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'99 F450 Pro's/Con's?

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Old 12-13-2010 | 06:25 PM
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Originally Posted by RT930turbo
What were the major differences between the 350 and 450 of this era? Rear end gear?
450 = Dana 110 rear axle with 4.30, 4.88, or maybe even 5.13 rear gears
350 = Dana 80 and 3.73 or 4.10 gears.

If you want to install a dually pick up bed it's not a bolt on deal but not hard to do. The 450 has a narrower rear frame width and the cab to axle length is also about 5 inches longer than a 350 so you'll have to fabricate the bed mounting and there will be a 5 inch gap between the cab and bed if you center the wheel in the rear fender. You'd also have to add a fuel fill door to the back of the fender with that tank. Manning did these conversions for Ford and has the parts but I'm not sure they will sell them outright? The 450 has 19.5 wheels and tires with big brakes. Tires are 14 or 16 ply, really eliminate sway with a heavy load, last twice as long as 350 tires, ride like a rock even when aired down to 75 psi for empty driving, and will cost around $300 each to replace. The big brakes work great. Supposedly the 450 / 550 engine calibration has less power than the 350 calibration but with the 450's steeper rear gear not sure you'd notice it much.

Overall these trucks are great tow vehicles but not as comfortable as a 350 to drive around empty. Realistic top speed with 4.88's and auto trans is 70 MPH.............that will be 2500 RPM and get you around 12 MPG empty if that's where you drive it. Hope that helps.
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Old 12-13-2010 | 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by pat@osp
450 = Dana 110 rear axle with 4.30, 4.88, or maybe even 5.13 rear gears
350 = Dana 80 and 3.73 or 4.10 gears.

If you want to install a dually pick up bed it's not a bolt on deal but not hard to do. The 450 has a narrower rear frame width and the cab to axle length is also about 5 inches longer than a 350 so you'll have to fabricate the bed mounting and there will be a 5 inch gap between the cab and bed if you center the wheel in the rear fender. You'd also have to add a fuel fill door to the back of the fender with that tank. Manning did these conversions for Ford and has the parts but I'm not sure they will sell them outright? The 450 has 19.5 wheels and tires with big brakes. Tires are 14 or 16 ply, really eliminate sway with a heavy load, last twice as long as 350 tires, ride like a rock even when aired down to 75 psi for empty driving, and will cost around $300 each to replace. The big brakes work great. Supposedly the 450 / 550 engine calibration has less power than the 350 calibration but with the 450's steeper rear gear not sure you'd notice it much.

Overall these trucks are great tow vehicles but not as comfortable as a 350 to drive around empty. Realistic top speed with 4.88's and auto trans is 70 MPH.............that will be 2500 RPM and get you around 12 MPG empty if that's where you drive it. Hope that helps.
great post!
Smoke stacks will fill the 5" gap nicely
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Old 12-13-2010 | 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Jupiter Sunsation
Find out what it was used for. If it had a dump bed on it and was used for roofing/landscaping that interior is going to be ripe! Ever want to fvck up someone's car, leave a bag full of cut grass/mulch in the interior overnight after a hot day in the sun.......whew it will never be right again!
That's the truth! He sent me interior pics, it's WAY cleaner than I expected. It's clearly been detailed, and it looks great. It is the stripped out vinyl interior, but it looks well taken care of.

Originally Posted by pat@osp
450 = Dana 110 rear axle with 4.30, 4.88, or maybe even 5.13 rear gears
350 = Dana 80 and 3.73 or 4.10 gears.

If you want to install a dually pick up bed it's not a bolt on deal but not hard to do. The 450 has a narrower rear frame width and the cab to axle length is also about 5 inches longer than a 350 so you'll have to fabricate the bed mounting and there will be a 5 inch gap between the cab and bed if you center the wheel in the rear fender. You'd also have to add a fuel fill door to the back of the fender with that tank. Manning did these conversions for Ford and has the parts but I'm not sure they will sell them outright? The 450 has 19.5 wheels and tires with big brakes. Tires are 14 or 16 ply, really eliminate sway with a heavy load, last twice as long as 350 tires, ride like a rock even when aired down to 75 psi for empty driving, and will cost around $300 each to replace. The big brakes work great. Supposedly the 450 / 550 engine calibration has less power than the 350 calibration but with the 450's steeper rear gear not sure you'd notice it much.

Overall these trucks are great tow vehicles but not as comfortable as a 350 to drive around empty. Realistic top speed with 4.88's and auto trans is 70 MPH.............that will be 2500 RPM and get you around 12 MPG empty if that's where you drive it. Hope that helps.
Thanks! Great info... I figured there would be a bit of a gap between the cab and the bed.

Is the 4.30 the tallest gear available for the Dana 110, even aftermarket?
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Old 12-13-2010 | 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Westcoast
great post!
Smoke stacks will fill the 5" gap nicely
And the soot will look GREAT all over my white boat interior!
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Old 12-13-2010 | 06:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Jupiter Sunsation
Find out what it was used for. If it had a dump bed on it and was used for roofing/landscaping that interior is going to be ripe! Ever want to fvck up someone's car, leave a bag full of cut grass/mulch in the interior overnight after a hot day in the sun.......whew it will never be right again!
was used for roofing/landscaping that interior is going to be ripe!

how the phuch can you make a statement like that ??????? so they stored the grass clippings & leaves under the seat that would'nt fit in the bed ? thank god hes not looking for a cab/chassis off a septic pumper,or a garbage truck ...
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Old 12-13-2010 | 06:47 PM
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[QUOTE=RT930turbo;3273757]That's the truth! He sent me interior pics, it's WAY cleaner than I expected. It's clearly been detailed, and it looks great. It is the stripped out vinyl interior, but it looks well taken care of.



sounds like if you go take a look see you'll be driving it home
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Old 12-13-2010 | 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by RunninHotRacing158
was used for roofing/landscaping that interior is going to be ripe!

how the phuch can you make a statement like that ??????? so they stored the grass clippings & leaves under the seat that would'nt fit in the bed ? thank god hes not looking for a cab/chassis off a septic pumper,or a garbage truck ...

RHR the smell just gets in there from the crew getting in/out all day long, sweaty/dirty. The vinyl/rubber seems to absorb the stench.
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Old 12-13-2010 | 07:21 PM
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Originally Posted by RT930turbo
Is the 4.30 the tallest gear available for the Dana 110, even aftermarket?
Good question..............not sure if there is anything taller than 4.30's for the 110 rear? On my 550 4x4 I'm going to install a Gear Vendors overdrive. It gives a 4.88 truck an effective rear gear of about a 3.80 when engaged and can be set up to shift automatically so it'll make the truck act like it has a 5 speed auto. Costs about $3k and you also have to shorten the driveshaft.
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Old 12-13-2010 | 07:34 PM
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2WD could make for some interesting times pulling a boat up a wet ramp...
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Old 12-13-2010 | 08:00 PM
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I've been on some steep ramps and never put my truck in 4X4 - BUT I do have it. I'm sure though that some of those Fresh Water ramps have some nasty algae at the bottom.....
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