i am getting to the point where its time to swap out the gears in my 55 ford for something more highway friendly, i already got a carrier for the 3.52 and down gears , and was told once i can swap it in using my existing spider gears for the 19 spline axle. i still am trying to find a set of 3.07 gears, but since the task is on the horizon, figured i would throw it back out there for imput and advice. i really wanted to keep the dana vs a 9 inch, even though i could probaly keep my new brakes, i got new bearings and seals in it and a purrrty finned cover. it would have to be a 9 inch outa a 58-72 pickup and i would still be swappin gears to get it where i want it. i never dug into a axle so any advice is appreciated lance
Don't know what info you need, but those Dana 44's are popular with the 4-wheeling set. A variety of limited slips/posi/spools are available, including air lockers and the OX locker (a cable actuated locker that will allow you to run an open diff until you want the lockup for launch). Also any gear ratio you want, as well as axle shafts galore. Pick up any 4x4 mag and go shopping....
If you're sure it's a dana 44 you might find some gears on epay....they were used in the front of 4x4s in the 70s....watch out you don't get that crazy Ford backwards stuff though....try 8047213706 for example I probably have a shop manual I could scan with the rebuild info, if you can't find it anywhere. Try the local library for shop manuals, like for 70s trucks, you might get lucky.
I have a Dana 44 out of the rear of a '70 IH Scout. 3.73:1 posi, the Scout was a 4-cylinder 4-speed unit and I'm guessing this would be standard set-up. It had an "All-Wheel Drive" emblem on the side, I think that was because of the posi rear, might help you find one in the boneyard - don't think all earlier Scouts had posi...
I've got some buddies here at work who are into 'wheeling, and they've said the Dana 44 is the cheapest rear to build--it seems it was under EVERYTHING forever. They're strong, and really innexpensive to build. as was stated earlier, check the 4x4 suppliers. -Brad
Studebakers had Dana 44's also. Matter of fact, I used to have a 3.07 geared 44, but sold it about a year ago to a local guy to put in his '55 Stude. If there are any local Studebaker guys, you might check with them. -Aaron
You'll find them in internationals, Checker cabs, and other brands that could not afford to build their own. Even Chevy and Ford pickups used the 44 rearend in a few applications, and GMC used them quite a bit.
Look in Jeep J-trucks with a V8. Most of them will have a gear like a 3.07 and the truck will either have a Dana 44 (J10) or Dana 60 (J20). At least they did through the 70's and into the 80's.
do any of you know if the axle housing varied at all between the years?.. or if it was the same type of housing and carriers and spiders for the last 50 years or so. problem i pondered before is the later axles are mostly 30 spline, so that made me question the ability to swap spider gears, i know the older jeeps ran the same wheel bolt pattern, but is there any diagrams around or ya know of any 4x4 forums where i can find axle width dimensions if they vary. i guess i wanna ask a lota stupid questions this time before i get my hands dirty and end up with more s**** metal or stuff i broke. thanks guys for the help.. i think i am gonna run out to the drivetrain shop that cut my driveshaft for the 55, see if they got anything laying around they wanna sell. i figured most 4x4 guys toss these for the stump pullin gears. guess i wanna figure out if yoke splines varied in years also.
one of my 59 chevy pickups came with the rare posi option....it has a Dana 40 axle, which looks like a 44, but it's co**** spline, and one pinion bearing is a different size. So you might want to double check what rearend you have. Often they have the model number cast into the housing.
the 44 is a good axle ,you may have to change the carrier for 3:07s .ill have to check my ****er book.give me a call i build allot of dana44s .i work at a 4x4 shop 918-857-5279 mike
I used to visit a great 4X4 Forum a year or so ago http://www.ultimatejeep.com/Forums.html They have spiffed-up the website and my old login no longer works but there are some super-sharp Jeep guys there for 4X4 questions. For I-H applications try http://www.binderbulletin.org/ Some of these 4X4 guys are almost as cool as the HAMB crowd. (I remember when my wife wouldn't let me go near the 4X4s and Vans at the Car Shows 'cause that's where all the tatooed chicks hung-out! That's the bottom-line on "synergy" between the HAMB and the 4X4 crowd IMHO!) Vans? Oooh, I'm dated now!
thanks for the resources guys, i sure do appreciate it. probaly take you up on your offer bulletproof1 if i could get a few mins of your time. i am gonna keep diggin in so i find the right questions to ask. i am gonna dig out that carrier i got to run the 3.07 and pull its numbers and measure it with the caliper so i can compare it to the carrier i pull.
The side fear will interchange to use your stock axles, unless you go to a posi. GM 4x4 almost all had 3.07 gears in the 70;s, and used a 44 in the front.
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