School me on Dodge 3/4 ton swaps

[gas4blood]

So I am thinking of doing a t-case and axle swap in the waggy this summer. I have read through all the posts I could find on the rear dana 60 dodge axle swap but couldnt find anything on the Dodge 3/4 ton 44 front. So I was hoping you guys could either steer me in the direction of a post about it, or tell me if its a good axle option for the front. I know alot of guys just convert the front 44 to chevy 8 lug outers but cant you bolt the dodge 44 in? I would end up selling the 6 inch lift I have and throw the stock springs back under it with a shackle flip in the rear. My Wagoneer is a 79 that currently has the q-trac and offset 44 rear. Thanks in advance! :thumbsup:

[The_Turd]

Well from all my gatherings a D44 is a D44 is a D44... Minus some differences in tube diameter, thickness and such...

But I had a 3/4 D44 Dodge front in my Wag but it was the Full Time version (meaning no manual hubs) and couldnt be converted unless you source everything from the Axle C's out, say from a Ford or Chevy 8 lug D44 (knuckle, spindle, backing plate ect.) which can be a PITA...

As far as the swap, mine was pretty much a bolt in affair (came from a 77 Power Wagon) minus the steering... The Dodge D44 fronts are SOA from the factory, at least all the ones I've seen are... Not sure if all are flat top knuckles but I lucked out and it was so I had it machined for a High steer arm so steering was easy enough to figure out...

I would have been fine with the Full Time axle but with as much lift as I had, I'd be blowing up driveshaft u-joints allll the time... I'm not sure how much different it would be since you have a q-trac (I have a T15 trans and D20 T-case) so you may have an easier time getting your front driveshaft to fit without a TON of angle issues...

Anyways, hope that helps and good luck!

[clarkkent90xj]

front should be an easy swap, but what to do about the ofset t-case? cut and re-center a 60 rear? Is there any other t-case that will replace a q-track?

[CHICOWAGGY]

You can use your QT with a centered axle as long as its not a crazy lift, its been done here. I had an old IH Scout 80 that came with a Dana 18 with an offset output and a centered rear end.

[Casey]

You can use your QT with a centered axle as long as its not a crazy lift, its been done here. I had an old IH Scout 80 that came with a Dana 18 with an offset output and a centered rear end.
My Chief was SOA/SF running 37s QT and a 'centered' J-10 rear from a manual trans truck. It did just fine.


Q: Is there any other t-c that will replace the QT?

A: Not easily or cheap.

[jaber]

Q: Is there any other t-c that will replace the QT?

A: Not easily or cheap.

You have to change the out put shaft in the tranny. QT matches nothing.

[jeeping1974]

The output shaft on your TH400 is going to be a 10 spline shaft. You will need to pull your tranny and swap it out for another shaft with the proper spline count for the tranny you are going with and change the adaptor housing.

[jaber]

The output shaft on your TH400 is going to be a 10 spline shaft. You will need to pull your tranny and swap it out for another shaft with the proper spline count for the t-case you are going with and change the adaptor housing.

Fixed it for yah....;)

[gas4blood]

As my first post says, I will be swapping the tranny and tcase out. I have a line on a th400/dana 20 combo. So the offset axle issue will be adressed with the dana 60 rear. I was mainly wondering about the front 44. If the spring perches were the same width apart as the waggy 44. Sounds like at least one person has done it:thumbsup:

[gas4blood]

Well from all my gatherings a D44 is a D44 is a D44... Minus some differences in tube diameter, thickness and such...

But I had a 3/4 D44 Dodge front in my Wag but it was the Full Time version (meaning no manual hubs) and couldnt be converted unless you source everything from the Axle C's out, say from a Ford or Chevy 8 lug D44 (knuckle, spindle, backing plate ect.) which can be a PITA...

As far as the swap, mine was pretty much a bolt in affair (came from a 77 Power Wagon) minus the steering... The Dodge D44 fronts are SOA from the factory, at least all the ones I've seen are... Not sure if all are flat top knuckles but I lucked out and it was so I had it machined for a High steer arm so steering was easy enough to figure out...

