Ford F3 Rear Axle and Brakes

[sgonzalez812]

Good afternoon guys, I started the disassembly of the rear axle on my 1949 F3 (Canadian Version), and I am a little confused as the rear axle and brakes dont seem to be original to the car. Can someone let me know what kind of differential / rear axle / brakes I have, from the two attached photos?

[cas3]

could be a dana 70. common on 3/4 ton trucks thru the 70's and 80's. ford chev and dodge all used them with slight variations.

[Scotty's 52 F3]

A common swap is a Dana 60 from 1972 and earlier. That's what I put in my 52 F3. Mine has a 60 visible in the casting somewhere. I'd have to look. I still have the tag on mine too. See if you can find any data on it.

[Scotty's 52 F3]

I don't know if these help but here ya go.

[skidmarks]

Originally Posted by Scotty's 52 F3

A common swap is a Dana 60 from 1972 and earlier. That's what I put in my 52 F3. Mine has a 60 visible in the casting somewhere. I'd have to look. I still have the tag on mine too. See if you can find any data on it.

Do you know how much different the 73 to 79 ford dana 60 is from the 1972 and earlier? I want to change the rear in the 1951 F2 i have and there is a dana 60 3.55 for sale local thats listed as 1977 78 79.

[Scotty's 52 F3]

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Those later ones are wider but, I don't know how much. The guys on FTE forum can probably tell you for sure.

[sgonzalez812]

Thanks, it looks very similar to mine. There were no tags in my rear axle, except for the ratio tag.

[sgonzalez812]

Originally Posted by Scotty's 52 F3

A common swap is a Dana 60 from 1972 and earlier. That's what I put in my 52 F3. Mine has a 60 visible in the casting somewhere. I'd have to look. I still have the tag on mine too. See if you can find any data on it.

Thanks Scotty, I think this is the one, I was able to take those nasty cone washers today, and it all looks right, your drum brake looks like mine too, do you happen to know where is the best place to buy an overhaul kit? Also it seem that you loose the parking brake capability with those, its that right?

[skidmarks]

Trick to the cone locks, take all the nuts off . With a heavy hammer smack the center of the axle flange and the shock will bounce the axle loose then you can slip all the cones off with your fingers. Carefull dont miss and hit the studs

[Scotty's 52 F3]

I was lucky because my parking brake is on the trans. I took the linkage off that the 72 had stock. There are guys that adapted their stock parking brakes at the wheels and made them work. Sorry I don't have that info for you. The FTE forum may be in your future. I'm sure the info you need is there.

[skidmarks]

Originally Posted by Scotty's 52 F3

Those later ones are wider but, I don't know how much. The guys on FTE forum can probably tell you for sure.

I did some reading on the dana 60. If i understood it correctly i can use a dana 60 from the later f250 if it is out of a 4 wheel drive truck. So i am guessing the overall width is the same its the spacing of the spring perches on the later 70s 2wd trucks.

It also mentioned the Dana 61 with a higher ration,

If its just moving the spring perches thats not a problem, i just want a rear to fit correctly on overall width.

[Scotty's 52 F3]

I never heard the 4WD axles are narrower. Good to know if that is accurate. A tape measure is all you need to be sure. I could make mine a 4X4 if that is the case! Just need a divorced T-case.

I just bolted in the Dana 60 as is but, I really should correct my pinion angle. I have no vibration but, it may be a problem over time? You are right about moving spring perches being easy to do so I may as well.

Good luck with your search.

[skidmarks]

The narrow measurement is just the spring perch location and the 4wd frames were narrow like all the earlier trucks both 2wd and 4wd. It just stated the later 70s ford 2wd pickups had wider frames and wider spring perch location.

It never mentioned the overall width of just the rear

[49fordv8f4]

The frames were widened on the 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks in '76 or '77 to about 37" from the SAE standard of 34". I believe the track width was widened in '73, hence the recommendation for the Dana 60 '72 and earlier for the older trucks.
Mark