When I was looking for a HP D44 for my project, all I could find at wrecking yards were complete units costing any where between $450 and up. The one thing they all had in common was they were fully stock, requiring re-build to be used as is. Since we are talking upgrade here, the only thing useful is the housing, since everything else is going onto trash heap. I think reasonably priced axle assemblies are generally found through a friend, or fellow club member, and generally cost arround $100-150. So, IMO, a '78-79 housing, when got for less than $150, is a viable candidate for narrowing and building; however, in most cases it's very hard for a "do it yourself-er" to do successfully, at home. Having the assembly re tubed and narrowed at a shop is feasible, at arround $350.
