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Dana 44 Axle Shaft Conversion.

Discussion in 'Jeepster Commando and Commando Tech' started by Tom_Hartz, Jun 28, 2021.

  1. Jun 28, 2021
    Tom_Hartz

    Tom_Hartz Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    North Carolina
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    Will dana 44 1 piece axle shafts fit into a housing that had 2 piece shafts? I have a complete rear differential with 2 piece shafts and a complete 1 piece shaft differential housing. The spring perches have been cut and moved on the 1 piece housing. So I thought the easy way is to swap all of the parts. Will this work?
     
  2. Jun 29, 2021
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    You're better off to weld on new spring mounts. Much easier in the long run.

    The two piece axle has a smaller tube diameter and the one piece axle shaft is larger than the two piece. Basically, the one piece axle shaft is too large to fit in a two piece housing.
     
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  3. Jun 29, 2021
    Tom_Hartz

    Tom_Hartz Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    It's never easy. Thanks for the info.
     
  4. Jul 15, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Is this for a Jeepster or a Commando?
     
  5. Jul 18, 2021
    Tom_Hartz

    Tom_Hartz Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    It says both on the hood. I'm building a 71 chassis to go under a 67 body. The 2 piece axle comes up as a 67-69. The one piece axle shows 69-71.
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2021
  6. Jul 18, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Just checking that it's not a CJ. The M20 Corprate axle from a '76 or newer CJ-5 or CJ-7 (except Quadratrac versions) is said to be a bolt-in to the Jeepster/Commando. If the pad location were the major issue, that would be one way to get working axles.
     
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  7. Jul 18, 2021
    Tom_Hartz

    Tom_Hartz Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I'll check it out. Thanks.
     
  8. Aug 13, 2021
    Gaffer

    Gaffer New Member

    Alabama
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    The hole pattern on the bearing pocket flange surface changed half way through 1970. Your 67 housing has 6 equal spaced holes and the 71 housing has an odd spacing on the top two holes. They don't match. This means that the bearing retainer plate behind the wheel flange on a one piece housing will not match the two piece 1967 housing. I don't believe that the length of the axles match either. I'm not sure if there are any other differences. There was a thread on another forum where someone mentioned ordering one piece axles for a two piece housing. The real fix is to just move the purches on the housing in my opinion. I pulled a rear Ford Dana 44 housing from a junkyard to put in a 1952 Willys pickup. Take your time cutting the perches off and grind smooth. Bolt in the housing with the pinion approximately 3-4 degrees low and weld up the new perches.
     
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  9. Aug 28, 2021
    Tom_Hartz

    Tom_Hartz Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I am leaning towards relocating the spring pads. We have a 50s Ford truck with a Dana 44 in the shop and did a spring under conversion to lower it.
    I was surprised to see a 44. I didn't know Ford used them.
     
  10. Aug 28, 2021
    Gaffer

    Gaffer New Member

    Alabama
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    I'm not familiar with the 50's vintage but in the 70s they were called the heavy duty option on the rear end. I would take a ford 9 in over the dana 44 in my f100. Just not in my jeep.
     
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  11. Nov 28, 2022
    Dan Lockwood

    Dan Lockwood New Member

    Mid-Michigan
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    Sorry to revive this old thread, but not being versed on Jeepsters/Commandos, are the '67s up through '71 running a Dana 18 with front/rear right side drop like on a CJ of the same vintage? I know in '72 on CJ's with the AMC 20 rear end, they went to the Dana 20 transfer case with a rear center drop. That's why the later AMC 20 rear ends won't swap to the earlier CJ's. Just wondering about the '67/'71 Jeepsters/Commandos what they run for a transfer case.
     
  12. Nov 28, 2022
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    According to Jim Allen's book, ALL Jeepsters from 67-73 used the D20 transfercase.
     
  13. Nov 29, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    This is false. The AMC Model 20 wasn't used in CJs until 1976. 72-75 used a flanged Dana 44 with a centered pumpkin.
     
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  14. Nov 29, 2022
    Dan Lockwood

    Dan Lockwood New Member

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    Crap... :(

    I'm going to look at a '67 on Wednesday and it's a Dauntless with a 3-speed, probably a T-90. I was hoping to up the axle ratio with a setup off a '71 CJ-5 chassis I have that's right-side drop front/rear with 4.27 gears. The Saturn O/D was going to be on my list of must haves, but not with the D-20 transfer case.

    I asked this in another thread, but what ratio axles came stock or optional in the '67 Jeepster? My '71 rear axle has the one year only one-piece rear axles too... :(

    Thanks, Dan
     
  15. Nov 29, 2022
    Dan Lockwood

    Dan Lockwood New Member

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    Thanks for the correction. At least I had the center drop correct. :) I thought I read that the AMC 20 was what they jumped to in '72, but thanks again for the correction.
     
  16. Nov 29, 2022
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

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    OEM 3speed would be T14 - same as CJ with V6. T90 came with 4cyl. TH400 auto was option with v6. Allen's book says v6/T14 combo had gear ratio options of 3.73/4.27/4.88. given the overlap with CJs I would have expected 4.27 was only with 4cyl.
     
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  17. Nov 29, 2022
    Dan Lockwood

    Dan Lockwood New Member

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    Thanks James!

    The CJ chassis I have and the CJ-5 I have, both have the 4.27 ratio axles assemblies. My CJ-5 has the F-134 motor, but the '71 chassis, no clue what was in it from the factory.

    I know the CJ-5 I have is the T-90 with the non-synchro 1st gear. Does the T-14 have all three gears synchronized?

    I really appreciate the information given here, thanks! Dan
     
  18. Nov 29, 2022
    Dan Lockwood

    Dan Lockwood New Member

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    Didn't mean to hijack this thread as I've done, sorry. :(
     
  19. Nov 29, 2022
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

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    Yes
     
  20. Nov 29, 2022
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

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    There was also a 3.31 ratio on Jeepsters, in both the D30/D44 rear axles.
     
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