Topic: Dana 44's from two different waggy's??

[enginethatcould]

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?

[Jeffy]

IIRC, the '82-'91 front's are driver side drop.  Just be aware of the 83-84's with the vacuum disconnect.

[enginethatcould]

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?

[FourbangerYJ]

GM flat tops if you want high steer.

[Jeffy]

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.

[enginethatcould]

GM flat tops if you want high steer.

What years?

[FourbangerYJ]

What years?

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

It's all in the above link.

[Bounty Hunter]

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.

[enginethatcould]

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?

[Bounty Hunter]

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.

[Bounty Hunter]

The nice thing about the 6-lug wheel pattern is it's so common, from Chevy to Jeep to Toyota to Nissan, etc. etc.