Dana 44 Front

Does the dana 44 front axle from a 1977 wagoneer (passenger side pumpkin) come with the flat-top knuckle on the passenger side? driver side? can't seem to find the info online for some reason, maybe I'm just looking too fast.

Thanks.

 

some did some didn't. You'd have to look and see what it has.

 

Are there years before 1977 that wagoneers did have flat-top knuckles for sure? Was 77 a split year or something so some had it early in the year, then it changed mid-year or something?

 

I have flat tops on my '76.

 

Explain please, new to this pros and cons of flat knuckles
Thanks

 

Always thought it was 74-77 that had the flattops but I can only find 74-76 for sure. I know I've bought 75-76 waggys with flattops.

Flattop knuckles are used for highsteer. The knuckles are milled and drilled for steering arms, this is mostly used in springover applications.

lots of info:
http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/web_rs44.html

 

My yet to be installed Dana 44’s are from a ’77 Wagoneer with Quadra Trac and the front has flat top knuckles.

Don't know if that helps any.

 

And my 78' Dana 44 was not flat top.

 

So, new twist on my whole axle upgrade idea. I was gonna get a 77 wagoneer with quadratrac with dana 44's front and rear and build them up this spring and put them in, and I could get the whole rig for $100. Now, I kept looking, and I can get a '69 wagoneer, and it has a dana 44 front, but the owner believes the PO put dana 60 knuckles on it for open knuckle and disc brakes, the front has a locker and 4.56's. The rear is a chevy 12 bolt (he believes it is the same width as the wagoneer stuff, but has to check when he gets back into town), has 4.56's and a spool in it. My axles right now are 4.27's with 33's, but I would run 35's with the new axles, so 4.56's are nice. I can get this whole vehicle for $450, and it comes with a blown buick 350, th400, and dana 20 t-case, wheels, and 35" bfg m/t's.

So, I was thinking this is the more cost effective way to go, getting the second vehicle, as it also has wheels and tires, the axles are ready to go, don't need to build them in the spring. I like the slightly lower gears in the dana 18 over the 20, but I can put my dana 18 gears from my '67 dana 18 t-case in a dana 20, right? then I can use the centered rear diff from the other rig, too.

So, which way would you guys go with this? I'm waiting on pics from the owner of the second vehicle to see exactly what is going on with the knuckles and brakes on the front end, and to make sure it is a truck 12bolt rear, not a car 12bolt. The guy said the PO built it for the rubicon and took it down there and ran it with this rig once, so who knows...What would you guys do?

 

If it was me.. I think I'd pick the quadratrac axles. This way I would be able to run a overdrive on the d18. I would also want to gear the axles lower than 4.56's if running 35" tires. Building your own axles is a good way to know everything is done right.. gear install, axles gone though and inspected. Will you do your own gear installs ?

 

I would love to do my own gear installs, but unfortunately I don't know how to do them, and I know they have to be set up just right, or else they will pretty much fail eventually. I don't know if a couple guys I know know how to do them or not, or if my brother-in-law knows how to do them...Anyone here willing to set up my gears for a case of beer or something, since shops charge a fortune for it? I figured being able to keep the overdrive would be pretty sweet, and I could then gear the axles to 5.38 like I really wanted, and go through them and know they are perfect before install. I just know it will be much more money by the time it's all said and done (lockers, gears, oil, maybe brake parts, locking hubs, etc...)

Few questions about the quadratrac rear dana 44, does anyone run this rear axle in their CJ with the dana 18? Is the diff offset too far to the passenger side, or does it still just barely work out okay while not outboarding the springs? Also, the front hubs are always locked, right? I can put Warn hubs on the front though, correct?

Anyone have pics of their CJ with wagoneer 44's they can post up so I can see final product stance (quadratrac or not).

Thanks guys.

 

Where are you located?

Don

 

D60 stuff on a D44? Not unless it's super custom.

 

yeah, I didn't think dana 60 outers would go on a dana 44, unless he meant the the whole inner/outer knuckle assembly was welded to the end of the tubes, like they do on ford 9" front ends with dana 60 knuckles.

I'm located in Bend, OR. But I just talked to my brother in law, and he said he knows how to set up gears, and has the tools, so I could have him do it. He's 3 hours away, if someone is closer, by all means feel free

 

That sounds like a sweet combination but if you’re planning to put this in a CJ-5 or earlier CJ you don’t have enough wheel base to run a long combination like the GM small block and TH400 transmission. If it will even fit, you’re drive shaft will be so short you won’t be able to wheel it without binding.
There are advantages and disadvantages to sticking with the Dana 18 transfer case.
One big advantage is the fact you can add an overdrive turning it into a 4 speed transfer case.
One big disadvantage is you’re stuck with passenger side offset axles so your choices are limited.
My personal choice has been to stay with the Dana 18 and upgrade my axles.

 

Yeah, that was why the offset Waggy stuff was appealing to me, so I could put a buick 350 and t-18 in it, then split all the gears in the t-18 with the overdrive I currently have installed. That way I get a creeper gear, a gear roughly equivalent to the close-ratio t-18 first gear, my second gear, split it, etc, etc, because right now most of my 4-wheeling consists of being in 4-low and first gear overdrive, seems to be the speed my club goes. Now that I know my brother-in-law can set up gears, the cost will still be more than getting those other axles already locked with 4.56's, but at least I'll be able to go to 5.38's like I really want, and put whatever lockers I really want in them without feeling bad that I'm pulling out already decent stuff.

So question still...I can put Warn locking hubs on the Quadratrac dana 44 front right? because doesn't it come so it's always got the hubs locked?

Thanks.

 

Yep, hubs will bolt right one, it's just Chevy stuff.
The waggys come with drive slugs, might be a good idea just to throw them into the parts box for a trail fix.

 

Good idea throwing them in your Jeep toolbox. Never know when that could come in handy.