ok guys i think i just hooked up on a decent deal...i got a 8.8 for the rear of the jeep and i got a line on a d-44 from a 78 ford f-150 i am figuring this is high pinion? i know it is 5 on 5.5 my question is what years were the "c" bushings or what not welded to the axle and cast to the axle....i will be narrowing this axle to match my ford 8.8 rear on my TJ so i need to know if i can just cut off the ford brackets and throw the tj brackets on it or am i gonna run into troubles? also is this a high pinion or am i mistaken? i sure hope i is that would make this seem pretty tight...also what do you guys recomend for narrowing?...one side shortend (passenger) or both? i searched i read i didnt find...if you know where i should look tell me....if not gimme some answers:flipoff2: thanks guys:smokin:

It is high pinion and 78 1/2-up most often have the cast in C crap and the 77 1/2-78 most often have the small welded on ones.

Yeah, Dean is right. It is going to be hi-pinion but you'll have to re-tube it to work for you.

so maybe this isnt the most desireable d-44 to put into the front of my tj....guess i will keep lookin...

Originally posted by 66CJdean
It is high pinion and 78 1/2-up most often have the cast in C crap and the 77 1/2-78 most often have the small welded on ones.

The cast "C" started in 1966 when Ford changed to a coil front axle for the 4x4's. It stayed the same until 76 when they incorporated the Pan Han link into it.

Are you sure a 78 came with the cast in "C"? I under stand Ford's different plants has different parts left over, but as a rule I thought all 78's had the junky cast in brackets and thin tubes.

nmujeepin,

Good axle, not good for shorting. I'd look for a 73-77. If the deal is that great go with it and re-tube it. For shorting the 80+ F150 stub side axle is about 5" shorter than the 73-79 Ford axle. The long side I'd leave alone, as at best you can shorten them 2" (Unless you go custom shafts)

I just finished a 1978 (or so the salvage yard said) Ford HPD44 for my TJ. The C's were cast on mine. It was a pain in the ass, but after much fabrication, it's done. I left it at it's current width. It'll go in this weekend (Sunday) then it's off to test 'er out.

Doc

sounds like i am gonna pass on this axle and look for a different high pinion 44 ....what other donors are high pinion?

only Fords have hi-pinion.

Originally posted by nmujeepin
sounds like i am gonna pass on this axle and look for a different high pinion 44 ....what other donors are high pinion? You want a 1973-1977 Ford F100/F150 or a 77-79 Ford 250 or extenda cap.

Mine is from 1972, and I have seen one from 1970, both HP, both with welded on brackets.

Both drum, brake, however.

Andy

Originally posted by afecko
Mine is from 1972, and I have seen one from 1970, both HP, both with welded on brackets.

Both drum, brake, however.

Andy

THe 72 Might have ball joints, I;d bet on open King pin's. I know the 70 had open king pins knuckles. All Ford axles with the seperate C brackets with coils are high pinion.

Originally posted by Mr.N
You want a 1973-1977 Ford F100/F150 or a 77-79 Ford 250 or extenda cap.

The problem with the F250's is that they are 3/4 ton they have bigger brakes and all but dont have the 5 lug patter which can be a draw back.

Is your 8.8 out of an Explorer or did you find one out of something else with 5 on 5.5"?

my 8.8 is outta an explorer.....i am starting to rethink that i should sell it before it goes in and just find 2 d-60's and go eight lug....but since its a daily driver i would have to narrow it and i am not quite that mechanically inclined quite yet....we will see as the dollars get saved what i decide to do

You do realize the 8.8 is 5 on 4.5" & will not match any D44, don't you? At least I have'nt heard of anyone making a front 44 that pattern. So you would have to get new shafs or redrill if the flange is big enough.
Just making sure tou're not overlooking that.

Originally posted by CJ-Jeeper
You do realize the 8.8 is 5 on 4.5" & will not match any D44, don't you? At least I have'nt heard of anyone making a front 44 that pattern. So you would have to get new shafs or redrill if the flange is big enough.
Just making sure tou're not overlooking that. yeah i realize that and the more i look into the 8.8 the more i think if i ever want a decent front axle other than my d-30 then the 8.8 might not be the rear end of choice unless it can switch over to 5 on 5.5. easily

Originally posted by nmujeepin
yeah i realize that and the more i look into the 8.8 the more i think if i ever want a decent front axle other than my d-30 then the 8.8 might not be the rear end of choice unless it can switch over to 5 on 5.5. easily

I had Dutchman make me some 5x5.5 shafts for my 8.8. The stock axle flange is too narrow to drill the new pattern.

Old topic dug up with search.
I am using the same setup as above.
Narrowed HP44 with 5on5.5 and 8.8 rear out of an exploder.
Dutchman shafts like TDW said are $240.00
Another option, wheel adapters: $90.00
wheel adapters (http://www.mcmotorsports.com/frontend/product.asp?page=31&categoryname=&categoryno=)

TDW is going the right way, I am just poor.
With a rear axle that is 59.5" and a front that is 61.5" a 3/4" spacer on each side that changes the wheel pattern is my solution. I will test it for dependability because it will be on my daily driver. I will test it for strength because of my sig line.

http://www.beast40.com/JeepPictures/Fall2002BuildUp/finished6.jpg

I got a HP44 with the cast in mounts under my TJ, it was a pain in the ass and required the use of a special welding rod but in the end everything worked out well.

Originally posted by gripguru

Dutchman shafts like TDW said are $240.00


TDW is going the right way, I am just poor.


FWIW I dropped the stock shafts at Dutchman last week (been sitting in the garage for a few years now :D ) and they WERE able to redrill the 5x5.5 pattern, barely. Not too worried as these are only going to be spares.

I have removed the c Brackets from (2) 1978 Bronco D44's. (should be the same as F150) They were both welded on. NOT Cast on to the tube. They were cast peices, but welded to the tube.

78-79 F150's were only solid tube IF it is an Extended cab. I got mine from a 76. Took me all of 2 hours to strip it.

I'm going to run my HP44 full width up front, and put a J20 rear Dana 60 (66"wms to wms) out back.

Mr N. has put together a great info page on Dana 44"s. Read it thoroughly!!!
http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/web_rs44.html

Wouldn't it be easier...
to have them cut and re-spline the shafts
from an 8.8 Full size Bronco, to fit the Explorer housing.
They should both be 31 spline axles.
And you get the bigger bolt pattern for the 8.8 with more strength at the flanges.

Why not just grab a D44 rear end out out a Scout II that already has the 5 on 5.5" pattern. My old one with disc brakes was 59.5" wide WMS to WMS. They can be had for a couple hundred bucks.

Might want to PM CITY WORK. I know he is narrowing a HP44 out of a F250 (leaf sprung) to get rid of.

Originally posted by bigsquirt
Wouldn't it be easier...
to have them cut and re-spline the shafts
from an 8.8 Full size Bronco, to fit the Explorer housing.
They should both be 31 spline axles.
And you get the bigger bolt pattern for the 8.8 with more strength at the flanges.

They also have to machine the C-clip button onto the very inner part of the axle shaft, and depending on how much you cut off, you cannot respline the old necked down part of the bronco shafts. I personally have not measured, so I don't know how much to cut off of a full size 8.8 to know. This was my first instinct too, but have not actually measured. If anyone has these measurements lets see it. I don't have the full size 8.8, but I'll measure the exploder tonight.