D44 front w/disc and 3.31, pass side diff?

[miked]

Thinking about replacing the d27 front in my 69 with a newer D44 and going SOA, was wondering what kind of donor would provide a D44 front with:

- disc brakes
- 3.31 gears
- passenger side pumpkin
- originally SOA with 2.5" spring pads
- same width as the D27
- bolt pattern on hubs at 5 x 5.5

I know the disc brake setup was offered after 74 and D44 was mostly used in front on gladiators, hoping this turns out to be a no brainer...

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Any axle from a 74 to 79 will fit under it. Gear ratio would have to be checked. I swapped out the D27 in my 70 Wag with one from a 76 Wag. I then swapped the rear axles to 6 stud. If you want to keep 5 stud wheels you would need to swap your rotors to ford ones. then you need to change Brake Proportion valve. Not very hard but it is involved. ;)

[joe]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by miked:
Thinking about replacing the d27 front in my 69 with a newer D44 and going SOA, was wondering what kind of donor would provide a D44 front with:
- disc brakes
- 3.31 gears
- passenger side pumpkin
- originally SOA with 2.5" spring pads
- same width as the D27
- bolt pattern on hubs at 5 x 5.5
I know the disc brake setup was offered after 74 and D44 was mostly used in front on gladiators, hoping this turns out to be a no brainer...<hr></blockquote>
You're not going to find "all of the above" in one stock pakage.
All will be D44's but width-wise and for pass side pumpkin you're limited to 74-79 Wags or 74-79 NT Cheros. Discs were standard on 74 up Wags and optional on 74/75 Cheros and trucks(std in 76) but all are 6 hole wheels and none came with 3.31 axles. Usually 3.07's/3.54's. None will be SOA from the factory.
Truck axles are too wide(6"-7") w/o modifications to the axle or the body.
Easiest thing would be to swap both front/rear axles and live w/the ratio they come with. That way you don't need to buy new gears or have two different rims for front/rear hassles.

[miked]

oh well, so much for ease...

i like the 3.31 ratio with the th400, good response on the freeway while not being too wound out. if the th400 only had 4th...

i can live with the rotor swap and have been waiting to put in a manual adj proporting valve anyway so thats not a prob, but can I swap the R/P gears from the 27 into the 44?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>R/P gears from the 27 into the 44?
<hr></blockquote>
NO ;)

[miked]

well then, looks like new spring pads on top of the axle and control arm connections on top of the hub on the D27.