Technical Is my DANA 44 A "Limited Slip"?

I have a 1/2 ton 6 lug 65 GMC Pickup Truck "rear-end" it's a Dana 44 and has a 3:54 gear ratio.
I want to make sure it's a "limited slip" or what ever Dana's are called. (yes the wheels spin in the same direction)
What do they look like?
I'm familiar with the Chevy Posi units but I no nothing about the Dana 44's.
Some one has in the past took of the two ID tags and did not put them back on and the stamped numbers on the axle tube are not legible so I just need help IDing by the pictures I have posted if they will help?
Also is this Dana 44 a 19 spline?
Thank you all in advance for your help it's very much appreciated.

1Nimrod
(Dustin)

 

yeah, yours is limited slip, since the center part has bolts holding the halves together....the "open" type that is not limited slip looks like this

 

also, are you sure it's a 44? Does it say 44 on the outer housing somewhere? looks like it might be a 60, which is what many of the early-mid 1960s GMC half tons used. I have one of those that I put into my 59 chevy pickup, and I had a 63 with one.

 

If it is a 44 it should have 44 cast into the left hand bottom corner facing the rear cover am I right saying that?
PS. I added one more pic I received yesterday from my cousin who has it he's not home so I can not have him check the lower corner for the casting number. I'm looking to buy it from him $450 is that a decent price? And will this Dana 44 hold up to a nicely built 327 with a TH350 trans/2200 stall converter in my 63 C10?
Thanks again for your help...

1Nimrod
(Dustin)

 

Yeah, it sure looks like a 44....
A 60 would be a bigger housing.....

 

the number on the caps is for the 44, so that must be what it is. I'm not very good at judging the size of stuff in pictures without some reference.

450 is a reasonable price if it's in good condition, but it's hard to tell that without taking it all apart and see if any of the races have spun on/in the cast parts. That's one thing that happens to these rears.

As for strength, yes, it should be fine for that application.

 

Thank you both for all your help.
I will check it out the best I can.
I'm trying to decide whether to go through my original 63 C10 rear-end and make it like the heavier 64-72 type with the 30+ splines an better axles and the Eaton or similar limited slip differential. Or buy the Dana 44 out of the GMC 65 truck.
Oh the confusion Hot Rod's puts on one's mind...
Hope y'all have a great day...

1Nimrod
(Dustin)

 

look at the brakes too, the GMC uses a different drum that you can't buy new any longer.

 

I thought the 10 bolt covered rears were 44’s and the 12 bolts 60’s. Did they have a 10 bolt 60 as well?

 

If the wheels spin in the same direction it is limited slip (posi) or a locker.

 

Yes I saw that they discontinued the rear drum brakes year's ago. It has decent ones on it now.
Lot's for me to consider. Should I stay with the 63 C10 original in my truck and rebuild it or just buy the 65 GMC Dana 44 complete?
...
Thanks again everyone...

1Nimrod
(Dustin)

 

Yes. That is a ****er Power-lok diff.

 

also look at the mounts...it's not so easy to put the panhard bar mount on the Dana rear.

Dana 60 is also a 10 bolt cover. It's just bigger than the 44, it looks the same.

 

I can get all the leaf spring mounts and U-bolts (and shock mounts and spring mounts if I need them) all that I need to make the 65 GMC rear-end fit into my 63 C10 truck. Still weighing it all out.
Either way lots of work...
What do you think Trailer Park Trash?

1Nimrod
(Dustin)

 

Is it the gear ratio you are after, or the posi, or both? About 15 years ago I picked up the same rearend as you’re looking at, after bearings, seals, discs for the posi, it added a good 300 to my buy of a 100 bucks. I’d imagine that price would be higher now.
Squirrel mentioned the the race ways, my pinion race was wallowed out as well. Had to get creative to stake it out and use loc***e bearing retainer.
So ***uming (my ***umption) you might need to put a few hundred into a 450 dollar rearend, would the money be better spent upgrading yours? I’ve no idea on parts availability for your current rear, just giving you another thing to think about

 

Exactly what I was thinking as well lots to consider for sure...
Thanks everyone again for all your help it's very much appreciated...

1Nimrod
(Dustin)

 

also....just remembered about the parking brake cables. They use a bolt on end at the backing plate on the GMC, and snap in on the Chevy. Best solution is to get the cables and the rest of the system from the GMC, if possible.

 

The only Dana 44 I ever owned was in a 1975 IH Scout II. The Scout did have an IH 392 CID engine swapped in. Mostly interstate miles - it did get one beating on the Calico (CA) off road trail (broke a couple of rear spring leafs - still was able to drive it home). That axle never gave me problems.

I am a firm believer in the "Not sufficiently broken" theory of automotive repair. If you rebuild/replace everything on the truck, it might be years before you get the truck on the road. With everything replaced, troubleshooting can be a nightmare, because everything was replaced.

If their is nothing major wrong with this Dana 44 axle, just drive the truck for a while. A 3:54 axle ratio is a decent compromise between the extremes of towing heavy loads and long distance interstate trips. Just drive the C-10 for a while, the truck will tell you what it wants.

If your plans include serious drag racing, go with the limited slip. The 3rd picture in your 1st post shows 46-13, a 3:56 ratio just like your chevy open diff.

