Anyone doing a Disk Conversion on Closed knuckle 44?

[71PA_Highboy]

Hello,

Has anyone performed a disk conversion on a Closed knuckle 44? I am looking at the Ch*vy parts as it is a common conversion for the open knuckle, but thought I would ask before I try and re-invent the wheel.

Anyway, advice is always heard, good advice is appreciated.


Thanks!


Eric

[ICEMAN6166]

i dont know if its worth the time and effort when you can swap in a later axle with disc brakes if thats what you are after.

i personally would rather have the closed knuckle front end. i also cannot ever consider using off brand parts, not trying to start a bash, i would just not do it myself.

[71PA_Highboy]

Maybe easier for you, but finding another front end is quite hard here...

Also, ford never made a low pinion 44 with open knuckles, and the HP has a problem in the highboys with stock suspension...

As fof the Ch*vy parts... that is a very respected swap into Bronco D44s and D30's... Well documented and cost effective.... The only difference for me is the 8 Lug rotors... AFAIK..

Just another opinion.

Eric

[averagef250]

Ford made a ton of low pinion open knuckle disc 44's. Every 76-77 F-250 4x4 has one under it. I have two of them in my shop right now.

The only way to do it cost effectively is to use chevy parts. If I had to do it I'd pull the axle, cut the closed knuckles off at the weld in a bandsaw and pull the part of the knuckle that's pressed into the tube out. I'd then cut the "C"s off a chevy 44 housing, turn the welds off of them and press the tubes out. Then I would press the chev "C"s on the ford housing, triple check all the angles, WMS measurements, etc. and weld the C's on.

Hopefully the chevy outer axles use the same joint size as the closed knuckle ford 44. If you make the axle the same width as it was originally (67") you will have to cut down the steering arm to clear the leaf spring. If the tubes are long enough on the ford 44 you should make the axle to the 69.5" WMS of the open knuckle axles. Ford had to make the front end wider when they went to disc to leave enough room for the steering linkage and shock mounts with an open knuckle kingpin 60.

I've done this with a closed knuckle ford 60 front end, but I used late model ford 60 parts. It turned out real nice. I personally wouldn't waste the time on a ford closed knuckle 44. An open knuckle disc ford axle is a few hundred bucks tops.

[71PA_Highboy]

On the LP 44... Yep you are right... My bad... I was thinking F100 and F150... And I own a highboy... DOH!!!!!

Still hard to get around here...

But I did seee this:

http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/images/da ... 6small.jpg

looks like someone started a conversion....

Thanks for the info


Eric

[heep70]

WOW, where did you see that at? As far as I know it can't be done on a closed knuckle.

[71PA_Highboy]

On Mr. N's web page.... He is a 44 Guru on Pirate.

I have a spare knuckle, I have the large Ch*vy Backing plates, so now I am going to go find a rotor and caliper and see how they fit...

I'll let you know how it goes...

R/

Eric

[heep70]

You have the webpage link to Mr N's webpage?

Yea, let us know where you get with that mod.

[heep70]

Nevermind I got the webpage.

http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/web_rs44.html

[ICEMAN6166]

As fof the Ch*vy parts... that is a very respected swap into Bronco D44s and D30's... Well documented and cost effective.... The only difference for me is the 8 Lug rotors... AFAIK..

Just another opinion.

Eric

you are entitled to that but i do not agree or respect the use of chevy parts in a Ford for any reason.sorry , i am not bashing you for doing it if thats how you feel, its your money and your truck and i cant stop it .i can only stew about it in private or risk being banned for saying more.

[averagef250]

I try to stick with ford stuff the best I can, but there are times when an upgrade will cost considerably more is just plain not as good as going outside the brand. Take my NV4500 for example. Ford never used them, but I can somewhat justify it and be able to sleep at night because new venture is the same company as new process. My original ford 435 shifter was a perfect fit to my new NV4500.

I would never ever consider doing something as backwards as running a passenger offset axle in a ford, but I could see using disc brake parts of another brand if ford stuff wasn't available. Anyone who'se priced out or tried to find parts for a 76-77 44 front axle knows first hand how frustrating owning an odd duck ford axle can be. Stock 76-77 brake hoses will break the bank. Good thing 86-91 F-350 4x4 hoses are a near replacement though for 1/4 the price!

Owning an old ford forces you to become resourceful. There's almost always a way to do it with real ford parts and for not much more than chevy stuff.

On the popularity of chevy parts being used on EB front axles, I can't say I've met too many early bronco owners that are much of a ford purist type. I cut my 4x4 teeth with a '73 EB. Loved that thing, but owning a bump highboy is alot different to me. Not everyone has one. Most of the people that think they know everything about them know not too much. It's an actual challenge to keep one of them on the road, fix it with the right parts, get correct information or to restore one.

[layedout72]

.,,

[71PA_Highboy]

72Hiboy4x4 and Iceman,

Thanks for both your inputs.

Iceman, I read what you write, I disagree with you on occasion, but I am looking for advice on how to accomplish a task, and I was hoping for useful information. Please feel free to bash my use of Brand x parts whenever you want, but have a productive solution that works when you do. I do not have access to another DANA (not FORD) front end at a reasonable cost, so I am making do with what I have.
You may be horrified with what I do to my vehicles as I use best of breed parts for whatever I do. When you see the Toyota steering box on my highboy, know that I did it because it was the best solution AVAILABLE. Maybe you have more $$$ than I do and can be a 'Purest', but I have to stay within my budget. No disrespect intended.

Hiboy4x4 and Heep, I will be starting this solution this weekend (If all goes well)... I will bench build it first, test on various size rims to see what fits, and let you know how it fits, what it fits, and what issues I come up with... At the same time I am replacing the engine, front sheet metal and (close your eyes Iceman) I am putting in a saginaw PS pump (or maybe Toyota) with remote reservoir and hydroboost brakes from an Astro Van... so final testing may be a ways off...

If anyone has constructive suggestions I would love to hear it....

Respectfully,

Eric

[averagef250]

I just find it very hard to believe you can't find a complete working ford disc axle for less than buying all the chevy parts to swap on.

If the truck's already got a toyota box on there why stop with that. A honda steering wheel might be the next upgrade? Ford used saginaw steering pumps and hydroboost brakes. That's not really leaving the brand.

[71PA_Highboy]

Your comments don't surprise me..

For fun go to Craigslist.org, go to Seattle and search on Ford under car parts.

Then go to Pittsburgh or Cleveland and do the same thing.

I used to live in Seattle and saw bumpsides everywhere... here in PA, there are only 2 on the road that I know of... and none in the Junk yards.

We have salt and rust you can't imagine... I couldn't until I moved here.

As for the honda wheel... If I find one that fits, works well and meets my needs, you can be damn sure I will use it.

Eric