There is a stripped chassis on E-bay where the condition of the axles and transfer case is unknown, except its missing its cab, body, engine, right front axle shaft, and driveshaft (Np205 to Dana 60). From experience this tells me the drivetrain has been trashed especially with 16x10 rims (no tires) on it.

I want to buy it to rebuild it and transfer my cab, body, and wiring to it. Unfortunately, no title. It appears to have a good NP435 and the bell housing on my own NP-435 is cracked in 1/2, oops :-(

I have been pretty brutal on my Dana 44 and I am wondering if the Dana 44 HD is that much better. I do want the power steering and disc brakes, but, I am wondering if I am just going to throw good money after bad.

God willing, I will have a garage in a month or two.

I want to put retread 35s on for my off-road and logging stuff, I really do not do much highway and I would probably go Rockwells if it did not cost so much for the tires and rims. I figure between 20 inch rims and 40-44 inch tires I will be looking at $2000+ just for five used tires and rims.

If I have popped an axle off my 9 inch, broken my bellhousing, had to repair my Dana 21, and have to repair my Dana 44 just using 31s, on my used and abused worn out 390, is the Dana 44HD with 35s going to hack it if I baby it with a load of wood in the bed?

Or is it a total waste and should I keep looking for a cheap front Dana 60 or whole F-350? I have been leaning towards a Currie Plus 9 for the front of my F-100, though at this point I think a total truck upgrade might be in order, hence buying the F-250 chassis.

I have never owned or worked on a Dana 44 HD (that I can remember) so I am kind of flying blind towards the purchase.

 

I would personally keep the search going for the Dana 60 front. At least I have the Dana 44 (whether or not it is HD i don't know) I'd give it up for nothing if I got a 60.

 

I have a D44HD that was under my 84, it's going under my 69 shortly. It's a very stout axle, especially the way I am trussing mine up.......
The only real problem with them is in a heavy truck, with a locker, good traction, and a bit of power, you can blow the u-joints or hubs pretty easily, especillay if it has external hubs. I jumped the front end of my 84 a few feet off the ground several times, had some pretty hard landings, and even managed to hit a curb at about 50 while avoiding a little ricer, and the housing checks out perfectly straight.

 

The housing is tough like ford six said, but the driveline parts are exactly the same.

 

Has a 76 hiboy with a D44HD under the front but Fortunately i have the 1ton lockouts on it. But unfortunately i stripped a couple of gears in the diff trying to pull someone out of a Rock Garden.

 

One thought is get the 35 spline ARB for the Dana 44. Then get axles to match along with heavy duty U-Joints like Ox or CTM.

 

they are still weak in the spider gearslike any 44. never blew a ujoint on my44 but has stripped a few sets a spiders gears.

 

I read a thread sometime ago that said Ox went out of business and yes i was informed that spider gears are weak that's why when i fix my front end i'm putting in a locker.

 

I have heard the same thing about Ox, but contrary to popular belief they are still in business. They have been going thru some upgrades on thier products, and thier web sight is http://www.oxbrand.com/

I too have shattered spider gears in several vehicles. And even exploded an Eaton limited slip carier in my Bronco 8.8 rear end(in my driveway of all places). I now have an ARB and 4.56 gears in the rear. For the front Dana 44 in my Bronco I have another ARB and 4.56 gears that I am planning on installing soon. The ARB for my front end is of the 35 spline upgrade, and I believe it is for all Dana 44s. I do have a set of Ox U-Joints that I'm planning on using too.

 

Well, the price came down to $500 (from $800) and it did not sell on E-Bay. The guy is going to pull the front cover, so, God willing, I am going to pick it up Sunday. I am still going to try to find a front Dana 60 somewhere, but, will use this axle if it is not nuked.

I rather have the Dana 60, but, they are hard to find in GA since most Fords came 2x4s and most 4x4s have Dana 44s in them since there are not too many F-350s except 2x4s.

There was a truck in NJ that had a front 2.5 ton axle and Dana 70 in the back, but, I was not willing to drive that far.

My front mini-king pins are cooked, I need something soon. I can't believe the PO put in METRIC bolts to hold the king pin caps in. Needlessly to say, they stripped out. I wanted to put reg. bolts in from the driveshaft side of the yoke, but, I do not think they will fit without grinding the yoke.

I hope to change the chassis into a crew cab 4x4 with a six foot dump that can hold a 1/2 a cord of wood (2000-2500 pounds).