Identity crisis

[Ropagnani]

looking for some help in finding out what i am working with here, i was able to get this baby from a few years back, started in on it and then kids, covid, blah blah blah. I am now getting back to her but really trying to identify what i am working with. The PO was working to piece it together as a rock climber and initially i slowly started undoing that, made some changes to the dash, rewired completely and she is running nice now but a beast! apologies as i am not a hard core wrench guy but from what i understand, i have a small block chevy 350 under the hood, it is a 3 speed. i also had someone once tell me they thought i had axles from a late 80's ford 250? no idea how to confirm. I am hoping i can get some help in identifying what has been changed out and what is there as far as original vs changes. thanks ahead of time!
Bronco Album HERE

 

[Tricky Dick]

That's different. Not 80s F250, they were all TTB. Not 70s F250 either, it would have a spring perch cast into the housing. Not Wagoneer. It might just be a Bronco axle converted to leaves and late 70s F250 outers. 620048 shows as 77-79 F250.

 

[serial car restorer]

Yup, small block chevy, probably a 350. Pretty sure the axles are Chevy also. The 3 studs on the left knuckle are where the steering arm attaches. Remind me of a '79 K20 Camper Special I once had.

 

[DirtDonk]

Another possibility for the knuckles, is a 78 or 79 F150 super cab.
Those used leaf springs and that short draglink, side-facing Pitman Arm steering setup.
Would also have had the studs on the knuckle I believe.
The Dana 60 used four studs or bolts, whereas the Dana 44 might have had three. I don’t remember.
But otherwise, agreed that it would look like a GM version.
The relatively high steering arms and the five spindle bolts are what made me think of that.
Do you have pictures of your brake setup? Pictures of the calipers and brackets?

 

[DirtDonk]

Did the F250 dual piston caliper brakes also utilize five spindle bolts?

And the center section does not look Ford. Unless that’s a high opinion and doesn’t look like it, they might have utilized a non-Ford housing or early Ford housing, and later knuckles?

Can you find a BOM number stamped into the front of the long side tube? Unless it was re-tubed, it should be there somewhere.

 

[Yeller]

I agree with @Tricky Dick bronco front converted to leaf springs with 70’s f250 knuckles and brakes. Engine is definitely a small block Chevy, not the end of the world, mine doesn’t have a Ford engine either.

The transfer case is a bronco Dana 20. Am curious what the rear axle is, I’m guessing by the hubs that it is a narrowed Dana 60, maybe the same truck the front knuckles and stuff came from.

It was fairly common for leaf spring conversions on the front of broncos in the 80’s. Never understood why but it was. I always figured it was jeep guys building broncos and just didn’t know any better lol.

 

[toddz69]

That looks like a Holbrook Jeep Specialties leaf spring conversion kit.

I'm with @DirtDonk, let's see pics of the brakes. Looks like Ford knuckles since they're 5 bolts.

Todd Z.

 

[jamesroney]

Did the F250 dual piston caliper brakes also utilize five spindle bolts?

And the center section does not look Ford. Unless that’s a high opinion and doesn’t look like it, they might have utilized a non-Ford housing or early Ford housing, and later knuckles?

Can you find a BOM number stamped into the front of the long side tube? Unless it was re-tubed, it should be there somewhere.

Yes, the F250 used a 5 bolt spindle. But the clocking is different...so you can't just bolt on the 1/2 ton stuff.

One of the pics shows 8 lug wheels.

We also don't know how wide the axle is...but it does look like factory welds at the knuckles. And of course leaf spring perches. And a low pinion 44 center.

Do you ever feel like you have already answered the same question before? This thread is a duplicate from October of 2020...when the same user asked the same question. So I feel like I'm living in a re-run.

So I'm going to agree with @Yeller and @Tricky Dick that it is:

Front - 71.5-77 Early Bronco Dana 44 with shaved tubes, leaf spring perches, and 77-79 F250 Disc Brake 8 lug knuckles and outers.
Rear - 67-71 F250 8 lug full float 62 inch WMS. (or 73-79 F250 if 64 inch WMS)

 

[Ropagnani]

Did the F250 dual piston caliper brakes also utilize five spindle bolts?

And the center section does not look Ford. Unless that’s a high opinion and doesn’t look like it, they might have utilized a non-Ford housing or early Ford housing, and later knuckles?

Can you find a BOM number stamped into the front of the long side tube? Unless it was re-tubed, it should be there somewhere.

I will take a look tonight and see what i can find

 

[73azbronco]

might that be on top of a f250 frame? Would make more sense, easier i think. Have you verified vin on frame with body vin?