Not a bump question but still a Ford question.

[72Highboy]

Hello everyone I was looking online for hours and hours trying to figure out if the 8th and 9th generation F250 frames are the same. My question is can I get a 4x4 frame from the 8th generation 3/4ton or 1ton frame and will it bolt under my 9th generation body. I really want to turn my F250 into a 4x4 and that would be the easiest way. Plus I can get a standard trans and have my dream truck.

8th Generation 1987-1991
9th Generation 1992-1997

Sincerely CPL Endicott

[averagef250]

The frames are virtually identical from 1980 through 1997.

Your F-250 2wd frame is nearly the same frame as an F-150 4x4 from 1980-97 so if you don't want to change frames you can keep the coils and switch 4x4 stuff under it. A typical combo would go something like this-

Your F-250 2wd body, frame and engine combined with:

73-79 F-150 Dana 44 front axle, trailing arms and whatever lift coils you want
drop pitman arm for lift
1980-1997 F-250 4x4 (light duty) dana 44 TTB knuckles-out (so you have 8 lug and big brakes up front)
Panhard bracket from an 86-97 F-350 4x4 and custom panhard or just build all of it yourself.

The other way you can do it if you want to run a 60 front and keep your frame is just a buy a shackle reversal kit for a 80-97 truck and install the whole thing under your 2wd. This would be the ideal way to go because you can get them setup to run 99+ superduty front springs which are better springs than anything they used under the 80-97 trucks (also about the same as highboy springs).

Just about everything interchanges from 80-97 and Ford dealers still stock just about every part for them.

[72Highboy]

Sweet thank you for the breaking it down. Seems easier to accomplish when its broken down.

[GIJoe4500]

A lot of that sounds good averagef250, but with the F350 panhard bracket, it would make the panhard really short. A custom built bracket that goes until the frame rail and ties into the engine crossmember would work out a lot better for that style of straight axle swap. Also, the 80-97 F250s mostly had dana 50 front axles. For brakes, it would be easier to find and pull the outers off of a chevy 8-lug dana 44 and swap those over. I don't even know if the 8-lug dana 44 TTB parts will fit on a solid axle, if you can manage to find some.

I did a straight axle swap and a 4x4 conversion on my 95 F150. If you have any questions on ideas for the swap, PM me, and I'll help out how I can.

[averagef250]

A lot of that sounds good averagef250, but with the F350 panhard bracket, it would make the panhard really short. A custom built bracket that goes until the frame rail and ties into the engine crossmember would work out a lot better for that style of straight axle swap. Also, the 80-97 F250s mostly had dana 50 front axles. For brakes, it would be easier to find and pull the outers off of a chevy 8-lug dana 44 and swap those over. I don't even know if the 8-lug dana 44 TTB parts will fit on a solid axle, if you can manage to find some.

I did a straight axle swap and a 4x4 conversion on my 95 F150. If you have any questions on ideas for the swap, PM me, and I'll help out how I can.

The 1986 through 1997 F-350's drive perfectly fine with the Panhard they come with. It doesn't need anymore length to work fine. More won't hurt anything, just saying the F-350 panhard bracket bolts in and works fine, you supply the rod.

By a decent margin, most 80-97 F-250 4x4's had TTB 44 front axles.

TTB Dana 44 knuckles fit right on solid Dana 44 housings. The Ford brakes work better than the GM brakes and are equally as available.

[GIJoe4500]

A lot of that sounds good averagef250, but with the F350 panhard bracket, it would make the panhard really short. A custom built bracket that goes until the frame rail and ties into the engine crossmember would work out a lot better for that style of straight axle swap. Also, the 80-97 F250s mostly had dana 50 front axles. For brakes, it would be easier to find and pull the outers off of a chevy 8-lug dana 44 and swap those over. I don't even know if the 8-lug dana 44 TTB parts will fit on a solid axle, if you can manage to find some.

I did a straight axle swap and a 4x4 conversion on my 95 F150. If you have any questions on ideas for the swap, PM me, and I'll help out how I can.

The 1986 through 1997 F-350's drive perfectly fine with the Panhard they come with. It doesn't need anymore length to work fine. More won't hurt anything, just saying the F-350 panhard bracket bolts in and works fine, you supply the rod.

By a decent margin, most 80-97 F-250 4x4's had TTB 44 front axles.

TTB Dana 44 knuckles fit right on solid Dana 44 housings. The Ford brakes work better than the GM brakes and are equally as available.

For the leaf sprung axles it works fine. Not so much for the coil sprung setups. Ideally, you want the track-bar and drag-link to be the same length, and on the same angle. otherwise, when the suspension flexes, it can and WILL cause bump steer.

[72Highboy]

I just found a better idea. It was made my Centurion, have any of you encounter this, if you have do you think its worth it. I'm gonna pick it up this Tuesday, darn labor day bank being closed I dont know why i asked is it worth it, I am still gonna buy it I cant let it go. I just wanted to know how many would buy it.

[GIJoe4500]

For $13,000, I would probably pass over it.

[averagef250]

I just found a better idea. It was made my Centurion, have any of you encounter this, if you have do you think its worth it. I'm gonna pick it up this Tuesday, darn labor day bank being closed I dont know why i asked is it worth it, I am still gonna buy it I cant let it go. I just wanted to know how many would buy it.

I wouldn't buy one. I've seen so many of those things sold for stupid cheap because the "centurion" parts are obsolete.

Just got back from vacation in central washington, I saw 3 90's centurion conversion trucks parked in lots that were worth 1/20th of what a centurion sold for new. They weren't bad looking, just no market.

[72Highboy]

Ya 13 is steep, I've only seen one of these and gotta have it. I've see regular 7.3L 4x4 CC for 9-10000 with more miles. So an extra cab and a dually I'll take a axleburn for it. Worst come to worst I'll have another 7.3L , solid axles frontband rear with a frame i can stuff under my F100.

[fordguy_78]

If you want a good source for doing a solid axle swap in to 80-96 ford truck/ bronco http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=29