Yep the 3.03 top loader was used in 3 speed versions of Lemans and GTO"S for sure, Ive seen them, a couple of story's were thrown around about that, one was what ever 3 speed GM used at the time was not strong enough for the pontiac torque, another was GM could not keep up with the demand so ford sold them transmissions. I tend to think its the former, that 3.03 3 speed is a stout transmission.

 

The date is stamped on one of the axle tubes. Clean it up with a wire wheel.

 

Most Dana's have the model number cast into the web on lower right side of the rear cover. There isn't really a model number (other than 44) but there is a Bill Of Materials (BOM) number. It is usually on the right tube as you're looking at the rear cover. I'm not sure the SHORT TUBE, LONG TUBE reference in the picture is right, as they are swapped on my 44F (4wd Front axle)

The biggest part swap bug-a-boo are the spline counts. Our old ones are 19 spline axles and spiders as well as previously mentioned pinion yoke splines. Again as previously mentioned, the 44's have two different carriers: high ratio and low ratio. The internals should swap as long as the splines counts match and new custom axles (the internal part) aren't that expensive, thanks to our 4-wheeling brethren constantly breaking them.

Jim

 

So, can't you just use the original spiders and axles, buy a new yoke with the newer spline count, and a newer carrier, newer r&p? Yokes are about $50 last time I looked.

 

Ross, that's what I'm going to try doing. Once I get the old 44 apart, I'll then dig into my newer 44, and compare the spider gears. If they swap around, then the next step would be R&P on the carrier. Any yoke with a matching spline count can work in our old trucks, especially now that there's adapter ujoints.

I'll look for date codes in the a.m. but I still think it's pre '53.

EDIT: also there is a different model number besides 44, it's the 41 in the earlier trucks, and I'm kinda trying to find the change date between the two. I'll have to look for where I found it said mid 1950, and verify that. In Bill's comments, he isn't saying the 44 was started in 1953, he's just saying that Ford didn't identify it as not being earlier than 1953.

 

From Randies
Dana Spicer D44
View Parts List

10 bolt cover with 8.5" ring gear. Found in both front and rear applications. Rear applications use a bolt in axle. Axles are 30 spline. Front applications came in both standard and reverse rotation.
Ring Gear Diameter: 8.5
Ring Gear Bolts: (10) 3/8 x 24 RH
Cover Bolts: 10
Carrier Breaks: 3.73 / 3.92
Spline Count: 30
Float: SF or Front
Semi-Float Type:
Pinion Support: False
Axle Lugs:

Compatible with Models:

1/2 Ton Dodge Pickup: 1955 - 2002 (Front)
1/2 Ton GM Pickup: 1960 - 1980 (Front)
1/2 Ton GM Pickup: 1967 - 1972 (Rear)
3/4 Ton Dodge Pickup: 1955 - 2002 (Front)
3/4 Ton GM Pickup: 1960 - 1980 (Front)
420: 1958 - 1970 (Rear)
Blazer: 1969 - 1979 (Front)
Bronco: 1971 - 1977 (Front)
CJ5: 1966 - 1975 (Rear)
CJ5: 1971 - 1983 (Front)
CJ6: 1966 - 1975 (Rear)
CJ6: 1971 - 1983 (Front)
CJ7: 1976 - 1986 (Front)
CJ7: 1986 - 1986 (Rear)
CJ8: 1981 - 1986 (Front)
CJ8: 1981 - 1986 (Rear)
Commando: 1966 - 1973 (Rear)
F100: 1948 - 1979 (Rear)
F150: 1967 - 1996 (Front)
F250: 1959 - 1989 (Front)
F350: 1979 - 1979 (Front)
Grand Wagoneer: 1984 - 1991 (Front)
Grand Wagoneer: 1984 - 1991 (Rear)
J10: 1972 - 1983 (Rear)
Mark I: 1950 - 1970 (Rear)
Mark II: 1950 - 1970 (Rear)
Mark X: 1958 - 1970 (Rear)
Ram Charger: 1974 - 1993 (Front)
Rodeo: 1993 - 1997 (Rear)
Scout 800: 1967 - 1971 (Rear)
Scout II: 1972 - 1980 (Front)
Scout II: 1972 - 1980 (Rear)
Suburban 1/2 Ton: 1969 - 1979 (Front)
TJ: 1997 - 2004 (Rear)
TJ: 2003 - 2005 (Front)
Wagoneer: 1971 - 1992 (Rear)
Wagoneer: 1974 - 1992 (Front)
XJ: 1986 - 1989 (Rear)
XJ Sport: 1986 - 1989 (Rear)
XJR: 1940 - 1940 (Front)
XJS: 1976 - 1997 (Rear)
XK8: 1961 - 1974 (Rear)
X-Type: 1974 - 1995 (Rear)

 

Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is Carrier Break? and how does it effect what R&P you can install?

 

Certain size carriers can only hold certain size R&P's So one size is needed to hold a R&P with a lower gear than 3.73 (numerically higher) and one size needed to hold a R&P with a higher than 3.92 (numerically lower) The number where it changes is the carrier break, thus 3.73/3.92 for the Dana 44. Now since certain rear ends are different sizes, the carrier break will be different. Dana 60's are at 4.10/4.56 for example.

Now since my Dana 44 is 3.92 with coarse splines (and wanting a more highway friendly gear such as 3.50), I'll need to find a different carrier altogether, and that likely means different spider gears and axles for matching a newer finer splined carrier, unless the older spiders will fit the newer carrier. Firsthand testing will conclude whether or not a newer carrier and R&P w/yoke will fit our old truck rear ends. If that's the case, lesser HP engines, such as the 8BA will not suffer any parasitic loss from the rear end, which the 9" will do. And low HP engines need all the help they can get, lol.

 

thanks for the reply havi.

I too have a Dana 44 with a 3.92 in my 54 F100. I was looking at putting in a 3.31 to make it more highway friendly, and was wondering what all would have to be done to change it over.

 

Thanks to Jim, I was able to find the date on my Dana 44.

6-21-50 (R)

 

So aare you sure it's a 3.92 or could it be a 3.73? Pretty late in '50 production.

 

I haven't got that far, lol. It's stuck, and the numbers on the ring aren't viewable. The PO left the cover off and the rear on top of the frame for many years. But I'm assuming 3.92

 

Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says, "Dam!"

Below shows the difference in the carriers needed for the different size ring and pinions.

Note: Remember that the Ring and Pinion are machined matched sets.

 

What does that mean? On Ford 8.8's as long as you use Ford or Ford Motorsports parts, you can change out r&p sets and if you re-use the shims that were on the original set, the setup will be good. My understanding is that Dana's aren't to those tolerances.

 

I cleaned off my axle to check the numbers....here is what I found.




he date looks to be 3-16 but what is the A4? And what is the 2169?

Verified that it is a Dana 44 from forged model number and the ratio tag is 47/12