I would have been fine with the Full Time axle but with as much lift as I had, I'd be blowing up driveshaft u-joints allll the time... I'm not sure how much different it would be since you have a q-trac (I have a T15 trans and D20 T-case) so you may have an easier time getting your front driveshaft to fit without a TON of angle issues...

Anyways, hope that helps and good luck!

Thanks man! Good to know! the SOA from the factory would be perfect since I will be going back to stock springs. I hope to find some axles with manual hubs. And I will have to research about the flat top knuckles as well. Thanks again!

[The_Turd]

Anytime! Let me know if you have any other questions about it!

Jus so u know, keep an eye out for any pass side drop D44 in the 8 lug version (Dodge or Chev)... Odds are they'll bolt in w/o any major issues! But one thing, keep an eye out on gear ratios... they can catch ya off guard sometimes.... Figure out what you want, and search from there!

Good luck!!

[AMC-J/20]

Could the Wag be trans planted on top of the 3/4ton dodge ?
Possibly a diesel powered one :thumbsup: ;)

I bet the wag's a bit to short of body . . .

Mike

[gas4blood]

Anytime! Let me know if you have any other questions about it!

Jus so u know, keep an eye out for any pass side drop D44 in the 8 lug version (Dodge or Chev)... Odds are they'll bolt in w/o any major issues! But one thing, keep an eye out on gear ratios... they can catch ya off guard sometimes.... Figure out what you want, and search from there!

Good luck!!

Are 4.10's a pretty common gear ratio? Thats what I would like to end up with. Or even something in the 4.56 range.

[Cherokee Squeak]

What year dodge are we talkin?

you dont want none of that CAD/Unitbearing junk. The hubs suck, the ball joints suck, the housing is weak, it has a 2 piece long side inner (CAD) and no way to get high steering (unless you go with ORU's expensive kit).

Anything prior to 94 is fine, but even some of the late 80's/early 90's dodge 44's came with unit bearings.

If you really want to stick with a 44, i suggest a Chevy or ford 44.

[The_Turd]

Mine came with 4.10's and I think that was the most common... Maybe 3.73's as well but I dont recall seeing any with 4.56's unless aftermarket...

My 77 had the unit bearing crap your talking about and yes avoid those like the plague (unless you want full time with no crazy amounts of lift). Like I said earlier, there is not conversion kit (for 8 lug anyways) to convert to part time with hubs unless you swap everything from the C's out...

Altho, it DID have the pass side flat top knuckle (which I machined for a high steer arm) and the ball joints were exactly the same as most (if not all) any other D44 i've came across. And the inner shafts in mine were just like any other D44 shaft (maybe size differences) but they weren't 2 piece inners....

HTH

[gas4blood]

What year dodge are we talkin?

you dont want none of that CAD/Unitbearing junk. The hubs suck, the ball joints suck, the housing is weak, it has a 2 piece long side inner (CAD) and no way to get high steering (unless you go with ORU's expensive kit).

Anything prior to 94 is fine, but even some of the late 80's/early 90's dodge 44's came with unit bearings.

If you really want to stick with a 44, i suggest a Chevy or ford 44.

I was hoping to find some out of a late 70s-early 80's Dodge. I was already planning on avioding the Unitbearing axles. They suck! And I want to stick with the Dodge 44 becuase the fact that the track width will be the same as the D60 rear. If I run a chevy 44 I would have to run spacers on the D60 or run a 14 bolt with that GINOURMOUS pumpkin! haha.

[wickedwagon767]

This should help you find the right Dana44 front for you

Dodge :

- Bad. 73-79 Dodge 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton Dana44 front axles have the small,weak,failure prone outer bearing/hub setup. Avoid these axles unless you want to swap the knuckles,rotors,calipers,spindles,etc. over from a Chevy or later model Dodge Dana44.

- Good. '80-84 Dodge 1/2 and 3/4 ton Dana44 front axles have the good hub/bearing design.

- Good. '73-77 Chevy Dana44, '77-91 Chevy Corporate 10-bolt front axles had the good hub/bearing design. The Chevy Dana44 came stock with flattop knuckles,which are good for crossover/high-steer conversions.

