85 2wd C&C Dump 4x4 Conversion

So, at the suggestion of Gary, I am starting this thread on my current project: 1985 2wd F350 C&C conversion to 4x4 with a Dana 60 kingpin front axle.

I will post some pictures of my project tomorrow but I wanted to at least start the thread and give a little background.

The project started when I found the 2wd 460 4sp dump truck for sale for a pretty fair price because it wasn't running (probably due to a timing assembly issue). I already had in 1986 460 4sp 4x4 extended cab, So my original thoughts were to just take the dump bed assembly and put it on my 86...

Well as ideas sometimes do, that plan changed. First and foremost being naive when I bought the two-wheel drive I did not realize it was a C&C. And as I now know the frames from the cab back are different on the C&C and passenger trucks. Oops. Anyhow after I got the bed off my 86 I realized it was not suitable for a dump bed in it's current state. And that is all beyond seeing the differences in the frame structure and leaf springs that were on the C&C dually. So truthfully my mistake turned out to be a blessing in disguise for what I want this truck for.

So the good news was I had a four-wheel drive, running drivetrain I could use out of my '86. Now all I needed was some way to get power to the front wheels. My original thought was to just use my Dana 50 TTB that I already had... But there were some problems with that. First of all the gear ratio was wrong (the Dana 70 HD dually axle had 410 gears, my ttb did not) and second of all the cross member under the engine on the 2wd is a little bit different than a 4wd. These differences aren't drastic but they are enough that it would have made mounting the pivot brackets for the TTB at least somewhat complicated. If anyone would like some more information on those differences I could explain further.

So that realization also became a blessing in disguise because that is how I wound up with my Dana 60 kingpin axle already with the correct gear ratio and set up for a dually to boot. I mean I am using this truck as a dump truck on my farm... I don't really have any specific issues with the Dana 50 but I think we can all admit they have their limitations for heavy duty use.

Anyhow the axle is installed and within the next few days I should be getting the motor and transmission in. So hopefully I will get some pictures uploaded tomorrow in chronological order of some of the major steps in the transformation.

Thanks everyone and I'm excited to keep anyone updated on the project that's interested. I'm by no means an expert but I'm also happy to try to answer any questions anyone might have.

I'm following along.  

It's a good thing you were able to find a D60 with extended hubs for dually wheels.
Did you get the double cardan front driveshaft along with the axle?
Do you have the deeper F350 pitman arm, or are you going aftermarket for that and a panhard bar mount?

Hopefully you can part out the rest of your old 250 and take some of the sting out.

Bill - I'll be following as well.  And Jim is asking good questions, the same ones I had to work through on Big Blue.

I look forward to the journey and the pictures!

As for the panhard/track bar mount, the axle did come with that. So, hopefully that works.

As for the pitman arm, I haven't officially gotten there yet as it's kind of difficult to gauge much on ride height etc without the motor in. I have the linkage temporarily just help into to place with the one off my 4x4. Any advice or tips on this would be appreciated.

Unfortunately the axle did not come with the front driveshaft. So, assuming the one out of 4x4 won't work, I will likely just have one made. I will have to either have one of rear drive shafts I have shortened or new one made anyhow.

Just get a junkyard driveshaft from another 350.
It will have the double cardan yoke you need to get the pinion angle right and will cost WAY less than a new joint from the power transmission shop.

I can look it up new from Spicer, but the last time I checked I had to sit down and catch my breath.

Actually they're not as bad as I thought.
$280 from JBG (plus tax and shipping, of course)
Still pricey if you can get one from salvage for $25.
New universals are what, $20 each?

I'm not sure which transfer case you have from your 250 supercab.
Probably a BW 1345????  (Edit, rereading your intro, yes 1345)

You need to make sure the front output shaft matches the 350 driveshaft (or you get the one you need from the donor)

Looking at Dana/Spicer I see now that their MSRP for a 92389 double cardan weld on unit is $349.76.
That's for just the joint that would then have to be welded to your shortened driveshaft.
So... probably another $100 to have an existing shaft cut, welded and balanced.

That's why I said it was pretty shocking.

Yikes. Yeah finding something like that at a junkyard in these parts is becoming, shall we say, challenging.

I have a 1345.

As for selling some of the 86 stuff to take out the sting, it doesn't appear I can give that stuff away unless it's a scrapyard

Now you've got me wondering how much of a mess I might have on my hands with the rear driveshaft...

It is probably $75-100 to cut, weld and balance a driveshaft.
(I'm not sure of prices in Ohio)

Just make sure you get the proper universal yoke welded on that fits the transfer case output shaft.
While there are bastard (or combination) universals, they are more expensive and you want something easily available to repair farm equipment.

I'm sure you (or your scrap yard) can find a front driveshaft in the Hollander interchange.
If they don't have a driveshaft they can get it.

Maybe you can do some horse trading?
What condition is your 250 in?
A nice door is worth a driveshaft!
What about the transmission coming out of the C&C?

Make sure to get the tranny cover with the transfer case shifter hole out of the 250!

Just about everything that's worth saving on the 250 is being used or kept. I have messed with these trucks long enough to know having a parts donor sitting around isn't a bad thing.  Obviously the C&C 2wd suspension is on the auction block as well as the Dana 50 and the sterling rear axle.  I'm also not going to get rid of much else until she's up and going.

The tranny and transfer shifter plate is out! 😉

I'll do some checking around maybe the drive shaft isn't as much of a unicorn as I first thought. My first text to someone said that he might have one

Oh and the tranny out of the 2wd is a 4 sp... So it gets to stay too

350's are common enough.
There's no unicorn there.

You had me concerned a second when you spoke of scrapping the 250.
I've seen many times on the forum where someone parted a truck and tossed a key component without realizing it.

Are you saving the T-19 for its guts?
Because it won't have the right tailshaft to bolt to the transfer case even if you pull off the housing.

Oh no. I was really just talking about those three major components the 2wfld suspension, the TTB, and the sterling. I know that I will have no use in any of those three things

What ratio are your 250 axles?  3.55? 3.73?

True on T19 but I already have one with the correct tail shaft and transfer case adapter that's going in the truck so assuming that's not what breaks I could convert it to four-wheel drive

3.55. Although I do have a front pumpkin assembly for the 50 for 410's... Oops

4.10 is the carrier split, so it is a different animal than the 3.55