A buddy of mine has a 1977 F-150 with a dana 44/ 9". he wants to lift it about 12", and put 44" boggers on it, along with a built 460 swap,(500hp.) I know the D44 is too weak, but what about the 9". Also what years work best for the D60, and how hard is it to do the swap. Can you weld on an axle housing with a mig welder? Is the frame stout enough for this build. I would like the challenge of fabricating the suspension, but I need someone to point me in the right direction. thanks!  

The 9" is a great axle but not enough to handle 44" tires.  I don't know Ford like I know GM, but the newer Ford D60s switched to ball joints on the knuckles.  The king pins are much stronger.  All the GM D60s use king pins.  I know for sure up to 79 on Ford D60s used king pins but I don't know how much newer that they did.  You can weld on the axle tubes, and the housing as well, but a nickle rod with an arc welder would be better on the cast iron housing.  The frame should be ok, but if you are in doubt beef it up.  Ford lightned up the frames on 1/2tons about 1980 or so.  On the suspension do you want to stick with leaf springs or did you want to do a 4-link coil over, coil springs all around?

If you have a lot of money to spend a Dynatrac D60 pro rock high pinion would be nice (about $6000.00).  Those are better than the original Ford D60 high pinion.  

Thanks for the information. We are trying to do as much research on this as possible before we attempt it. This truck will mostely be used for mud play, so we will probably stick with leaf springs in the rear, and if we cant find a good coil spring for the front, may convert the front to leaf springs too. I think that would save a lot of time transplanting spring buckets, and trailing arm mounts to the D60. any other information from anybody will be greatly appreciated. thanks alot.  

I found the info I was unsure of on the Ford D60 front, they used king pins until 1993; Dodge also used king pins until 1993.  It was 1993 that both switched to ball joints in place of the king pins.  

77+1/2- 79 F-250,79 F-350,is the best to find if you can they have the narrow spring perch and a little longer axle on the short side than 83-97 where they go to 36" spring pad centers.Early 77 back ford 60's are low pinion and some(most)only have 30 spline axles. 80-late82 ford didn't offer a 60 front then pulled there head out and offered them again in 83-97 one tons. As far as i know the king pins stayed through 92 and were limited or left overs in 93.The frames can use some beefing up around the steering box and track barmounting area look at it real close if it has been thrashed it will have some small cracks in that area. The 3 bolt half ton steering box needs help with 44's,saginaw can be installed but it is some work.  

Thanks for the information. I really appreciate the help.  

hi,i own several of these trucks i am running a d60 with the coil spring setup,and redneck ram.you can cut off the leaf spring perches and weld on the wedges and keep the radius arms. they ride better and articulate better too. i'm running fuelinjected 466,44boggers,5.38,s and airlocker.  

that sounds pretty cool. I will deffinatly keep that in mind. thanks.  

I am getting ready to do the same thing on my 79 Bronco. I am wanting to run 38 Boggers and I KNOW the D44 won't hold for long that way. So, other than the front needing a little fabrication to it, the rear D60 should fit right in ,,,, Correct? And I shouldn't have too much trouble hanging the Leaf springs in the front,,,,,,,? Right?