The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts What I-beam front axle had disk brakes and is about 80" outside width? Problem solved

I am still looking for a way to put disk brakes on the front of my newest project, a 61 f350
I will be changing the rear axle for something with 3.54 gears, and would like a front with disk and a matching bolt pattern. This is a dual wheel truck. The rear can be up to 8' wide with tires on, as I have an 8' wide flat bed.

The front can have the outside edge of the tread at about 80" wide and still be under the fenders. The front springs are 32" centers. I have no problems with narrowing an axle.

Any ideas?

I have tried to get some help on the ford-trucks.com site, but quite frankly they don't know much about upgrading a 1 ton or larger. Nor are they as nice as you guys are over here.

Thanks,
Grigg

There is an 80's or early 90's Ford truck with duals I see frequently that has a straight axle under the front.

I presume it has disks on the front and maybe the rear also.

I've never measured it, but I'm sure its more like 72 inches or 76 inches across the outside of the tread.

I've not measured a '61 F350 but I would have guessed the distance across the the outside of the front tires to have been more than five feet. Could that measurement be a typo?

OldSub,
You are correct, although it was more of a brain fart than a typo. I have corrected it to read 80" in the original post.

If you are talking about a super duty with 10 lugs, I think I don't want one because there is only one wheel choice available, and I want to run 8R19.5 wheels or 9R22.5 if I use 3.73 gears.
Any 8 lug I-beam axles with disk?
Or what about a straight tubular axle like a two wheel drive scout had, but bigger?

I am considering medium duty stuff, like a topkick or FL70. The rear from one would be great, and I have found a good deal on one close with 3.73 and big 8 lug on 275mm. But the front axle from a topkick is 10" to wide, and can't be narrowed, as 4.5" would have to come out of each side between end and spring perch. Think of any narrower medium duty with same pattern?

Grigg

What about a late 80's F-350 Super Duty. I worked for a Ford dealer and remember the late 80's super duty tow trucks with a straight front axle.

The later model F-350, F-450 and F-550 and eventhe heavier GM's 1.5 Ton and up use a straight axle in the cab and chassis configuration (flatbeds, rollbacks and box trucks.) You could probably find the parts at a large truck dismantler.

I know little about Ford trucks. Back when I was a truck mechanic I serviced a fleet of big Fords, but that ended in 1981 and I've not stayed in touch with Fords since.

80 inches seems a lot more like what I'd expect.

Are you committed to a straight axle setup? I have a Chevy P30 that is about 80 inches across the front tire. Its an IFS and I assume could be adapted to a Ford frame similar to the way Chevy pickup IFS can be adapted to an AD Chevy.

Just a thought.

Check out the delivery style trucks like bread trucks or uniform delivery rolling boxes on wheels.
Scott

Thanks guys,

I have pretty much decided on the front and rear from a Chevy 3500HD or P30 chassis. They are the axles I swapped in my 52 1 ton, and are now in my 48 2 ton.

I just need to find another pair. This time I won't have to narrow the front axle. I will have to find a new carrier and 3.54 gears for a Dana 70HD, as they did not come that fast in the 3500HD or P30.

Anyone know of some for sale?
I will start looking for even a complete junk truck or possibly an RV, sometimes they are free.

If I found a 1 ton ford 2 wheel drive dual wheel front twin I-beam with good bushings and disk brakes I will investigate swapping just the spindles out to the 61 axle. Then find an 8 lug dual Dana 70 with 3.54. I have a front end from the above mentioned ford, but not much good except spindles, and hubs, the rest of the parts are to expensive. I will be better off with the 3500HD stuff if I am going to have to spend money.

Grigg

Hi Grigg,

I've read about your 48 1-ton, and I've started something similar on my 46 1-1/2 ton dual wheel pickup (9'pickup box). I recently bought (real cheap) an 89 Chevy P-30 Step Van as a donor. The 46 originally came with 700x20 tires, so I'm planning to narrow the front axle from the P-30 and use the 5/10-lug 8R19.5 wheels/tires so the 46 truck still looks basically original on the surface.

