DRW axles on an e250?

[JPutnam]

I have a 98 e250. I am in the market to make it into a 4x4. I found a set or drw axles from a 99 f350. all the bearings have been replaced and ball joints and stuff.(or so he claims) he wants $400 for the set.

Basically I dont want my van to be a dually. So I would just try and run a single regular wheel in the rear. I know the axles are like 6inches wider than the srw axles. Im fine with the extra width.

I want to do a 6" lift with 37s or 40s.

any input on these axles? should I grab them and use them? would it be just like putting SRW axles on? or would I run in to a ton of issues?

thanks all.

oh also my van is cng. Mostly street driven. like 90% of the time. has anyone made a dedicated CNG van 4x4?

im also pretty interested in how much gas milage has changed for you guys once you went 4x4. I get from 11 to 17mpg depending on how much i use the ac and the gas pedal.

 

[ujoint]

That's a REALLY good price for the axles. The 99 front DRW axle is a true Dana 60, and the rear is an 80. Even if you just got the front axle for $400 you're in good shape. You could run a single wheel on it, or swap that 80 for a Sterling 10.5. I'll take the 80 off your hands!

 

[Betarocker]

The D80 is about 4" wider overall from mounting surface to mounting surface than the 10.25"/10.5" Sterlings.

 

[Abitibi]

That is one thing I should have considered when I was shopping for my axles. For some reason I didn't clue in that I could use my DRW from my ambulance instead of buying a Sterling 10.5

Just today I was measuring it and noticed how much narrower my new axle is compared to my dually. Sounds like I'll have to use a spacer when I could have simply used my stock ambo axle...

How easy is it to find aftermarket (lockers...) for the 80?

Cheers
Mr. D

 

[JPutnam]

looks like i commited to buying the axles.

ujoint, yeah thats why i was asking about them. way too good of a deal to pass on.

betarocker. thanks. I was told they were 4 to 8 inches wider. lol so I went with 6.

mr. d I honestly have no clue about the lockers. I am interested aswell. its been over 13 years since I did any truck stuff. and that was just samurais. lol.

 

[ujoint]

D80 lockers are pretty expensive.

 

[Betarocker]

ARB has a locker for the D80. Similar price to a Sterling version.