F350 DRW Axle

[1971fordcustom]

I have a 71 350 with DRW the rear axle has seen it's better days. So I'm on the hunt for another axle but I really don't know what year I should be looking for that will work the best under the truck.. I know where there is a few mid 70s f350 drw sitting at. THX.

[two-bit]

If i remember correctly you are in luck!
I did this swap a long time ago for '68 F-350 DRW. If i remember right, we grabbed a drw rear end from a '76/'77 cab chassis truck.
I believe it was a bolt in operation.
Big thing to watch out for is spring perch locations.
Measure the distance apart on your perches.
Then measure your frame rails, outside to outside. Should be 34" if i remember right on the frame rails.

I am pretty damn sure the DRW dentside trucks had the same frame width, and spring perch locations.
Aside from gear ratio matching, you will gain fine spline D70 axles, along with a little bit, (not much) beefier center section.

Your '71 (if stock) currently has coarse spline axles, and if its a non-posi unit, a slightly weaker center section.

If you can find them. Check the 80' to '86 or even up to '91 DRW chassis. If the numbers (measurements) match. It should bolt in. Most of those trucks had the Sterling 10.25 DRW rear which is an awesome upgrade from your stock D70. Between the Sterling and Dana, i do not know if the yolks use the same u-joint.
Good luck.
Two-bit

[Ranchero50]

Ditto, I went with a 90's 10.25 in 3.5 gear set and got the big U joint upgrade as well.

[two-bit]

Good to know. Was the 10.25 a bolt in? Perches and ect? What did you do about u-joints?
I may look into this swap a little closer. A 10.25 would be a very nice upgrade.

Two-bit

[Ranchero50]

I had a Dodge 47rh with big joints already and a couple other chunks of big U joint pipe with a carrier bearing so I cobbled together my own drive shafts. I just turned the ends on a lathe at work to get the pipe and joint mounts running true. With careful tacking the welds turned out fine and believe it or not, not a tiny bit of vibration from the drive line.

I just measured the spring center width of the '70 and found another that matched. My buddy had a bunch of them sitting around his farm so I just found one that looked good and fit. I did have $50 or so in new larger U bolts (5/8 I think).