The P-30 has 4 wheel disk brakes and the rear axle is a Rockwell (model C -- whatever that means). The measurements of the rear axle match almost perfectly to the 46, but after I cleaned off some of the grime, I found out the Rockwell has 5:13 gears. I haven't started researching what gear options were available in that axle, but I would definitely like something faster. (If anyone knows where I could find this information, I would be very grateful.)

So, depending on what ratios are available, the Rockwell might be another option for you. If this model C does not have a fast enough gearset, then my plan B was also to go with a Dana 70HD. I don't have a lot of experience with this yet, so I'll be quite interested in what you find out.

Bob

Old Sub, I'm curious--what years of the P-30 had IFS?

Bob

Mine is a '78 or '79. Title says one, the VIN says the other, I don't recall which is which.

It has a 12,300 GVWR and is under a Holiday Rambler motorhome that was, as Grigg suggests, free. I drove it home. 454, Turbo 475, 14 bolt dually rear, 8-lug hubs on both ends with disks only on the front.

It seems the Rockwell and Dana 70HD axles were used almost interchangeably in the p30's.
From what I can find the Rockwell was only available with up to a 4.56. Although I am still researching that, and it may turn out to be up to 3.73, I'll post tomorrow with what I find. I have been checking all my options the last few weeks, and I have investigated a few of the Rockwells, all of them have been geared 4.something or slower.

Perhaps they used the independent front and the I-beam front concurrently on the p30?

The axle swap idea of the hour is an Isuzu NPR cabover truck.
I have located a few that someone is parting out really cheap. He is checking on the ratio for me now, I'll know in a day or two if they are fast enough. The rear should swap just fine. And I think that the front will be narrow enough, I'll know that soon too.

Grigg

I have good news!
But first the bad, the import cab over trucks like Isuzu and Hino, only have axle ratios in the 4.XX and slower.

I found a good deal / trade on a new Rockwell (actually it's a Meritor) Axle. It is from a Freightliner small truck. The ratio is 3.73, it has disk brakes, and 8 lug 22.5 wheels. It will fit 19.5 wheels if I would like. The spring centers are the same as the ford, so it's a bolt in swap, no cutting or welding or machine work. It has a 15,000 lb ratingand is physically about the same size as a Dana 80 in a Dodge PU, the axle tubes are 4" square. http://www.meritorhvs.com/MeritorHVS_Documents/tp94149.pdf

The front I found is from a Chevy Topkick. It has the same bolt pattern as the rear, and also has disk brakes that will fit 19.5 wheels if needed.

Included in the deal are a half dozen 22.5 x 7.5 wheels, 6 9R22.5 tires, and a drive shaft.
In return for these parts I am trading a running Detroit 3-71 power unit, the left over axles from the ford, and 7 wheels from the ford with good 8R17.5 tires, and $200.

I have figured out a clever way to narrow the front axle so it will fit, I'll spill the beans once I get well started on it, so as to keep y'all in suspense.

Grigg

Okay I'm in suspense.

Please spill the beans with lots of photos like you have on your '48 project.

But remember to make sure the story emphasizes the Chevy parts and downplays the F350 part so we can avoid the need to hold an intervention!

Right on Grigg. There are also some things I have found for front axles with the 8 and 3/4 bolt circle posted in the build thread for my 56 if anyone is looking to change to disc on one of these. I too am in suspense like a druggie weighting for his next fix.

Grant, these axles actually have 8 lugs on 275mm bolt circle, and a center hole of 221mm. a little larger than your bolt pattern.

Grigg

Grigg I added that tidbit for those with the six lug buds. As for the 275mm bolt circle with 221mm center hole hub piloted wheels I seen some talk here on the Bolt about using the newer hub piloted wheels with the 221mm center on the older trucks with the larger center hole or smaller hub. Before I go any farther Grigg I know that you are using the late model axles so this is for the guys looking to replace their 20" tube type wheels with the later 19.5" tubeless. These wheels will fit the bolt pattern however the hub hole is too big and should not be used like this, but you can change to bud style nuts and have a machine shop put the proper bevel in the wheel bolt holes. This will make them bud wheels and keep them centered. Hope this helps those who want to use the later model 19.5s this way you can even get aluminum wheels. I have been thinking about this for my 64, I hate the 20” tube types.