'99 F450 Pro's/Con's?
12-15-2010 | 10:46 AM
#51
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From: Somewhere in Ohio
stuck on the side of some back road in Spider Breath Utah with a 20k lb boat behind me and a busted overdrive that would take 3 weeks to get parts for...........all while listening to my wife commend me over the phone on how "smart" she thought I was for doing all things I do to make the truck "better"!
12-15-2010 | 11:10 AM
#52
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From: Arlington Tx
And I was a Ford guy before I was a Mopar guy;
1964 Mustang convertible 289V8
1967 Galaxy 500 351 Windsor
1970 Ford Torino GT 351 Cleveland
1973 Mercury Cyclone GT CJ428
1987 F250SC 6.9L diesel
12-15-2010 | 11:34 AM
#53
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From: Bend Oregon
Thanks Pat..
Just got off the phone with them and it looks like I'm going to live with the 4.88's..........no Gear Vendors for me 
He said that their output yoke uses a 1350 u-joint so for a 550 they do switch the front driveshaft weld yoke and u-joint to the 1350. He also brought to my attention that the max combined load capacity for the unit is 25,000 lbs and said that if I did any long distance towing even approaching that wieght this isn't the product to use. Apparently it'll make too much heat for for the fluid capacity of the unit and even with the optional $450 "commercial cooler" he said it won't be reliable for my intended use................long haul towing with heavy loads.
Thanks for bringing this u-joint deal up because the first guy I talked to at Gear Vendors never made any mention of it. I would have bought the unit, been pissed off when I found out about the smaller u-joint but probably still went ahead because I already had it in hand, and 6 months later ended up stuck on the side of some back road in Spider Breath Utah with a 20k lb boat behind me and a busted overdrive that would take 3 weeks to get parts for...........all while listening to my wife commend me over the phone on how "smart" she thought I was for doing all things I do to make the truck "better"! I could see it all happening clear as day so thanks for saving me lots of $$ and hassle
Think I'll keep it simple and just live with a 65 MPH top speed instead
He said that their output yoke uses a 1350 u-joint so for a 550 they do switch the front driveshaft weld yoke and u-joint to the 1350. He also brought to my attention that the max combined load capacity for the unit is 25,000 lbs and said that if I did any long distance towing even approaching that wieght this isn't the product to use. Apparently it'll make too much heat for for the fluid capacity of the unit and even with the optional $450 "commercial cooler" he said it won't be reliable for my intended use................long haul towing with heavy loads. Thanks for bringing this u-joint deal up because the first guy I talked to at Gear Vendors never made any mention of it. I would have bought the unit, been pissed off when I found out about the smaller u-joint but probably still went ahead because I already had it in hand, and 6 months later ended up stuck on the side of some back road in Spider Breath Utah with a 20k lb boat behind me and a busted overdrive that would take 3 weeks to get parts for...........all while listening to my wife commend me over the phone on how "smart" she thought I was for doing all things I do to make the truck "better"! I could see it all happening clear as day so thanks for saving me lots of $$ and hassle
Think I'll keep it simple and just live with a 65 MPH top speed instead
Thats what I thought when I called them. Found a local shop here that said he would put 4:10's in for $1000.00. So I am going that route. Was going to do it myself, but parts alone were over $1200.00. He must know something I don't?
Pete
12-15-2010 | 11:35 AM
#54
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From: Frankfort,ill
cool cars & keep your D@dges traded in mine with 700 miles right to the FORD dealer
12-15-2010 | 11:49 AM
#55
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From: Warwick, RI
Was that for a 110 rear? Boy that does sound cheap if so! Sure he isn't pricing out a Dana 80 gear swap?
12-15-2010 | 12:12 PM
#56
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From: Michigan
I have a '97 K3500 diesel DRW as well and have to say my '03 F350 SRW will outpull it and out handle it by far. I wouldnt be so quick to give up on SRW. Resale on the F350 would be great too.
12-15-2010 | 12:39 PM
#57
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From: Somewhere in Ohio
Agreed. I would rather go newer SRW than an older DRW anytime. For $10k you can pick up a nice F350, 4x4, A/C, non commerical and better ride, just likely have to give up the DRW.
I have a '97 K3500 diesel DRW as well and have to say my '03 F350 SRW will outpull it and out handle it by far. I wouldnt be so quick to give up on SRW. Resale on the F350 would be great too.
I have a '97 K3500 diesel DRW as well and have to say my '03 F350 SRW will outpull it and out handle it by far. I wouldnt be so quick to give up on SRW. Resale on the F350 would be great too.
The 450 does have A/C, so that puts it back on my radar screen. I'm not in a huge hurry right now.
I missed out a 2003 7.3L F350 King Ranch, every option in the book, DRW 4x4 with 145k yesterday... sold for $13,600
12-15-2010 | 09:46 PM
#58
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From: Bettendorf, Iowa
Cat, im not mad... just sayin. im a ford senior master diesel tech... and i dont know why. lol
12-15-2010 | 09:52 PM
#59
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From: Bettendorf, Iowa
Nope I don't think you are missing anything. Ring and pinion swap on a 2WD Dana 80 truck should be straight forward and not too expensive relatively speaking.
I think Throttle Fever was refering to a ring and pinion swap on a Dana 110 rear / 60 front 4x4 truck that could get pretty expensive.................maybe approaching Gear Vendors $$
I think Throttle Fever was refering to a ring and pinion swap on a Dana 110 rear / 60 front 4x4 truck that could get pretty expensive.................maybe approaching Gear Vendors $$
there are many quality ring and pinion sets for the 80 that are aftermarket. if you can read a dial indicator then you are all good. pinion depth should be just fine (swap your shims from pinion to pinion) then the only thing to set is backlash. i have set up hundreds of diff sets. the pinion depth is 99%of the time the same. the pre-load is set on most danas and the backlash is always out. but, get a good shim set and if carrier pre-load is ok. (which it will be if using your old shims and carrier again since it is the same axle housing) then proper backlash will be easy to attain.
12-15-2010 | 10:59 PM
#60
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From: Arlington Tx
Master Tech wow if you can get that POS 6.0 to run right more power to ya! 
Have you had a chance to go through the Scorp yet? How much weight does the CGI block save over the GI block?
