as long as they are manual. All D44 hubs are the same with the exception of auto stuff.

Ignore 1-ton stuff from Chevy's as it will be a Dana 60.
...........................................................................................................................................................
**(Outer Axles)**

Spicer P/N 41677

This outer axle shaft stub fits Chevy Dana 44 and GM Corporate 10 bolt front axle assemblies from:

1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 and to 1988 on GM or Chevy K10 1/2 ton and K20 3/4 ton pick ups

1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 and to 1991 on K5 Blazers K10 1/2 ton and K20 3/4 ton Suburbans

This axle shaft uses 5-297X or 5-760X u-joint.
.................................................................................................................................................................
**(Spindles)*

Chevy Dana 44 or GM 10 Bolt Spindle
P/N 706570X
OEM original Dana/Spicer.

This spindle will fit Chevy 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton Dana 44 or Corp. 10 Bolt front axles from 1976-1991 with bigger inner bearing.

 

[Kingfish999]

thats a good list. sometime soon im gonna go to the junkyard. just been very busy latly and havent had time to go. main priorety is the rear axle swap which is slow but with any luck should be done this weekend. theni gotta get enough money to pay for the parts at the junkyard.

the ford knuckles i got covered. my 88 has the 6 stud knuckles but sicne it used tophat lockouts that dont work and are irreplacable, i got a new axle for it. ill use the knuckles from it. that just leaves me with finding the chevy stuff

 

[Brochoncho]

I don't know, the info gets posted all the time just like a SAS. Must be magic like those magnets or something.....

 

[Kingfish999]

just wanted to update that i have a sort-of write up i made. i jsut got this done on my truck. took a good amount of pics with every step i did and added notes. its all here

http://www.supermotors.net/registry/24917/79984

 

[bronco12372]

this is the best explanation of the conversion iv read on fsb ! thanks guys now idiots like me can live dangerousely through your thread ........ joke

 

[PWMTN]

Wow, interesting read.
I ignored all the stuff you guys are discussing when it got more complicated than I wanted to deal with. I just bought 5x5.5 axles for my sterling. Yup I kept the stock TTB and have been hammering on the that front for many years. There were issues with the sterling for desert use due to movement of the lock collar for my semi floater setup. I now run a FF Tubeworks 9" rear but still have 5x5.5 & 5/8" studs (front and rear).
PaulW

 

[Agnem]

The Dana 44HD and Dana 50 IFS are nearly identical. The Dana 44HD upper and lower ball joint "ears" are farther apart, and everything is bigger than a streight 44. Dana 44HD's came on standard cab fords, most with diesels from 83-85. Extra cab trucks had the Dana 50. I did my Bronco 8 luch swap with parts from a Chevy C-30 with a 6.2 diesel in it. I understand the axle they used was the same back to 75' Be carefull ordering your break calipers. It is easy to get the wrong ones. I did a write up on my conversion here somewhere. I had a bit of bad luck, and got the wrong Chevy axle the first time. Spent a lot of money for nothing and ruined a good Dana 60. Some of the pics show the differences if you get the wrong axle. The pics are here....

 

[68Mercury250Ranger]

just wanted to update that i have a sort-of write up i made. i jsut got this done on my truck. took a good amount of pics with every step i did and added notes. its all here

http://www.supermotors.net/registry/24917/79984

WOW nice job on the tutorial.

I have no chevy knowledge whatsoever. this looks like a good swap for my 93bronco, instead of a Dana 60 SAS. very little offroad use, but heavy diesel in front.

Thanks for the great idea!:beer

 

[Kingfish999]

glad i could be of help. so far everything is holding up great. no problems and brakes are amazing (that could be from my rear disks tho). this is great for someone who wants to do something different, who wants to keep the TTB like me for prerunning, or someone who doesnt weld or cant fab or doesnt have time for a SAS.


Just to update i did also make a writeup on this site which might be easier.

http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211942

 

[68Mercury250Ranger]

thanks for leaving up lots of conversion info on here.

I think I found my donor parts, and the guy is willing to trade for a core 400 I have in a non operational 78 supercab.

he has a 1978 Dana 44 from a chev, still has the fulltime hubs in it.
parts it looks like I need from it. spindles, hub/rotors, outer axle shafts,backing plates, calipers(cores at least) . rest I can matchup on my own I think.

funny I found his ad on kijiji and he is only about 15-20min drive from my place. he sure has a motherload of axle shafts for sale.

turns out I have known this guy for close to 10 yrs but not well, just outside my own group of friends. small world eh?

I was getting kind of frustrated trying to find the GM 44 solid axle parts, and was starting to consider a SAS.......................
this guy has been looking for a 400 to build for daily/work truck, a 1978 F250 2wd 400 4spd. his has a 3 month old death rattle in it according to him. from my experience the 351m/400 will run and rattle for a long time with almost ZERO oil pressure.

just incase anybody looking for some older axle shafts or parts in Ontario, here is one of his ads. look at "poster's other ads" he has a pile of stuff, lives in Kitchener but has a back yard FULL of stuff, and very understanding neighbors. LOL

http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-cars-v...transmission-drive-train-Axle-shafts-Dana-44-10-bolt-Dana-60-W0QQAdIdZ418519965

cheers