hey guys, I'm planning on swapping my TTB out of my '81, as seen in my signature, for a solid 44 out of a '79 Bronco. The axle is set up for coil springs so that part is gonna work great, me thinks. I'm also planning on lifting my truck 4" as I've read that the solid 44 won't clear the engine cross member. That's fine because I wanted to lift it anyway for looks and off road use. But now that I've been thinking about it and planning this swap, I'm not sure what year of lift kit to order? Do I buy one that fits the Bronco or will one for the '81 be compatible with the donor axle?

 

For real off road use, like are you actually going to need a straight D44? You're not swapping in any strength advantage, because they're the same axle, one's just a TTB. Not to mention, your TTB can take a lot of abuse as it is...

Otherwise, you're going to need the axle, coil perches, shock perches, radius arms, and radius arm brackets. After that you need to order coils for whatever year you use (most likely 78-79, 80+ is a stiffer coil due to the design of the TTB)... next you need to bust out the plumb bobs and make sure everything is square and lined up (this is the hard part)... Oh yeah, don't forget about the track bar and fabbing it up. Oh, and making sure your gear ratios match front to rear...

Really, is it worth it for what you're going to use it for? I wheel the **** outta of my TTB with no problems. If you have some sort of complex about guys picking on you for having a TTB, that's cool... but I don't mind folks making fun of my rig, the look on their faces is worth the price of admission when I go up an obstacle with ease. TTB is great for what it is, if you take the time to understand it and learn how to drive it to it's ability. I don't normally pimp my threads, but have you read this yet? The TTB Thread...

 

The issue I seem to have with the TTB is that it doesn't seem to hold up out here on the farm...driving through fields, checkin' irrigation, chasing cattle....running down coyotes, racoons and badgers haha...I don't really do the extreme off roading stuff for fun, as in rock climbing and such, but my old trucks get their share of punishment either way. On my old 81, I hear so many things rattling around down there that I kinda have to wonder if I were to replace the worn pieces, how long till they all go to hell again? I bought an 87 f150 with a pretty tight TTB last year, and now it's already starting to get a little sloppy and noisy. But I will admit, when the TTB was tight, the ride was pretty good...I'll more than likely fix the one on my 87 as it's a daily driver anyway.

But getting back to my 81, I had bought a matching set of axles from a guy on CL with lower gears, which I was wanting to put in my truck anyway, for a good price. I've got the radius arms, transmission crossmember with radius arm brackets, coil perches, all that good stuff...I also got one other piece with it that I assume to be the track bar...aside from extracting a few broken bolts on the coil perches, I don't really think there will be much to do in the way of fab work on this swap...

I would just like to swap in this solid 44 for really only two reasons: #1 - for looks. I don't really care about the fact that a TTB looks a little stupid to some and intimidating to others, but in my personal opinion, I've always liked the way a solid axle looked under an old truck. #2 - for experimental purposes. I've read everything from those who adamantly defend the integrity of the TTB and everything from the people who routinely crucify it every chance they get. In that respect, the only way to find out if it really is any better or worse is to actually do it myself and get the experience. Worse case scenario, I absolutely hate the solid 44 and just re install the TTB back in...but I'll never know until I try....

Make any sense?

 

To each there own. Just realize this isn't a bolt in experience and it isn't as easy a swap as a leaf sprung setup. You'll need to measure, measure, measure... uh measure and maybe measure more... or you'll end up with a frame full of holes from trial and error. The biggest problem I see people have with this swap is getting the axle centered and positioned correctly under the truck. I still don't personally see the point in this... and I'm not a uber loving TTB fanboy, I own straight axle vehicles as well. TTB in general would be better for what you describe doing with it, but if you think a straight axle will work for you, enjoy!

 

Okay not to bug in but now you have me kind of worried. I am going to buy a dana 44 tomorrow out of a 78 f-150 for $150. The guy told me he had everything that I needed to swap it over exept the steering. I know that you need to swap the spring cups so the shocks will line up properly. When you said measure measure and measure more what did you mean? I was under the impression it was pretty cut and dry as long as you had all the proper parts.

Anyways I do agree about the TTB I always see everyone bashing it on this website and others. When I first started I was so intimidated by everyone saying that is was junk. I thought the first time I took it out wheeling it would fall off. Well that was a stock beat up old tired 82 f150. Now it's 9 inches taller running 40x17 gumbo mudders with a rebuilt 9" rear rebuilt C-6 trans and the engine is on it's last leg (no oil pressure-being pulled soon for rebuild soon) Guess what original TTB and it has seen all the punishment that the rest of the truck has seen. All the "bullet proof" parts have failed already. But the TTB that is made out of "popsicle sticks" is still going strong.

The only reason I am swaping mine out is for the experience and because the engine will be out of the vehicle. To this day I have never met anyone who has broken a TTB. Thats just my 2 cents. Thanks for listening to my rant and rave I have been holding on to that one for a while.

 

Although I may have the opportunity to do a D44 SAS, I doubt that I'll go through with it, for the exact reasons stated above. The only real benefit I see from swapping to a solid D44 is that it might be a little easier to keep aligned when lifted, and the lift kit might be a little cheaper. Personally, if all you're lifting it is 4", I see no point in undertaking such a painstaking project if all you're getting is essentially the same axle. I wouldn't go through all that trouble unless I was swapping in a Dana 60 (Which is what I'm holding out for), or unless i was rock crawling with it. Besides, the D44 TTB has a removeable third member, like the 9" rear does, which might make life much easier if/when it comes time for repairs, whereas the solid D44 does not.

However. If it's what you want to do, then go for it. I think solid axle swaps are pretty cool, and it'd be nice to be able to look up under your truck and say, "I did that."