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Dana 44's F&R from 79 Wagoneer.


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I gave up the idea for the Ford 9" Rear when this pair of 44's came available from a running 79 Wagoneer.

 

This will be a huge undertaking for me since I'v not done this kind of stuff before. I've done body work, engine work, and installed several lifts before. But never worked with the Diffs.

 

All the parts are there. I'm even getting the old wheels. I want to take my time and set these up right for my rig. (No rush cause "Old Yellar" isnt running right now we over heated and did some damage but thats a whole other topic :headpop: )

 

I want to clean these up and paint them. What can I use at home? Or is it best to take it to a shop for Glass bead Blasting?

 

I'm nervous about changing out the gears and installing lockers myself. But cost is always a concern for me. (any install guides would be great)

 

I am open to any suggestions or advice.

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I generally powerwash all the grease/grime off them, hit any rusty areas with a wire brush, then spray-bomb with gloss paint (don't use matte or flat...mud sticks like mad). I just did my "new" D30 this way last weekend and am swapping it in Saturday. I'll post up a couple pics.

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bead blasting is not the way to clean up an axle, not unless you're going to completely rebuild it anyway. The beads get into everything, no matter how well you seal it up.

 

I use Jeff's method

Clean it up real well, take a flapper wheel to the tubes, wire wheel to all the odd shaped spots.

Spray bomb it with rustoleum or something. I like the hammered paint, it covers rust well and sticks.

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Thanks for the info I will power wash/Scrub/Sand and paint it.

 

Now for more concerns.

 

The Wagoneer was Full-time AW Drive. Does this affect the Dana 44's in any way? The guy selling it was pointing out that the front D44 has flanges(I don't exactly know what those are) Can anyone explain.

 

I was hoping to put in either an electric or cable driven locker. Will the flanges interfere?

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The guy selling it was pointing out that the front D44 has flanges(I don't exactly know what those are) Can anyone explain.

 

I was hoping to put in either an electric or cable driven locker. Will the flanges interfere?

Was he talking about drive flanges? If he was, it's like a set of manual hubs stuck in the locked position. Wouldn't effect a selectable locker.

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That vintage Wagoneer or Cherokee (which is what I had) were considered full-time 4WD, not AWD. The front hubs are indeed like a Warn selectable, without the selector knob. Very easy to work on, and Mile Marker used to sell a kit to convert those vehicles to "normal" 4WD. The kits included the parts to convert the front hubs to selectables, so I'm sure you can do it.

 

FWIW, Clayton (of Clayton's Offroad in Waterbury, Connecticut) has been stuffing those axles under XJs for members of his club for a number of years. I believe he has a kit out with all the brackets and hardware you need to do the front axle. It might be worth a phone call. (Sorry, I don't have the new phone number. His shop used to be just down the road from my brother, but they moved to Waterbury about a year ago and I lost contact.)

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I think 79 would be a passenger side drop axle? Be sure its driver side drop unless you are changing transfer cases too.

 

That is what I was thinking too, they also had the offset rear axle.

 

Or was that in the older waggys?

 

If you PM me the Bill of Materials number I can tell you what gears are in it (like 2.73 gears that were in my waggy 44) and if it has a limited slip, and the Spicer part numbers for about anything else on those axles. :popcorn:

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That vintage Wagoneer or Cherokee (which is what I had) were considered full-time 4WD, not AWD. The front hubs are indeed like a Warn selectable, without the selector knob. Very easy to work on, and Mile Marker used to sell a kit to convert those vehicles to "normal" 4WD. The kits included the parts to convert the front hubs to selectables, so I'm sure you can do it.

 

 

Drive flanges are simple and bulletproof - which makes them useful to carry as trail spares.

 

 

Anyways, a set of warn standards or premiums will slip right in place of the drive flanges. Or who-ever's hubs you want to use. You can nab them off a solid axle 1/2 ton chevy out of the junkyard if you're cheap. Or an older ford with a solid front axle.

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Now I'm confused 'cause the information he sent says a 78 Grand Wagoneer. Front Dana 44 Driver Side drop. Even the pic has it on the drivers side (Unless he's got it upside down?) Guess I really won't know till I see them on Saturday.

 

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how much wider is the wagoneer front dana 44 than my dana 30? if i wanted one what wagoneer does it need to come from? I want a 44 up front!

 

.5" total. Theyre 6 lug too.

 

Grand wags, newer ones. Uh... 81-91? I get this wrong all the time.

 

 

 

Mine annoys me.

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how much wider is the wagoneer front dana 44 than my dana 30? if i wanted one what wagoneer does it need to come from? I want a 44 up front!

I just pulled 2 of em today from the junkyard! MUHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Driverside drop, non-vacuum. Bought at 5 o'clock for $100 a piece, disc to disc, with all steering components and steering gear boxes, sold one at 6 o'clock for $250, and the other one's going on a Nissan.

 

Sorry, had to brag and couldn't decide which post to put it in, cause I'm incredibly happy.

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how much wider is the wagoneer front dana 44 than my dana 30? if i wanted one what wagoneer does it need to come from? I want a 44 up front!

 

.5" total. Theyre 6 lug too.

 

Grand wags, newer ones. Uh... 81-91? I get this wrong all the time.

 

 

 

Mine annoys me.

 

grand wagoneers started in 84 i beleive

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how much wider is the wagoneer front dana 44 than my dana 30? if i wanted one what wagoneer does it need to come from? I want a 44 up front!

 

.5" total. Theyre 6 lug too.

 

Grand wags, newer ones. Uh... 81-91? I get this wrong all the time.

 

 

 

Mine annoys me.

 

grand wagoneers started in 84 i beleive

 

 

Nope. There was an 81 at the yard with the correct D44 today. And there was an 88. No damn fords to pirate a HPD44 off though :cry:

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  • 2 weeks later...

Full sized Jeeps started in late '62. They went from 5 lug to 6 lug in '74 (and got open knuckle with disc brakes. First year for Cherokee as well) but they were RH drop until after '79. '80 to '83 Wagoneers and Cherokees came with LH drop front axles (some 2dr Cheros were wide track with the same front axle as the pickups) and '84 is the first Grand Wagoneer that died in '91.

The Grand Wagoneer was basically a blend of the Wagoneer limited luxo add ons grafted into the Cherokee (same tail lights)

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