A good metal shop will have a tap large enough to get the job done. Welding isn't that tuff either, but getting it balanced after weld takes a good metal lathe. At least that is what I have seen for race cars. (of course that is much higher speeds) Jegs and Summit both have premade, and custom axle shafts, and any peice that goes on to one.

1/8" is not a whole lot of play.. a good washer is thicker then that. When I put on my lock outs they recomended 1/8" play from the inner peice to the c clip... and not to have it too tight. Hope that helps at all.

 

Well the washer and shaft and inside lock out gear will all turn together. And a lot of strenth is not needed nor is center critical. Just need something to keep the axle from sliding in toward the diff and prevent too much of a gap between the seal on the slinger and the spindle to keep water/runny mud out. I'd prefer to have the hole in the end of the axle tapped for a stud. That would fill the hole in the end of the axle and return axle strenth. But I'm not sure that would be possible with the hardened shaft. I'll try to get pic's on my web site to show this today or tomorrow.

 

We went over yesterday to work on it some more. I decided to put it all together using the 44 TTB outers and see how it works. We found that the other outer shaft has the end drilled and threaded for a bolt. I am using a spring between the inner and outer shaft on the passangers side front to do away with the differential c-clip so I'll try the outer shaft that is not threaded on that side. Then the other threaded outer on the drivers side.


Everyone keep your fingers crossed.

 

Well all went well with the install. No need that I can see to use the threaded hole in the end of the axle shaft. Everything fit in nice and and seened to work well. I updated my web page at: http://www.mappyjack.com/Dana44.htm

 

Looking good Jack!

 

Well I did a bit of work on the web site tonight. I added a bunch of pic's and part numbers. Did a little editing also. It's at: http://www.mappyjack.com/Dana44.htm

 

Rumpa, rumpa, rumpa


Wooooo hooooooooooo!!!

 

I give up, does that mean you got it running, rolling, wheeling what?

 

I'd say running but who knows, what's it mean?????????

 

Dustin you are correct. It made horse power tonight for the first time in a year and a half.


Rollie I can see the light at the end for it to run on the street. We need to pull the rear axle and center section. Have the rear locker installed. Paint the rear housing and third member. Then reinstall. Pull the front end back apart (have some issues to address). Put it back together. Weld the drivers floor, and front shock towers. Install new master cylinder and front and rear brake lines. Exhaust. Fill front and rear axles. Run vent lines for front and rear axles. Install longer speedo cable. Most likely a new speedo gear to correct the speedo. Fab a shifter boot/console for the t-case shifter. Install carpet and seats. Cut the fenders. Front end alignment.

Now it would run and wheel like that. But I'm afraid the shocks are too short and if I put longer front ones on the crossmember will need some work. And the front is a bit low so spacers will need to go in and then longer shocks and crossmember work is really needed. The front driveshaft is Mad Max's rear spare and just a bit short and has a shorter slip shaft than I like. The rear drive shaft binds at full suspension drop and could break my t-case.

But it made noise tonight. And me and Evan Williams are going to do a Happy Dance.

 

Jack, congratulations on "fire". I look forward to seeing it sometime up at Tuttle or somewhere else. Now, If I could just get the 400 in the big bronco to run decent.

 

Kind of hard to tell how decent it's running. It's straped down on the trailer (no brakes) with just the y-pipe for exhaust. But the gear shifters work. The tranny leeks (but it works). Last time I started it (adding tranny fluid) it wouldn't idle. Just have to wait to get exhaust on it and the wiring all in place and new computer on it to run codes.

But it makes noise and if it had brakes and fluid in the axles I would be tempted to take it for a test drive. Might even drive it over to Tony's and see if he and beater wanted to play folow the leader.

Man a year and a half is a long time to have something setting around. You guys just can't know how happy I am.

 

I know how happy I was when I got the 400 to fire up even if it doesn't run right yet and who knows, may never run right. A friend of mine said it is almost like the birth of a baby when an engine fires up for that first time. But he also said as a guy he had never given birth so he didn't really know what that would be like. I'm afraid to ask about the comparison with the better half. I'll bet the firing of that engine almost called for cigar.

 

Great to hear that jr is now running engine wise.

 

I smoked three today. One taking it to have the rear axle welded (nervous). The second going to get the money to pay for the axle welding (nervous again). The last one when I went to pick up Jr. and the bill was $100 under budget. Hey this calls for another ceeegar.

Wish I had a cubano. I'd fire it up. I find those on the ground every once in a while. I do my civic duty and destroy them the first chance I get. Onlyest way I know how is to fire them things up and smoke um to ashes.