ford 9inch and dana 44...

[west747]

i have been lucky enough to find a 79 ford pick-up with the axles i want for next to nothing. dana 44 and ford 9 inch with the sought after 4.10 gear ratio! ( had to haul the truck away on a flat bed tho.) i have a couple of questions. i was wondering how to set up the steering and what parts i will need to make this dana 44 a high knuckle steering set-up. i know it is possiable and i think that it requirers some chevy knuckles but i am not sure what make, modle or year i need to get these parts from. any other advice or tips on this axle swap would be greatly appreciated. thanks all!

also what transpher case/ transmission would be in this rig...the motor was gone when i got it but i think it had an inline 6. would the trans and transmission be worth keeping?

Heres the link:
http://invisionnick.hothost.tv/truck.htm

 

[far_right]

good luck.... just form lookin at the pics i would say the axles need a complete rebuild, second the transmission will prob be a np435 is a std, and a c6 if auto, both are real good transmissions...not sure on the tcase though...might be np205 or dana20.... i know ford used both just not sure what yrs

 

[far_right]

ooh... is the 44 low or high pinion?

 

[west747]

from my inspection it looks as tho the pinion is closer to the top..it isnt anywhere near as low as the 9 inch.lol..i know the truck looks rough but it was on the road last year and i am hoping the axles dont need to be completly rebuilt but if they do i have a set of 5.13 gears i can put in em...my only reason for not putting them in right away is that i want to get the axles under my rig first.

 

[far_right]

if you are gonna regear most shops will charge less if the axle isnt in the vehicle.....but of course that isnt a prob w/ the 3rd member in a 9"
in one pic it looks as if the 44 is laying on the ground w/o a tire or a brake, you can do as you see fit, but i would atlest do a minor rebuild on them and change the gears while they arent under you jeep

 

[west747]

lol..yeah i have to go get the caliper tommorow. hopefully i will have the axles out of the truck in the next couple of days...of course i will replace any bad bearing or seals once i get the diff cover off. how can i tell for sure if i have a high pinion 44?

 

[far_right]

im dont know a 100% sure fire way to tell you if it hi-pinion or not.... or maybe i do.... ok....if the pinion is above the half-way point of the axle it is a hi, it it isnt it aint.... i guess that is simple enough :mrgreen:

 

[Tug-n-pull]

Now that is my kind of truck yes sir. I have been known to drag one or two like that home from time to time. Good luck on the axels and keep me posted as I know where I to can get the same axels out of an early 70's Bronco. Tug

 

[west747]

CJ5 PROJECT PARTING OUT

will do tug! i will be working on these axles over the next few months( as i get the needed funds). does anyone know anything about setting up a high steering system for the high piion dana 44?

 

[jps4jeep]

As far as I know, most if not all 9 housings are factorty "low pinion" I don't think ford mass produced a high pinion rear end.

As for the steering, you might want to look into the knuckles off a mid 80's 1/2 ton chevy pick up or blazer. These trucks came with D44 and they are extremely easy to convert to High Steer! I believe it was the scottsdale package?? or was it the silverado?? regardless, it looks like you will need new steering knuckles anyways, and these will bolt right up, just need different ball joints.

 

[far_right]

mid 80's 1/2 ton chevy pick up or blazer. These trucks came with D44

the last yr for 44s in chevys/gmcs was 77 they went to 10 bolts after that

 

[west747]

thanks for the info guys!! one more question tho..what is a good paint to use on these axles? tremclad flat black???or is there something better?

 

[far_right]

go nuts.....paint them balze orange or some crazy color :mrgreen:

 

[jeepinstien]

Try using knuckles from a late 70's chevy pickup. Mine came off of a 77 pickup. Poision spyder customs has the parts you can use for the steering.

 

[west747]

cool. i know what i need now. one more question tho and this may sound stupid how do you get the calipers of of the dana 44. i have taken out the only visable bolt i have seen and beat on it with a hammer but nothing! am i missing something here?

 

[far_right]

i think there are two bolts... try and find the other...