Picked up a Ford Front 44.....Couple ?'s

[RockRod]

I know I need to cut it down, and the brackets.
But I was wondering after I get it cut down, how do I get axles for it?
When I was keeping the Dana 30 I was going to get the Super 30 kit. I would like to still get a Super 44 kit if possible. Also what is the ring and pinion ratio limit? Any advice or suggestions would be helpful. I was also thinking of doing the WJ brake conversion since it all needs to be fabbed up anyway. :roll:

 

[vintagespeed]

Several good axle shops will cut or make you axles to fit your housing. Moser, Dutchman (I'm running alloy Dutchmans), Superior.

Which front D44 do you have?

-jb

 

[Beezil]

who says you have to cut it down?

 

[Stoney]

if u cut it down u might as well just get something else why pay that much to have it cut down???? what size tires u runnin? if its not bigger than 35's u don't need to waste ur money on crappy supior stuff!

stoney

 

[Clean Racing]

I cut mine down to fit the 80 and up grand waggy inner axles. I have a 60.5" width now instead of 68". This way if I snap an axle they are in the local junk yard. But im having some inners made from 300m. Im not impressed with anything that comes from superior axle, or currie for that matter.

 

[Goatman]

I know I need to cut it down, and the brackets.
But I was wondering after I get it cut down, how do I get axles for it?
When I was keeping the Dana 30 I was going to get the Super 30 kit. I would like to still get a Super 44 kit if possible. Also what is the ring and pinion ratio limit? Any advice or suggestions would be helpful. I was also thinking of doing the WJ brake conversion since it all needs to be fabbed up anyway. :roll:

Mine is cut down to run '80-'84 Waggy axles, and I'm running off the shelf Warns. I wouldn't bother with the 33 spline Super 44, you'll have a very hard time breaking a 30 spline chromo axle in a front D44. The 19 spline stub axles and the axle u-joint will still be the weak link.

Don't know why you'd want a WJ brake conversion, the D44 brakes are very good. Now, if you used the WJ knuckles for the hy-steer, and got a Warn 5 on 5.5" hub kit for the D30 WJ knuckles with the 30 spline chromo stubs, THAT would be a very strong D44.........with 30 spline chromo inners, CTM or Superior axle joints, WJ hy-steer, WJ brakes, 30 spline chromo stub axles, and Warn premium hubs.......nice, expensive, but nice.

 

[andyr354]

who says you have to cut it down?

I agree, why cut it?

I live in KS though where there are basically no vehicle laws.

 

[RockRod]

I thought I had to cut it down to fit (have not measured yet)
If I can use it the way it is, even better.
Does anybody know the ring and pinion limit? 4.88?

 

[CRASH]

5.38 is your limit if it is a reverse spiral axle (Fords 44's have come both standard and reverse spiral).

Mine is cut down to Waggy width, same as Richard. My theory is, if I wanted a fullsize truck, I would have bought a fullsize truck.

CRASH

 

[jmop]

With hummer rims and a 1.5" spacer to clear the steering you can keep the width down to around 76"-77" outside of tire to outside of tire with a 12.5 wide tire. My old setup (D30/35 12.5" wide tire on 10" wide rim) was around 74"-75" wide so not too much wider.

 

[Beezil]

If you are in the market for rims anyway, seriously consider 17" rims, and run a numerically higher offset.

I did it this way, and it allowed me to swallow the big dual piston calipers found on 3/4 ton ford PU's and to run an outside tracwidth of around 78-79" as opposed to an OSTW of 86-88" some guys are running on thier fullsize axles.

YMMV.

good luck .

 

[gearwhine]

Since this post changed topic, I will post my problems. I am picking up full width 79 f-250 axles in a few weeks (What width are they anyway...I can never find an exact number, my guess is 67" front and 65" rear..that right?).

I was set on leaving them full width, but now measuring...there is no way I can keep them street legal, even using H2 rims(17x8.5, 5.5 BS and cheap). I found with a 12.5" tire, I will be at 76.5" total width, and that's too wide for me to stay legal.

By looking at the warn page...using F-150 sizes (no listing for f-250) and waggy sizes, I can get it down 5", brings me to about 71.5", which would be perfect....ok, so where were my problems? Does this sound all correct to you guys? Thanks a lot _nicko_