Interesting! So we with the 3.92-1 ratio just need to wait. Sounds good! Although my 54 3.92 is better at highway speeds than the 5.83 in my 55 F350!

 

Guys! Where you been for the last few years? You don't have to wait for Early Ford. You don't have to pay $800 plus dollars to somebody else. Randy's Ring and Pinion has offered replacement R&P sets for the Dana 44 for years. I just checked. Multiple ratios (including a 3.54) for about $250. I'm wondering if the guy at Early Ford who spoke with Firstrider even realizes his company is the first to offer a R&P replacement for the Dana 41. That is why they didn't make a mistake. The Dana 44 replacements have been available for a long time. You just had to know where to look.

 

I thought to swap the ring and pinion in an early Dana 44 using new parts you had to do some "interesting" work like doubling up on spider gear spacers or you had to change differentials and axles. I thought it wasn't just a ring and pinion swap using all the rest of your existing parts.

 

I'm pretty sure you're right, 38 coupe, but it is possible. I talked to Randy's probably a handful of times over the years when I got this on my mind. They can walk you through the process for the specific D44 in the 51 and up trucks. I always asked them why they didn't offer the swaps for the D41, and the standard answer was just no demand. I think it's because most of the D41's in the 48-50 trucks are 3.73, which is tolerable behind a flathead and 3-speed.

 

Doc is right on the R & P from Randy's $258 . However you will also need a yoke $75 , a bearing kit $ 177 & a carrier case $175 = $685 total . Will wait till EFS has their version of the 3:54 available & then a choice will be made .Will keep all posted on this thread .

 

You'll need a new carrier no matter what. Without the carrier for lower ratios, the ring gear on a 3.54 would be paper thin. I can't imagine you could re-use the bearings with either kit. Why would you need a new yoke? I'd bet all said and done, both kits cost the same, but Randy's is available now.

 

The jeep cj's etc used dana 44's for years guys . the difference between the late ones and our early ones are the thread pitches . ours use course threads , the newer ones use fine thread so you have to swap everything over to use the newer parts in our old housings . in essence just go to someone who sells older jeep parts and go shopping . i am pretty sure that was the only differences but my mind is slipping so ...........

 

The side gear/axle spline counts on our trucks is fairly unique, much coarser than more modern axles.

 

Here is what I'm running with: Ford 8.8 with 3.07 gears, T5z 5th gear of .73, tire dia: 27.177". At 75 mph my engine is turning 2.078 rpm's.

 

By the time I got done with the Dana 60 install what with brakes , bearings , seals driveshaft shortening and a bit of spring work I was out another grand

 

You know Ross me thinks that was what needed to be swapped the oe axles were course the newer stuff you have to use fine axles ..... I geuss if i dug out my notes i might remember it ........

 

Spoke to Jeremy at Randy's Ring & pinion fri. Choices for the Dana 44 are 3:07 , 3:31 and 3:54 Am thinking maybe the 3:31 would be a good all around gear . Early Ford sales in S.C are dragging their feet on their Dana 44 gear development and I prefer not to wait any longer on changing the rear gears .
Your thoughts / opinions & etc. on which gear set you think would be best . Thanks , Denny
Total cost will be around $650.00

 

You might get away with 3.31's down low in the flatlands. I tried a 3.25 in my 9" and it was miserable. Taking off from stops required lots of clutch slipping, 2nd was too tall for going around city corners, 3rd was just too tall for the hills we have around here. If you have to drop down to 2nd, you're limited to going 45 - 50. I went back to a 3.50 and all is well, very good all around gearing with 28" tires.