Okay, at the risk of being flamed from all sides, I am curious about pros/cons and strengths and weaknesses of various d44s.

I have an opportunity to acquire a d44 from a late 70's 3/4 ton dodge. But I could easily locate one from a chev, too. The general idea is (stop me if you've heard this one before):

I basically got $300 for taking a chopped up BII From my cousin, that needed a body. Got a ranger cab and some 31's for it thus far and still have nothing in it. After something breaks or gives out, I plan to drop in a motor/trans or axles. Whichever comes first...prolly axles. I currently have a hp44 out of an F250 and rear 60 with 4.10s. I figure that is well within the safe range of 35's. After some research and plain search(ing) I have noted a few guys successfully using a d44 as an offset rear steer axle. Some even running upwards of 40's with a stockish motor and chromoly shafts. I've got some hydro steering gear pinned down and I'm in no hurry to just jam this setup under my newly acquired rig, so I'm wondering...
how well could a dodge 44 hold up for such an app? What kind of aftermarket support is there? What about interchangeability among other models of d44? Am I better off using a chev model, or tracking down a low pinion ford and flipping (I know it's not THAT simple) it over? The idea behind the "off brand" axles is basically to get the diffs at least on the same side...that and it'd be a shame to waste a prefectly good hp front axle on an expiriment like this.
I know it's pretty sacreligious to ask these kinds of questions in a ford forum, but I figure SOMEONE has to know, and i've never been let down here before. Also FYI, incase it comes up, the "plan" thus far is to make a truggy of sorts, def nothing that'll see any sort of road time. Prolly pretty light (considering) and powered by either a mild smallblock or maybe even an I-6 depending on cost and resources (who didn't see that coming?) def nothing state of the art, or top dollar, but maybe a little different. Hopefully enough to make my jeep buddies drop their jaws or at least scratch their heads. I've always been a ford guy, but there arent enough of us in the wheeling crowd out my way.

Hell, while we're at it, can anyone give me some pros/cons or recommendations about running fullsize running gear on a minitruck? Almost seems a little redundant to have a little narrow vehicle only to widen it, but I see a lot of it going on. I suppose u can still see better and it's still lighter than a fullsize...if it's a sacrifice for more power or capability, then it's a small one.

 

Dodges have the passanger side diff don't they? Chevys are mostly passanger too arn't they?

Anyways.. pros/cons of running fullsize running gear on mini truck.. well, your a lot wider.. thats about it I can think of for a con. :P

 

Dodge and Chebbie of the 70's vintages both run the diffs on the passenger side and both are low pinion units.

That being said why do you want to have the diff on the pass. side? The B2 will have the t-case front output on the drivers side (where it should be, the Ram and Bowtie guys took a while to catch on to that, but hey they are slow in ALL regards!). So unless you're planning to put in a non Ford t-case I don't understand why you want the diff on the right side.

.....and don't flip a high pinion Ford (or any axle regardless of make or pinion position) over, they were not designed to run upside down. You run a very high risk of burning the axle up if you do this.



And when in doubt about D44 strength, don't bother throwing money at it, go find a D60.

 

Sry, I have an 8 lug ford 44 that will go in the front, the off brand will be the rear...eventually. This way I'll have both diffs offset to the drivers side...cheap, easy and to the point. Also a little lighter than a 60. It isn't gonna be 1,000 hp or have 49's so I see little reason why this may not work. In the event it doesn't work, I've always got my 60 to go back to. But mainly I know nothing about dodge/chevs 44's other than they are std. cut, pass side drop, and for some reason the dodge is kind of a semi-float design. Other than that I know nothing...dimensions, joints, interchangeability with ford/chev...kinda like ford outers for it since it's actually a full floater. I know where I could score some, but what's the sense if it won't work?

On a side note, this dodge guy with the axle claims that chrysler owns both new process and Dana...AND that ford bought all the 60's up and that's why they're do hard to find in a dodge lmao...AND that reverse cut gears are a dumb idea hahaha ...what a riot!

 

400hp and 38.5s will destroy D44s on command.....period.

Dont believe me? I did all this in one night of wheeling with a mild 460 and 38.5 SXs.


D44 vs D60 stuff

-stubs


-u-joints


-yokes


-carriers and ring gears


-35sp D60 stub vs 30sp D60 stub

 

I beleive a 460 will destroy a 44 on command in a stock 3/4 ton. I'm thinking more along the lines of a 300-6 or a 302 that'll get out of it's own way...maybe on 35 or some skinny 36's. I own a 78 f-250 with snow plow prep, 400, 60 f&r with 3.55's. A 60 is undoubtedly stronger than a 44 but I'm tryin to stay light and I'm def not drag racing my rig or anything. Thx for the info tho!

 

It really depends on the tire size. A 460 won't destroy a D44 if you have small tires. Its the big tires that break things.

But hey, don't worry about the weight. Unless your mud racing, a D60 won't weigh you down enough to make some huge difference. A 460 and one tons wounds like a good way to go.

 

Stay far away from that unit bearing dodge axle, they are JUNK.
If you're wanting a rear steer setup, a 60 is the only way to fly, there is a large amount more stress on the rear axle than the front, and we all know what kind of carnage a front 44 can suffer with mild power and any decent sized tires.

 

my first year with my new boggers. i went through 1 front ring and pinion. 2 axel shafts in front. and one ring and pinion in the rear. the truck didn't like the 460 and 35 inch boggers. truck is 79 ford with dana 44 front. 9 inch rear. cromoly shaft might have helped. but it's getting 1 tons. found my dana 60 for 400 dollars. it was all tore apart. and had to be rebuilt.

 

for a rear stear like your talking i'd find a front chevy dana 60. you can find those floating around all the time with 4.56 gears, and i can't remember but i think with detroits too, military surplus.

 

Well then, for now let's assume I just run a 44/60 (rear), what would I be limited to as far as tire size? How bout chromolys? I'm wanting to run a 302 or I-6, but I have a '70 360 and a 390 (needs rebuilt) of the same vintage laying in my barn. Would a stock BB be a dumb idea?

I have a 68 460, too but I was thinking of using it in my actual truck. The one thing that is making me consider it, is I have a whole propane system off of a 94 SD for the 460. And the 360/390 are still damn good workhorses, prolly even slightly better mileage too

 

the 360 and 390 are gonna weigh alot more than the i6 or 302. and fe parts are harder to find and more expensive, but they are great strong motors

 

ok so maybe I missed this at first...

You are going with a rear steer setup (so Im assuming not street legal) but using a 60 in the front is out of budget?

Man, some people have really screwed up priorities. Good luck.

 

Is that like how you are missing this weekends schennigans cause you think "work" is a priority?? :flipoff

 

yeah I fail I know.

Pics and phone calls are to be expected! Bonus points if you can capture Paul passed out like a baby back bitch.