FSB front and rear ends, good deal?

[Nightstick]

I had a guy offer to sell me the front and rear ends hub to hub from a 78/79 FSB for $500 as long as I pull them myself (I'm doing a full width axle conversion).

Is that a good deal, and can I use the disc brakes that are on it?

How much am I looking cost wise for any adapters/brackets?

Should I also inquire about the PS components?

 

[fungus]

Well, I just paid a guy $600 out here in HI for the complete drivetrain AND 4x4 p/s box from a '77 F-150 (front/ rear ends, NP-435/ 205) and HE pulled them all for me. I do feel like I got a damn good deal and don't think $500 is out of the ball park for you. I'd see if he'd atleast throw in the steering box with the axles.

Now... '78/79 big Bronco front end is going to have the "cast" C wedges on the axle housing so you will NOT be able to cut them off and move them in to EB width. You can either live with the resulting bow in the coil springs (many do w/ no adverse affects on articulation) OR you can go w/ some adjustable coil buckets from Ballistic (I believe) that will take most of the bow out. I'm sure there are some other alternatives for you as well. As for the radius arms, some have run stockers and just pushed them in to mount in the stock mounts on the frame, you can move the frame mounts outboard, or run some extended arms w/ new frame mounts...

For the rear, you'll just have to move the leaf spring perches in to EB width and you're set.

 

[bmc69]

Now... '78/79 big Bronco front end is going to have the "cast" C wedges on the axle housing so you will NOT be able to cut them off and move them in to EB width.

Huh?...I narrow them all the time to EB width. Its a piece of cake. The one in my '69 trail rig is exactly that and I've narrowed several for other folks too.

Oh..$500 is considered about right for a complete 78/79 parts truck around here. But its alos true that just the axles alone can sell for as much as 500 too..in some places.

 

[fungus]

Huh?...I narrow them all the time to EB width. Its a piece of cake. The one in my '69 trail rig is exactly that and I've narrowed several for other folks too.

Oh..$500 is considered about right for a complete 78/79 parts truck around here. But its alos true that just the axles alone can sell for as much as 500 too..in some places.

You narrow the whole housing to EB width or move the C wedges in to EB width? I was commenting on moving the cast "C" wedges in, NOT narrowing the axle housing...

 

[Nightstick]

Good info guys, thanks... I'm in no hurry to buy the parts so maybe I'll wait till something better comes along. What perked my interest was that I could kill two birds with one stone getting the discs as well. I might be more inclined to get them if they were already pulled.

Since I'm stuck in the planning stage for the time being I change my mind every five minutes on what I wanna do. Had I paid a couple thousand less for my rig the decision would be simple, trail rig all the way. But I didn't so theres my dilema

 

[broncnaz]

Probably a fair deal. Wouldnt really call it good as I like to get stuff cheap as possible. I got a complete 78/79 front axle for $50 once to me that was a good deal.
If your doing a FW swap then of course the front disc brakes will work why wouldnt they.
I would try to wheel and deal with the guy tell him you want the axles and steering box for that price. Also take the trac bar,tierods and radius arms.

 

[fungus]

Oh yeah, real good way to get disc brakes by going w/ FW axles...

 

[bmc69]

You narrow the whole housing to EB width or move the C wedges in to EB width? I was commenting on moving the cast "C" wedges in, NOT narrowing the axle housing...

Move just the wedges?...to keep it full width and try to get the wedges under the EB spring towers, I'm assuming? What do you do with the short side wedges in that case? I could go down in the shop and look at the '76 F-150 axle under the '69 I guess...and answer my own question. LOL;D

 

[ztoolman44]

Seems a little high for around here. I picked up a 79 bronco complete/not running for $300. Took everything I needed off it, sold the rims, tires and lift, gave the fancy intake and carb to a buddy then took the shell to a parts yard and gave it to the guy in exchange for "future" stuff I might need from his place. Its always nice to get the whole truck if possible so you can grab all the little things that go with the big parts.