Can you see or feel the heads on all 10 of the bolts pictured?

 

Here is a video of it while I am spinning it manually...no drive shaft connected.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XQ3...ature=youtu.be

 

Yes, I can see all bolts are present and accounted for.

 

Mark the outside of the ring gear every 90 degrees, as close as you can. I'd bet you have a bad tooth on the pinion, and you will hear the clunk every 1/4 turn of the ring gear (because of the 3.92 ratio ~ 4:1). Or mark it every place you feel the thunk, I'll bet there are about 4 marks.

Depends how much you want to do yourself, and what your plans are for the truck. If ever there was a time to consider changing ratios, this would be it.

 

With that in mind, what would be a good gear ratio to consider for everyday driving both street and highway with the 3 speed? Also, any recommendations on where to obtain parts?

 

I can't find any listing in my parts book for anything with a 11/16" head. Is the play in the shaft up and down? Might indicate a 357228-S pin problem. Or is there slop where the shaft goes into 4205?

 

Ross, not trying to be a smart a$$ or anything but I can't find any mention of a Dana 44 in my parts book. Book says 51-52 would be a "Ford" unit.Illustrations show the "Ford" unit to be similar to the 9". 53-56 indicate "Spicer". I have found errors in this book before. CRS was Dana-Spicer the same. Just checked a spare assembly out of a 54 and it does have a 44 on the housing.
Eric, if it will work...I've got a spare rear assembly, unknown ratio.

 

Ford licensed the design from Dana/Spicer, and apparently even sourced some from them. Look at the illustration, it doesn't have a 9"-style center section that pops out the front. It loads from the rear and has a rear cover.

Randy's R&P can set you up with the parts needed to change to whatever ratio you desire.
RANDYS Worldwide Automotive
Best to call and explain what you're doing. Special conversion side gears are needed.

Generally 3.50 is as low as I'd go, 3.75 is good but less of a highway gear.

 

[QUOTE=ALBUQ F-1;15528452]Ford licensed the design from Dana/Spicer, and apparently even sourced some from them. Look at the illustration, it doesn't have a 9"-style center section that pops out the front. It loads from the rear and has a rear cover.
I've got that, Ross
Just the illustration book I have was re-printed in 1964 and shows the 9" style which we know isn't correct.

RANDYS Worldwide Automotive

Thanks for the clarification, Ross

 

Here's the correct illustration

 

Ross the one I was referring to is on page 144 of the Text Catalog. Page 145 1951-52 model C F1 under manufacturer says Ford. P144 Ford looks like a 9". Anyway, I thought 48-56 used Dana/Spicer.

 

Oh OK, I see that, it's correct for '57-on. The Spicer shown is the one used 48/56 (that I've been calling the Dana 44). The 9" didn't exist until '57 so they must have updated that page late in the '50's.

Look at the edge of the pic above, where it says 48/56 at the end it says "(FORD)".

 

Okay now I'm confused haha. When looking for parts for this, what is it!?!?

 

Dana/Spicer 44 I'm 05% sure it was used 48-56 in the F1-F100.
If you are thinking changing gear ratios, it might be easier to swap in a 9". I measured a 67 housing and a 54 housing. The center to center opening where the spring bolt fits is pretty darn close about 40" each. Hard to stretch out-helper needed for accurate measurement. I'm sure there has been some threads on this in this forum. Of course I know a guy around Hilton that used a Jaguar rear end in his 54.....

 

It's absolutely a '52 Dana 44, which differs in several ways from modern Dana 44's. You can't directly use modern D44 parts. Randy's is the only outfit that I know of that sells the parts to change ratios. It involves a lot more than just new ring and pinion.

To go below 3.73, you need a different carrier, and only modern carriers are available. They use different sized side gears, and AFAIK only Randy's has side gears for the coarse-splined old axles that fit the modern carriers. So you need a complete new differential, and it needs to be set up carefully to be quiet and last.

There may be some NOS 3.92 R&P sets out there, and it sounds like you need new side gears etc. anyway, so like I said, now's the time to change if you are interested in it.

There's always the 9" solution, really not much different in cost after you figure in all the other mods needed. About a grand no matter how you go.... Sorry!