Ok, so my Dad has a 78 F250 crew cab.
From what i can find the rear is a D60.
But the front Im having issues telling if its a D60 or D44.
How to tell?
If it is a D44 in the front would it be a good mix of D60 rear and D44 front on my XJ?
Also should i buy new coil mounts or could i cut and use the ones off my D30.
Sorry no pics its a 6hr drive and i forgot to take pics.

 

Check to see how many bolts are on the steering arm.
The dana 60 has 4 bolts and the 44 only has 3.

Or you could look at the axle in general. The 60 is way bigger than a 44.

The covers are slightly different.



You can lay a D44 cover inside of D60 cover.

 

You will want to order new coil buckets and link brackets. Trying to salvage the stock sheet metal brackets is a lot of work and rarely works out.

 

its a 44 front unless its a F250 snow fighter. you're gonna want all new mounts.

 

Im thinking its a D44 in the front. The diff is on the drivers side. And everything i can find about that year of D60 is on the passenger.
And thanks Im looking into the mounts now.
Might sound stupid to ask but i have to ask.
My dad has taught me everything i know about mechanics however we have different styles of working on vehicles. He says that ill have to send the axles to a shop to have the mounts welded on.
Is there a trick to welding them? Alignment?

 

Ford d60s are driver drop. And well, a trick? Not really. You can measure the mounts for the delay and replicate them on the 44.

 

Easiest way to tell would be to compair the front and rear diff covers, if they are the same size both are 60s, front smaller 44. I'm running the 44/60 setup and wouldn't do it again. 60 has plenty of beef, 44 is lacking for what I do and the tires I run.

 

regular f250's had d60 rear and d44HD front. the 44 has 1/2 inch thick tubes and leaf spring suspension. the 44 is a bit wider than other full size 44's also if i recall correctly.

you will have to grind/cut some of the drivers side leaf perch off to fit the coil buckets and control arm mounts on, but easily done and well worth the effort.

as mentioned, only the 250 snowfighter edition has a 60 front.

 

These are questions someone that is skilled enough to do an axle swap doesn't need to ask. Not to be rude, but your dad is probably right, in that you don't just take on a task like this with simple wrenching experience...

You will need to figure out your coil bucket placement as well as control arm mounts relative to your pinion angle. Then you get into planning your steering linkage, & drive line lengths. Not to mention brakes, hydro steering, & the body reinforcement that should come with such a swap to accommodate the axle weight, & assumed larger tires.

Do you homework, practice your welds (if needed), & get back to us with any questions you still can't answer...

Good luck man!