4bangerjp.com

General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: enginethatcould on April 19, 2009, 04:10:19 PM

Title: Dana 44's from two different waggy's??
Post by: enginethatcould on April 19, 2009, 04:10:19 PM: I was up early this morning (earlier than usual for a Sunday), and went to the local u-pull-it yard. It had been a while since i had been, and I have had my eyes open for dana 44's front and rear. They had a 1991 Grand Wagoneer someone had robbed the front axle out of already but it still had the rear axle. From what I could tell it looked to be a 44.

There was alos a 1984 Grand Wagoneer that was untouched. The front looked to be a dana 44 with a rear amc 20.
I was excited.....and then it started to rain.... I didn't even look to see if the front axle was passenger or drivers side drop. Would anyone know off hand?? Also, would these two 44' be good canidates for an axle upgrade?
Title: Re: Dana 44's from two different waggy's??
Post by: Jeffy on April 19, 2009, 04:41:46 PM: IIRC, the '82-'91 front's are driver side drop. Just be aware of the 83-84's with the vacuum disconnect.
Title: Re: Dana 44's from two different waggy's??
Post by: enginethatcould on April 19, 2009, 04:56:10 PM: Quote from: Jeffy on April 19, 2009, 04:41:46 PM
IIRC, the '82-'91 front's are driver side drop. Just be aware of the 83-84's with the vacuum disconnect.

Is that bad? I do remeber it having a vacuum disconnect.

Also, what would be some high steer options?
Title: Re: Dana 44's from two different waggy's??
Post by: FourbangerYJ on April 19, 2009, 05:26:58 PM: GM flat tops if you want high steer.
Title: Re: Dana 44's from two different waggy's??
Post by: Jeffy on April 19, 2009, 06:39:28 PM: Quote from: enginethatcould on April 19, 2009, 04:56:10 PM
Is that bad? I do remeber it having a vacuum disconnect.

Also, what would be some high steer options?
It's better to not have the disconnect if you have a choice.
Title: Re: Dana 44's from two different waggy's??
Post by: enginethatcould on April 19, 2009, 07:03:42 PM: Quote from: FourbangerYJ on April 19, 2009, 05:26:58 PM
GM flat tops if you want high steer.

What years?
Title: Re: Dana 44's from two different waggy's??
Post by: FourbangerYJ on April 19, 2009, 08:01:30 PM: Quote from: enginethatcould on April 19, 2009, 07:03:42 PM
What years?

http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/flatop_knucles.html

It's all in the above link.
Title: Re: Dana 44's from two different waggy's??
Post by: Bounty Hunter on April 19, 2009, 11:35:11 PM: They would be good donors.

I think the '84 and '85 had the vacuum disco d44 option. I run one but it's because I run a spool in the front axle, then a cable to the disconnect. I can unlock the DS axleshaft for 3wd and easy turning on tight trails. Kind of a poor-mans selectable locker, at least for my cheap arse.

I run an early '70s Waggy knuckle on the PS and Chevy on the DS for highsteer. The PS is the one that is more difficult to source and requires machining.

If you want a better rear axle option, look under mid '90s Isuzu Rodeos and Honda Passports, Many have the d44 with disc brakes and same 6-lug wheel pattern as the Waggy. 2 different axles were available in those rigs, if it has a removeable center section (like a ford 9"), it's not a d44. The other option was a disc brake d44. It's what I run in the rear.
Title: Re: Dana 44's from two different waggy's??
Post by: enginethatcould on April 21, 2009, 07:41:03 PM: Quote from: Bounty Hunter on April 19, 2009, 11:35:11 PM
They would be good donors.

I think the '84 and '85 had the vacuum disco d44 option. I run one but it's because I run a spool in the front axle, then a cable to the disconnect. I can unlock the DS axleshaft for 3wd and easy turning on tight trails. Kind of a poor-mans selectable locker, at least for my cheap arse.

I run an early '70s Waggy knuckle on the PS and Chevy on the DS for highsteer. The PS is the one that is more difficult to source and requires machining.

If you want a better rear axle option, look under mid '90s Isuzu Rodeos and Honda Passports, Many have the d44 with disc brakes and same 6-lug wheel pattern as the Waggy. 2 different axles were available in those rigs, if it has a removeable center section (like a ford 9"), it's not a d44. The other option was a disc brake d44. It's what I run in the rear.

What wheels are you running with this setup?
Title: Re: Dana 44's from two different waggy's??
Post by: Bounty Hunter on April 21, 2009, 10:58:34 PM: I run 2 different sets of 6-lug Chevy truck wheels, some aluminum wheels with 35" tires for the street, and steel wheels with 36" TSL's for the trail. I have a set of 7" Waggy wheels I added beadlocks to but I have yet to mount my TSL's to them.
Title: Re: Dana 44's from two different waggy's??
Post by: Bounty Hunter on April 21, 2009, 10:59:15 PM: The nice thing about the 6-lug wheel pattern is it's so common, from Chevy to Jeep to Toyota to Nissan, etc. etc.