Russ

 

Starting over, the computer "ate" my reply <sigh>.

The only Dana 44 axle I've owned was in a 1975 Scout II, behind a swapped-in IH 392 CID engine. Mostly interstate miles and one beating (broke a couple of rear spring leafs - was able to drive it home) on a Calico, CA off road trail. Axle never gave me problems.

I am a firm believer in the "Not sufficiently broken" theory of car repair. The problem with fixing everything at once is that it can take months (often years - that is why there are so many "project" vehicles for sale) to get it on the road. Trouble shooting is a big headache, all systems are modified...

IF there is nothing major wrong with your Chevy axle, just finish the truck and get some miles on the truck. After driving the C-10 for a while, the C-10 will "tell" you what it wants.

The 46-13 stamped on the GMC ring gear calculates out to a 3:54 ratio. No advantage to this unless you intend to do some serious drag racing (and then you will probably want to change the ratio). And this C-10 is much too nice to drive on the snow and ice.

Russ

 

Being quite late, your Dana rear end should have 30 spline axles. There isn't as much difference in the size of the two versions as you might think. Here they are side by side 30 spline on the left.

One of the things I prefer with the Dana rear end against the 10 bolt/12 bolt rears is that they have pressed on ball race wheel bearings which won't cause wear to the axles like the GM roller bearing setup does.

 

Thanks my friend I'm truly considering to just do a good old fashion sit back and think about it for a good while bcuz the 65 GMC parts truck isn't going away anytime soon. I like the limited slip 3:54 gear ratio I have 3:73 in my C10 now one wheel wonder I looked up cost to convert to the newer 64-72 type with limited slip complete package to rebuild mine close to $1000 so that was the only reason I was thinking about the 65 GMC Dana 44 rear-end. But I'm going to pray about it bcuz money isn't easy to come by these days.
Thank you my friend...
And thank you all for your help...

1Nimrod
(Dustin)

 

I believe my 63 C10 is an oddball it's not like the 60-62 Chevy 12 bolt and not like the 64-72 Chevy 12 bolt.
My 63 C10 I was told by the company that wanted to sell me a conversion kit is a 19 spline and not very strong and not very good for a street rod. The kit would turn it into a 30 spline just like the much better and stronger type made in 64-72 Chevy Trucks but cost is a very big and as I was telling TTT above it made the 65 GMC Dana 44 look alot better but with everyone's input I'm going to set back and pray about it all bcuz the 65 GMC Dana 44 may have who knows how many miles on it and that could end up being a money pit as well and I don't need that.
(PS- The Dana 44 could also be a 19 spline in the 65 GMC Trucks I'm not sure what year the Dana 44 went to the 30 splines?)

Thank You and Thank You All for your help it has really made me think I should " PRAY & THINK" about it even more...

1Nimrod
(Dustin)

 

I second what Squirrel said about the brakes. My buddy picked up a 65 GMC and we couldn't get drums anywhere. His were too bad to turn. We ended up pulling backing plates off of a 10 bolt he had and redrilled the mounting holes. Brakes work as they should and parts are readily available.

 

Re***emble the C-10 and drive it for a while, don't waste the nice weather. The truck will tell you what it needs next.

Russ

 

Check the type of Axle bearings you have closely . Some require greasing annually and some are a sealed bearing .

 

I haven't pulled out the rear-end as of yet. Have been working on the grill with my Grandson Bobcat still. I can drive it no problem just ****s the gas down it still has the I6 and three on the tree low gearing with the 3:73 gear ratio in back she likes to sing a high pitch song going down the road at 55 mph no tach on her yet but she must be running up around 3200-3500 rpm at 55 mph or it just seems that way lol...

Thank You for your help my friend...

1Nimrod
(Dustin)

 

I'm with the dana 44 crowd of check it out, pull the axles and check and feel the bearings. If all feels good put it back together and follow the manufacturers recommended oils, fill it up and drive it awhile. See if your happy with the gearing before you spend any money on it and 2 to see if you actually need to spend money on it.

Anyone care to guess how many rear ends are pulled every year and put into another vehicle with nothing more than an oil change and run down the road just fine? probably most of them....

Check it out, put it in, and try it out.....

 

Dustin:
Paulz was correct on the PowerLoc. I's a very decent lsd, one I'd rather have than just about any other for the street. The 3.54 is a good compromise for the street. I'd look seriously at a 3sp OD if you keep the 3.73, 3.54 will work well w/OD, too. Esp iffen you aren't drag racing it. As mentioned, check the axle bearings for wear, & just put new gaskets & oil in it. IIRC, no Dana44s use C-clips, unlike most chev 3rd members. You might need a different length driveshaft, swapping diffs. You'll find that w/the 6banger, you won't like idling down the freeway @ 1500rpm like a late-model corvette - you don't have the power(torque) to pull it. While you can get it, cheaply will be somewhat unconventional, but tuning needed in any case. 30 spline is nice, but 19 spline isn't junk.
Marcus...

 

I agree ! That traction enhancer is the best of the clutch type!








Bones

 

Boy, you hit the nail on the head! That is my philosophy for my current project. If I fixed all its problems up front I would never have it on the road. Better to get it going, and fix things later in the order of safety, performance, comfort, and then appearance!