'89 f150 vs f250 driveline

[rnokian]

I am a newbie and just bought an 89 f150 4x4 351W with a c6 tranny. I have access to salvage vehicles. Would it be worth purchasing an f250 4x4 351W as a parts vehicle and to swap out the driveline (tranny, transfer, axles etc)? Is the driveline on the f250 more substantial than the F150 and would it mate up with the f150 frame and suspension? Just toying with some ideas. Any suggestions are welcome. Currently I am using the truck to build my house and when I am finished I would like to turn my attention to the truck. Ultimately I would like to have a unique and powerful 4x4 that is not a daily driver and would be used for off road. rnokian

[rnokian]

test

[spray004]

Originally posted by rnokian
I am a newbie and just bought an 89 f150 4x4 351W with a c6 tranny.

I have access to salvage vehicles. Would it be worth purchasing an f250 4x4 351W as a parts vehicle and to swap out the driveline (tranny, transfer, axles etc)? Is the driveline on the f250 more substantial than the F150 and would it mate up with the f150 frame and suspension?

Just toying with some ideas. Any suggestions are welcome. Currently I am using the truck to build my house and when I am finished I would like to turn my attention to the truck. Ultimately I would like to have a unique and powerful 4x4 that is not a daily driver and would be used for off road.

rnokian

The only thing that would most likely be stronger are the axles. You didnt specify what year F250. You really only need bigger axles if you plan on doing a lot of off-roading and running large tires.

[WVtrucker]

Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but in those years I think the only real differences between the F-150 adn F-250 were the spings, rear diff, slip yoke, and driveshaft. I think there were leafs on the front rather than or in addition to (don't remember fo r sure) coils. I think it depends on if it was a HD 250 as to if the front axle was different (solid as opposed to independent I beam thing). As far as the engine tranny and tcase I think they all are the same and I think even the frame was the same on the LD 250's. It's been a long time since I messed with these trucks so take this for what it is worth. Bottom line (I think) is that about the only thing you gain going to 3/4 stuff is the larger rear axle and springs. Otherwise there isn't that much difference.

Mike

[powerstroke73]

The front suspension is going to be either a D44HD TTB or a D50 TTB axle. Both are the leaf sprung version of the D44 TTB you have now. There are no coil springs on the F250s and none of them were solid axled. You will actually be going backwards as far as the front axle is concerned. The D44HD is more or less the same guts as your current axle. The rear axle would be a 10.25 and either a semi floater or full floater rear axle. The semi float would be a waste of time as you don't really gain all that much in load carrying capacity. The full floater would be worth the time to swap in....providing you can find a good D60 or maybe a D44HD axle for the front. The rest of the driveline is pretty much the same as yours. The engine, trans, transfer case is the same. I would suggest finding a late 70s F250 or F350 or an 86-91 F350 to get an axle from for the front and any full floater 3/4 or 1 ton rear.