If you are thinking about narrowing a front 44 by pounding off the innr knuckles then cutting the tube and pounding the inner knuckle back on be warned you have to cut ALOT to get all the weld out. I used an angle grinder with cut off wheel and it was very difficult to get all the weld out, remember the weld penitrates the knuckle, but not by much. The ideal setup would be a cold saw or band saw (DOH someone with a nice metal band saw) and cut just skiming the knuckle. This is old new to alot but most of the tech articles I've read havent showed how extensive you really need to cut.

if you have a buddie with a carbon arc set up, it works great for gettting all the weld out. real quick, but it is real dangerous in the wrong hands. mike

Huh? It wasn't that hard. 20 minutes per side with a HF cutoff tool, and 3 discs. On a 60 no less! 44's have what, 15% less weld area?
Now the air carbon arc deal sounds like some serious fun.

Originally posted by Slagburn
Huh? It wasn't that hard. 20 minutes per side with a HF cutoff tool, and 3 discs. On a 60 no less! 44's have what, 15% less weld area?
Now the air carbon arc deal sounds like some serious fun.

I was trying to NOT fubar the axles as much as possible. I don't know what you did but I couldnt get my angle grinder in at a good enough angle of attack, had to cut into the tube alot to avoid hacking the knuckle. Might of been easier if the Lowe's or home depot out here carried something bigger then a 3lb 22" baby sledge. i lost my 8 pounder :(