- Bad. '85-93 Dodge Dana44. CAD (Center axle disconnect) axles with the two-piece (long side) axleshafts. Weak.

[gas4blood]

WOW! Very informative! Thanks! :thumbsup:

[J10Mike]

This should help you find the right Dana44 front for you

Dodge :

- Bad. 73-79 Dodge 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton Dana44 front axles have the small,weak,failure prone outer bearing/hub setup. Avoid these axles unless you want to swap the knuckles,rotors,calipers,spindles,etc. over from a Chevy or later model Dodge Dana44.

- Good. '80-84 Dodge 1/2 and 3/4 ton Dana44 front axles have the good hub/bearing design.

- Good. '73-77 Chevy Dana44, '77-91 Chevy Corporate 10-bolt front axles had the good hub/bearing design. The Chevy Dana44 came stock with flattop knuckles,which are good for crossover/high-steer conversions.

- Bad. '85-93 Dodge Dana44. CAD (Center axle disconnect) axles with the two-piece (long side) axleshafts. Weak.
The wicked one is right on the money. Except, I think the good D44s are from 80 thru 85. No biggie.
Just look for an axle with locking hubs. Also make sure it's not a CAD axle that has the sleeve and locking hubs.

[Cherokee Squeak]

This should help you find the right Dana44 front for you

Dodge :

- Bad. 73-79 Dodge 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton Dana44 front axles have the small,weak,failure prone outer bearing/hub setup. Avoid these axles unless you want to swap the knuckles,rotors,calipers,spindles,etc. over from a Chevy or later model Dodge Dana44.

- Good. '80-84 Dodge 1/2 and 3/4 ton Dana44 front axles have the good hub/bearing design.

- Good. '73-77 Chevy Dana44, '77-91 Chevy Corporate 10-bolt front axles had the good hub/bearing design. The Chevy Dana44 came stock with flattop knuckles,which are good for crossover/high-steer conversions.

- Bad. '85-93 Dodge Dana44. CAD (Center axle disconnect) axles with the two-piece (long side) axleshafts. Weak.

Not all chevy 44's come with flat tops. 76 and below had flat tops, 77+ had flat top on driver side only.

Good news is, your jeep flat tops will swap right over to a chevy 44.

Also, a chevy 44 will bolt right into place of a FSJ 44 (same spring center pin to center pin width), dont know what the dodge is.

[The_Turd]

Not all chevy 44's come with flat tops. 76 and below had flat tops, 77+ had flat top on driver side only.

Good news is, your jeep flat tops will swap right over to a chevy 44.

Also, a chevy 44 will bolt right into place of a FSJ 44 (same spring center pin to center pin width), dont know what the dodge is.


To add info, 73-79 Dodge are the same center pin width... (MAYBE 1/4 wider, but close enough)

[Casey]

To add info, 73-79 Dodge are the same center pin width... (MAYBE 1/4 wider, but close enough)
When did Dodge go to 44 1/2" spring centers?

I have a Dodge truck D60 under my Chief. The FSJ centers are 43 1/2" and the Dodge is 44 1/2". Perhaps mine is a later version...IDK. :confused:

[The_Turd]

When did Dodge go to 44 1/2" spring centers?

I have a Dodge truck D60 under my Chief. The FSJ centers are 43 1/2" and the Dodge is 44 1/2". Perhaps mine is a later version...IDK. :confused:

Im talking front, sorry, should have clarified that... My front is (IIRC) 35 1/2" and the Dodge D44 bolted in without any perch issues (it was snug, but it worked)

I still have the Dodge D60 rear in my Cherokee, and that bolted in as well without any perch mods... I don't remember measuring the width so I can't give any info on that other then it worked...

[Cherokee Squeak]

when i measured my 44 for my cherokee, the springs were 42 1/2 and the chevy 44 was at like 42 3/4. So yea, there will be an 1/8th inch difference on each side, but thats a small enough difference to where you could just give a good push on each spring and they'll go in.

[The_Turd]

Maybe my Cherokee was 42 1/2... I cant remember... I just know I was happy I didn't have to move any perches! :o

[Casey]

Im talking front, sorry, should have clarified that...
:o

Perhaps I should learn to read. This thread is about front axles...