That 1977 Dodge Military Abulance... another question...

[Manhattan]

1977 Dodge W200 Van; M886 Military 4x4 Ambulance;

This thing has a D44 Front axle. It has no external hub!? Nothing extends beyond the wheel except a nut. What is this thing? Is that a dry flange? Is it a good thing? It looks like a 2-wheel drive axle... except it has a pumkin in the middle!

Thanks.

[youngjeeper]

you buyin' it to wheel in??

[Stuka]

I spose its possible it has drive flanges instead of a hub. Got any picts?

[RustyJeep]

wasn't 77 in the midst of Dodge's auto hub years?? If so it's a critter only found on old Dodges of the sort...they worked, but seemed to get a bad rap for being problematic. Am I right? Someone?

[2ndtimearround]

Sounds like my late Dad's '79 Ramcharger.

D44 no visable hub, came with the NP203 Full Time Case.

They had a shortened outshaft, and integral spindle/hub assembly that has lugs on one side and bolts to the knuckle on the other. Just like the hubs on a D30 hub found on YJ/TJs only bigger.

Here are some picks:

http://ramchargercentral.com/boards/index.php?board=&action=howtoshow;id=35

Check out those crazy knuckles....

Lawrence

[ September 09, 2003, 03:27 PM: Message edited by: 2ndtimearround ]

[Will Morris]

It's a unit bearing design like on the front axle of today's Jeeps. Dodge used them in '77 on my truck with the NP203 full time transfer case. It makes the axle more cost effective to produce for a full time four wheel drive application, but in my opinion, I prefer the tradition hub units for their serviceability, ability to install locking hubs, and I've heard that they're more durable also. So in a word, no, don't get that front Dana 44. I'm looking for a front 60 or a traditional locking hub Dana 44 to replace the one under my truck, but since it's working fine at the moment, I've got more important things to worry about. It's on my to do list however.

Will

[Manhattan]

Thanks guys! The knowledge here never ceases to amaze me...

These axles are (rear only now) bound for a CJ. But I began to consider them for a future Bushwood project. The ticket seems to be a WT D44 up front and D60 from other donor in the rear.

Thanks again.

[Will Morris]

Originally posted by Manhattan:
Thanks guys! The knowledge here never ceases to amaze me...

These axles are (rear only now) bound for a CJ. But I began to consider them for a future Bushwood project. The ticket seems to be a WT D44 up front and D60 from other donor in the rear.

Thanks again.Funny, I haven't heard any of my professors say that in a while.

Anyway, as far as the Bushwood axle swap is concerned, it depends on several things. If you're going to keep it spring under in the front, then I'd say go with a WT axle. However, if you'd like to do an SOA, an axle swap is a convenient way to do it. You can get a HD Ford Dana 44 that will have the pinion on the driverside of the Jeep to match up with your NP transfer case. I'm almost positive that the distance between spring perches for the Ford are within an 1" of the distance between FSJ spring perches, which is close enough. This is how I did a SOA on my Chief, except I used a Dodge Dana 60 front. I literally slid my Dana 44 out, and then bolted in the Dana 60 for an instant SOA. I had to get a custom steering arm ($75) and a new drag link which I've yet to buy, but I've now got cross-over steering and an SOA. Plus it might be a little easier to find than a W/T front Dana 44 with a driverside drop and then having to change the outers to 8 lug outers to match the 8 lug Dana 60 rear. An 80 and up J20 front would do the job, but would be even harder to find.

Will