D44 width questions

[locked up]

New to the forum ... and I don't know a whole lot about fullsize stuff so please be nice...

My buddy (Donzi on here) put a 14bolt on his 79 Chief... and now has his rear 44 up for grabs. I'm looking to upgrade my junk and want to use it. His rear 44 is approx width 61" wms, 6 on 5.5, bout 2" offset pinion, he says its a "wide track". Problem is I'm also wanting a front d44, DRIVER side drop, same wheel pattern, manual hubs etc....

Does the axle I want exist under a fullsize somewhere? Is his aprox measurement of 61" wms make sense for the vehicle it came out of & being wide track rear? How wide is a wide track front? How wide is a narrow track front?

Sorry for all the questions but I imagine yall will have all the answers and giveme facts over opinions...

I posed this on another forum and someone suggested I lookfor a "narrow track", but I don't wanna put a narrow track fron on if its narrower than the wide track rear....

[ August 16, 2004, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: locked up ]

[jode]

I bleev there were chiefs made in the later 80s that would have the WT front with Driver drop....but I aint fer sure

[89grand]

I don't know for sure what year they stopped making Chiefs, maybe like 82 or something. I think those would have a driver side drop.

[locked up]

And those WTs would be what width?

Like I said I'm tryingto find out what will best matchup with the rear and get an exact measurement on that rear...

[oldyellowwagoneer]

The later model pickups would also have the proper width and are a direct bolt in. Dennis

[goldhammer]

1980 to 83 Chief and truck from 80 and up are all drivers side drop. Wags from 80 up would be the same only narrow track. Would also have the same 6 on 5 1/2. Just make sure you match the gear ratio

[locked up]

Thanks for the info, but from what I have been reading elsewhere the 2" offset pinion may cause me vibe problems ...so back to the drawing board for a rear end.... Still looking for a 61" wms front 44...

Maybe yall can help me with my next question....

Have seen swaps involving an AMC20 (not CJ)with the matching front 44. Anyone have the WMS on these and possible years to look for? I'd guess that d44 would be the 61" & the amc 58"ish?

[GroundHawgs]

I'm upgrading axles in my 82' Chero to 60's. Front D-44 Driver drop, rear Amc-20 centered. Both are Wide Trac's. Don't know how far ya want to come to get some but their here if your interested..???

Just and idea...E-mail me if ya want....Thanks

[locked up]

What is the wms and is that front vac disco? Would you consider shippin them?

[GroundHawgs]

ok not really sure what wms is?? Never heard that b-fore???? The Chero is a np229 QT/ non-vac front-axle. ( Are ya wanting a rotor-to-rotor/hub-to-hub measurement.????) Shipping could be pricy, I would ship if you do the research. I am in Avon IN 46123, Find your best price and we'll talk about my price after you figure shipping.

[locked up]

I'd guess shipping around $200 if you can find a pallette behind a pepboys or something ... lots of different shipping companies... For a kinda comparo I shipped a front axle from Here to Reno NV for about $130

WMS "Wheel Mounting Surface"... Probably different onthe 44 & 20 too...heck, if you can get me a measurement from spring perch center to spring perch center on the rear that would be helpful as well.

[GroundHawgs]

I'll have to measure them tomorrow and get back w/ya. K

[locked up]

Sounds good, lemme know

[River Beast]

WMS= Wheel Mounting Surface

This is where you measure for axle width from.

Don't quote me.. but I thinking the WMS of a W/T front axle is 63"... There has for the most part always been a 2" difference in tracking front to rear of 2".... now I could be wrong.. just trying to help you out... but all W/T Chero's and J Trucks 80 and up will have the front axle you need... W I D E and driver drop...

[ August 17, 2004, 06:08 AM: Message edited by: River Beast ]

[locked up]

yeah.. I have some people telling me diffrent widths for wts & nts so thats why I just ask people to measure

[River Beast]

W/T are 2" wider overall than N/T....

[jode]

I thought they were 2" wider in each side

[Sitting Bull]

So the trucks and the WT's have the same width front axle???

[River Beast]

Jode,

my mistake... yeah.. 2" each side... so 4" total

Brad,

yeah... J truck and W/T chero have same width

[Sitting Bull]

Thanks Todd. I guess what I'm really trying to figure out is why if I put a J-truck rear axle on my WT, the back tire won't stuff into the wheel well anymore. The body's are obviously the same width, and I didn't think there was that much difference in the flares. Something's just not adding up in my head.