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I have a dana 44 392. Truck is not the road yet. Although I have driven around the block. I have a 460 C6 in it . There is a junkyard near me (closeing in a few weeks,crusher is comeing %&@#?) They have a late 50 early 60s truck . No front end or doors ,there is no tag just a shriveled up remnants in the glovebox. It does have a v8 and 8' box. It appears to be a Dana 44 but I couldn't see a tag on it. ,I am going next Saturday to try and determine if it might be a higher gear than what I have. I was hopeing for some advice whether it would be worth $200 if its a good gear or if I should wait to find a 9 inch. I know about the 392/373 split. I was also hoping it might be tracloc. Thanks in advance Dean
You should at least go look at it and try to determine the ratio. I got ridiculously lucky and found a Dana 44 out of a 60's Ford with limited slip and 3.73, versus 3.92(what I have now), I can live with the gearing but have wanted limited slip for a while since I drive the truck in dirt quite often.
As far as cost, you need to consider gear/posi and also how easy it is to find another one. If you think you can track another one down easily, maybe 200 is too much. But if it might take you a year or two to find another suitable diff, then it may be worth it. Your call.
Thanks morotbreath, the owner passed and his son, from out of town is only there saturdays. I plan on going over to get under it and determine what it is. Thanks Dean
I don't know how many different tags Ford used, or when they used each different one, but on my 56's original D44, there is a simple tag with a fraction on it representing the ratio of the gears. On the "new" D44 I found, It still had its original "Limited slip gear oil only" tag, and also a separate tag for the ratio and other info I couldn't decode. I guess 5-61 could be a production date. But it also said 3.73, so that made my decision a lot easier.
Just got back from JY. Unfortunately it was a Dana 44 392 the same as I have. I will keep looking . The one I have seems in good shape ,just to low geared. Thanks Dean
With that BIG boat anchor of an engine put in a 9 " rear--DANA very expensive to get the correct carrier gear-- Hope you do not have ORIGINAL front suspension and drum brakes with that BOAT ANCHOR-- Good Luck
The low mileage 460 kind fell in my lap.I had a 58 F350 I was going to put it in but that truck was way gone.I do still have I beam and rebuilt springs ( I like it, and still a little arch to them), 400 power steering, and cpp power disk brakes.Will add a sway bar. That yard had quite a few older trucks . I had checked for axles there before ,but this one had no ID on it. They have started crushing ,she said 20 loads already. Sad to see it go, but after Mike passed, no one to run it.I have several parts on my truck from there ,roof ,pass door,speedo. I will continue to look for a 9" . Thanks Dean
The low mileage 460 kind fell in my lap.I had a 58 F350 I was going to put it in but that truck was way gone.I do still have I beam and rebuilt springs ( I like it, and still a little arch to them), 400 power steering, and cpp power disk brakes.Will add a sway bar. That yard had quite a few older trucks . I had checked for axles there before ,but this one had no ID on it. They have started crushing ,she said 20 loads already. Sad to see it go, but after Mike passed, no one to run it.I have several parts on my truck from there ,roof ,pass door,speedo. I will continue to look for a 9" . Thanks Dean
IT is very sad, makes you wonder if this is the last "wave" of old iron before it literally doesn't exist anymore. You have to either buy an entire car for sale, or buy repro parts--won't be anything old in your average junkyard. Who knows.
