Has anyone ever done this swap or know the estimated cost. My truck has a stock lift. I do not want to lift something with IFS. Although it made ride nice and look half way decent, I don't trust the front axles with 40's+ and rocks. Considering replacing my 9.75 rear end with a FF rear end. Anyone ever do this mod as well? I figured it would be pretty easy, just rewelding the shock brackets and spring perches at worse.

 

i have 38" on my ifs and havent had any major problems, and yes i offroad alot rocks included, desroyed lower shock bushings and an idler arm but other than that the ifs has been working flawlessly for ofroading with big meats

 

I was considering putting a Dana 60 up front and either a Dana 60 or 14bolt FF in the rear. That would give me the strength, and the front 4 link would give me the flex I wanted.

 

i have seen it done in magazines and at shows but never known someone to do it themselves good luck, i have some buddies who do alot of fabrications i can ask them

 

Fabritech makes the suspension kit.

http://www.setstr8.com/

Click on new products. They say its set up for a 1/2 ton axle but I don't see why you couldn't make a 1 ton set up work.

 

thats awsome when will it be avalible and what would the cost be?

 

Its been available for a while now actually. I do not know how much it cost. I called them but no one answered. I'm thinking you could get away for around $2500-$3000. Thats with a Dana 60 which are pretty pricey.

 

looks like i have something to look forward to in the years to come or maybe after i use up my current tires, if you do it let me know how it goes sounds like an awsome project, i am very enterested, if you need any custom brackets or anything fabed up to make it work e mail me i have some good welders that work for me and i am sure i could make something work if you need it just e mail me with the progress and good luck

 

First things first. There is no such thing as a factory lift. If it does have a list it was most likely installed by a dealer, but I guarantee that it didn't come from Detroit like that.


A D60 would be a good option as well as the 14bolt rear, but $2500-3000 would be about right for the axle cost alone (after the buildup), but that would not include the lift. The fabritech stuff starts at about $1500, but that DOESN'T include the axles. They're overpriced BIG time and the quality isn't very good. I have yet to hear from anyone who has one that is still happy with it 6 mo down the road. The largest complaints has been the shotty craftsmanship on the brackets, or the just general bad design of them. The last 2 kits I've seen required custom fabrication to get the bracketry right so it didn't fail or just flat out fit. Other problems have been incomplete kits and very poor customer service. Basically so far they seem to have a reputation similar to Thornbirds.

 

Ok bad choice of wording, whatever.

Anyways decided against the Fabritech. Figured I'd go with front leaf springs due to price and ease of work. $3000 for a D60/14bltFF??? I've bought a 14blt FF for $100 before. I'm in Alabama so things are pretty cheap and all. I could have a D60/14bltFF bought and completely rebuilt through out with new gears in both, locker in at least the rear for $2k or less. I see old 3/4ton and 1 ton trucks sitting in fields or behind barns all the time.

 

If you're lucky enough to find someone who doesn't know what they have they can be gotten for cheap. If you ever watch Ebay they almost always go for $1k+. Around here most people know what they're worth and it costs a mint to pick them up. The 14bolt is a little more than a rear D60 around here, but the front D60 is the big expense. Heck I haven't come across one that was less than $1000 around here, and if its been rebuilt it goes for ALOT more. If you can get them for as much as you're saying then jump on it (heck pick up a couple sets and sell them).

 

Yeah there are some idiots around here. I once found a NP205 for a TH350/400 for $200 at a junk yard. On Ebay and other places they are $750 easily. I bought a D44 3/4ton and a 14blt FF for $500 once. I love it when I find some one who is selling gold and doesn't know it.

 

there 1 for sle now on ebay for 660