d44 advise

[79chevy39.5's]

So I recently picked up a hp d44 (79 f-150) and am going to eventualy put it under my DD stepside when it moves to play toy status (within the next year) and im amassing parts before I put it together

this truck would sit on 35" tires and im leaning twords pitbulls in one of the less agressive tires

it will is a L69 (monte SS) 305/700r4/241

the trans will see a large cooler and most likely a rebuild

i can get a set of chevy out knuckles and just go ahead and convert this to 8 lug and put in a 14 bolt or other 8 lugger or i can keep it 5 lug and swap in a 9" i would keep drums on the back to keep e-brake

but going to 8 lug i would have to swap gears but if i put in a 9 inch it would probly be under geared to be any fun

the plans for this are a truck to run desert and most likely snow runs

P.S. it would also get a set of auto lockers most likely

what you say on the rear axle and wheather or not it should get an auto locker in the front

[79chevy39.5's]

completely slipped my mind that i should try to find a semi float d60 5x5.5 axle and gear the front or rear to match the other

[bobracing]

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/pts/1247651153.html

[79chevy39.5's]

that is definatly next on my list of things to stock pile now cant pick that one up because i wont be in the PNW till the end of march

[White trash]

So what is the rig that is receiving the axle swap?


That 60 is a decent deal but it is over rated for sure. Why not just snag a generic 60 and redrill the hubs to 5 on 5.5" and be done with it for less cash?

[79chevy39.5's]

doh its a 89 chevy stepside I know a guy that redrilled to 6 lug but i havent looked into it too much

[White trash]

Heck if you're thinking of going 8 lug I'd snag a 14 bolt out of a 98ish and up chevy, they have lots of ribs on the center chunk and factory discs with e-brake. It isn't called a 14 bolt anymore there is actually a AAM designation for it but you'll know what it is when you see it.. All the typical FF 14 bolt stuff swaps right in.

[79chevy39.5's]

id really like to keep it 5 lug but if i do go 8 lug 14 bolt will be the direction im goin anyone know if they made a heavy half/light duty2500 2wd with 5 lug?

im starting to lean more twords just going to a 8 lug setup as i have a buddy with a rusty set that he'd let go for real cheap most likely

[79chevy39.5's]

do you guys think a 37" goodyear would be too much for a 44 front? I was thinkin a set of them on recentered h1's would be a good deal

yes yes i know the suck for wheelin but remember this will momst likely 80% street and the "wheelin" it will do is just goofin around nothin serious

[White trash]

I'd be more concerned with the weight of the wheels beating the snot out of the ball joints etc than anything else.. Personally I'd go to the junkyard and snag some nice aftermarket 16.5's and run with them to keep the cheap tires.

[Lurch]

Just throw a 9 inch in the rear. They are are easier to find and can be made bullet proof. As far as the dana 44 holding up to 37 mtr's that is the current set up on my bronco and I punish it on a regular basis. I would recomend upgrading to beter axles and u-joints in the front if your gonna wheel it. If it's a dd it should hold up just fine.

[79chevy39.5's]

thanks trash and lurch the only wheelin i can see it getting is snow wheelin and runs at juniper and clean ups

ive started to narrow it down a little bit better now

i can probly get the 9 inch that there as my dad doesnt seem to be in any hurry to swap the rear end under the lincoln anytime soon

the 79 d44/9 inch combo run the same 3.54 gears in em factory simple shackle flip in the back and coils/radius arms front
lock the back (auto locker) or if its limited slip leave it alone
as far as i know i can run 15" rims on these axles
and i really like the q78 swampers(cheap tire good off-road)

im not too worried about balancing other than some bb's
that list should keep me busy for a while thanks guys

[Phantom 309]

I ran the same HP44 years ago with 36" swampers and a trac loc. The only breakage I had was both u joints (in turn breaking the "ears" on the axles) but I was at full lock under pressure and on the gas. You can always upgrade later though if you have a problem. Whitey is right about the ball joints. I went through two sets in three years.
I would just stay 5 lug and add the 9". Like someone already said you can make em bullet proof (plus the have good ground clearance.) I put a built 6lug 9" in the back of my 87 chev p/u project for those exact reasons. If you start out with a 31spline you'll be money ahead though. They're pretty strong axles to start with. If you do end up with a 28sp unit, upgrade to 31's when you buy the locker.

[OldGreen]

The other option would be to find a D60-2 like I have in my Jeep: 5 lug, 35 spline. . .but yeah, a 9" would probably be the way to go for 35-37s.