4wd Conversion on 1997 2wd Dually 7.3L PSD

[Josh40601]

I bought the kit from Duff. It came with the weld on wedgies similar to the ones you have above, and the spacers that are needed for the extra girth. The spacers go in between the factory radius arm mounts.

 

[RangerSVT]

That's on his ranger, he put a fw hp kp 60 under his rig, used the 44 weld on wedges, like you posted, and ground a little off to fit without the spacer. I think he only trimmed about an inch off. It's about 5 pages back...


SVT

 

[1badexplorer]

Its not hard to modify those factory wedges. they just need cut at the edges to clear for the bigger diam tube. You can cut about half of that cast leaf perch off without issues much more than that and you get into the plug weld. I like the idea of front coils it will ride smoother and elliminate the need to remove the coil bucket and modify the frame horns. I ran a coil swapped D60 under my Explorer for 3 years it worked out well. However I used a 79 D60 axle. The spacing it different and doesn't require cutting into te perch.

 

[036speed]

That is good news. I was worried about the cast perch. But after looking at it last night, it shoud not be a big issue. I plan on going with the wedge route. I was going to make y-links out of DOM with bushings and johnnys. But for what this truck needs to do, the wedge system and factory arms will be perfect! I need to pick up a set of weld on wedges in the near future. Then find some 4x4 6.0L coils. Throw the axle under there and make a customer panhard bar. Then I need to start hunting down a divorced 205.

 

[1badexplorer]

Aren't you planning on lifting it up? I have a friend who did a 4x4 conversion on a 2000 and used coils. He ended up using 6" lift coils for a TTB F150. They gave him about 4" on a SD which is enough to clear 35s without issues. As far as those wedges, you can cut them off any Ford 1/2 D44 77 and older. They should work off an EB too with a little more grinding.

 

[036speed]

That is a great idea. I didnt even think of that. TTB coils have a much higher ppi rating than non-ttb coils. So F-150 TTB coils would be able to handle most of the weight of the diesel. Those will also be cheaper and easier to find. thanks for the tip

And correct. I would like to run 315s but since I am swaping in 3.55 gears, i might stick with 305s (33s) since I dont plan on chipping the truck. So a 2-4" lift is what I am looking for. I have a friend with 315s under his 01 drw Cummins. I need to borrow them to see how my truck will run with 3.55s and 35s.

 

[036speed]

Although, 37s would be sweet! That is just a lot of truck haha and i dont want to spend that kind of money on tires. I would rather have my Ranger get a set of stickies or something.

This was a 2wd dually. converted adn on 37s

This is on 36s, was a 4wd F-250

This is on 35s (315s). I really like this one

285s... i think

 

[1badexplorer]

What gears are in your d60? I would probally stick with the 4.10s if you aren't goin to be added a tuner. My truck with 4.10s & 235/85s is at about 2300 at 70mph. If you go to a 35" instead of a 31" tire that alone will be a big drop in rpm. If your d60 gears match your rear I'd give it a try and see. It maybe ok with the 4.10s and bigger tires and save the you money and time of doing gears. If you decide to swap you don't have to change either carrier out. I have have lots of good used parts for d60s and 10.25 if you end up needing stuff.

 

[1badexplorer]

When it comes time for me to buy new tires I'm getting 33s for mine. Well 245/70/19.5s that is.

 

[036speed]

What gears are in your d60? I would probally stick with the 4.10s if you aren't goin to be added a tuner. My truck with 4.10s & 235/85s is at about 2300 at 70mph. If you go to a 35" instead of a 31" tire that alone will be a big drop in rpm. If your d60 gears match your rear I'd give it a try and see. It maybe ok with the 4.10s and bigger tires and save the you money and time of doing gears. If you decide to swap you don't have to change either carrier out. I have have lots of good used parts for d60s and 10.25 if you end up needing stuff.

Yours is a manual too right?

Right now, with the stock 215/85s (30s), ZF5 and 4.10s, I am at 2600 @ 70mph. Its horrible. If I am in a hurry, this is not the vehicle i take.
My donor 4x4 truck has 3.55s. So I was going to keep the 3.55s in the D60 and put it's rear 3.55s in my drw 10.25". But like you said, I dont want a dog. That is why I am leaning towards fat 33s. I like the wide look. I would like to be at 2000-2100 rpms at 70mph. I might need to get a 60-80hp econ tune. On my ZF6 7.3 I had 315/75s with 3.73s. It rolled at 1950-2000 @ 70mph. It was perfect.

I have been playing with this to see what I should do tire wise.
http://www.ringpinion.com/Calculators/Calc_RPM.aspx

 

[1badexplorer]

Yours is a manual too right?

Right now, with the stock 215/85s (30s), ZF5 and 4.10s, I am at 2600 @ 70mph. Its horrible. If I am in a hurry, this is not the vehicle i take.
My donor 4x4 truck has 3.55s. So I was going to keep the 3.55s in the D60 and put it's rear 3.55s in my drw 10.25". But like you said, I dont want a dog. That is why I am leaning towards fat 33s. I like the wide look. I would like to be at 2000-2100 rpms at 70mph. I might need to get a 60-80hp econ tune. On my ZF6 7.3 I had 315/75s with 3.73s. It rolled at 1950-2000 @ 70mph. It was perfect.

I have been playing with this to see what I should do tire wise.
http://www.ringpinion.com/Calculators/Calc_RPM.aspx

Yea. My 12v had 3.55s. When I would tow heavy and hit big hills I was always having to drop a gear to keep egts down. If you swap out gears. I have 4.10s for a 60. Don't use the gears out of that single wheeltruck in your rear. Find a set from a 92+ truck. The older pinions and yokes are different and like to back off causing the pinion to drop into the housing. I found out the hard way. Apparently that was the casue for the change in 92. All aftermarket gears are made like the later style. My 7.3 truck is a manual. I bought a gear vendors for it too. Im doing that and 33s eventually which will bring me to 1800rpm at 70mph. perfect for highway cruising.

 

[036speed]

That is news to me. I had no idea. Mine is a pre-92 set. So the pinion nuts backs off? What would you want for those/D60 4.10s? If I go 4.10s, I would def want to run 315/75s if I went that route. My budy has a KP D60 sitting around with 4.10s. But it needs more work than the one i have. I wonder if he would switch with me. But I see 10.25 3.55s are cheap.

 

[kris97ranger]

I love jacked duallys... i run 35x12.50s on 3.55s its not horrible but id prefer 4:10s. Although i do have an idi and a 5speed.

 

[Josh40601]

315's are the beez neez. That's what I'm running on my dodge. Treadwright has the old MTR style ones for cheap!

 

[036speed]

That exactly what i plan on running lol. The MTR treadwrights. I might end up with the 305s tho. Depends on how high the truck ends up. If the truck needs some help with 3.55s, i will get a TS 6 pos. I do mostly highway driving with this truck. Stock tires and 4.10s is getting old fast haha.