I am at a crossroads right now. I have the opportunity to buy a front 60, or buy a 44 and build it very well for the same price as a stock 60. The question is this... Is the 60 really worth it? I was gonna run some 37-39" tires. Will the 44 hold up on a light buggy? Should I bite the bullet and buy the 60, or wait around for a better deal and build the rig with the 44.

this is just about one of hte last parts I need for the build to start.

Thanks
Dima

Get the D60. Can't go wrong that way.

60 and don't look back!!!!!!!!!!!

If you go the 44 route and max it out in upgrades you have no where to go but replace it if it starts breaking. Least with a stock 60 you get the strength with the possibility to upgrade it even more in the future when the needs and funds are available.

For your style of wheelin just get a dana30.... It should hold up pushing around the garage fine....











































Chris :flipoff2:

For your style of wheelin just get a dana30.... It should hold up pushing around the garage fine....











































Chris :flipoff2:


I think the 30 is overkill for that :flipoff2:

D60 and I'm as much of a D44 guy as you. My D44 is on the chopping block after I recoup from doing the 700R4/atlas/EFI in one chunk.

Dustin from the pirates has a light buggy and replaced alot of 44 parts, ijust really gay when you break a cromo stub and it takes out he spindle which you aren't carring a spare for a nd your back up shafts can't be put in. Road or no road, how light, how underpowered?

Dustin from the pirates has a light buggy and replaced alot of 44 parts, ijust really gay when you break a cromo stub and it takes out he spindle which you aren't carring a spare for a nd your back up shafts can't be put in. Road or no road, how light, how underpowered?

He should have known better. I carry spare spindles, axles and ball joints. Teh way I see it, the increase in weight of teh D60 is going to be offset by not needing to carry as much in the way of spares, since I don't drive like you.

Yes, dont be a dork.

Are you from San Fransisco?

:flipoff2:

Yes, dont be a dork.

Are you from San Fransisco?

:flipoff2:

Not anymore. I moved a while back.

Tom, to answer your question...

4.3, auto, dana 300, 38's.

Fawk it, I guess I will just pony up and get the 60.

Chris... :flipoff2: I know you are always good for a laugh. I was waiting for somoene to make a comment.

dIma

I wish I would have gone D60 back when I put the 44 in, but I can't complain about my 44 either, I've been fairly hard on it many of times and have only broke one spicer u-joint before swapping to CTM's.

However, if I had a 60, I would'nt be so nice to it. I would make it work!

I wish I would have gone D60 back when I put the 44 in, but I can't complain about my 44 either, I've been fairly hard on it many of times and have only broke one spicer u-joint before swapping to CTM's.

However, if I had a 60, I would'nt be so nice to it. I would make it work!

You didn't help matters here.

The main problem is due t funds. I want to finisht his bugy and NOt be stuck paying for parts that I don't need. I know the 44 is a turd, but if that means I can get on the trail, it may be worth it? Maybe I am just trying to convince myself. This is the ONLY thing I am lost with. the rest is all planne out. I will have a build thread once the end is in sight (chassis is done and crap is on there.)

Dima

Go with a toyota axle before a :rainbow:44

Run the d60 in stock form, when it breaks, upgrade.

I built my buggy with a D44 and broke something every trip (more HP, gearing and bigger tires). I sold it to Im4yotas and told him I thought alloys and ctm's would hold up. He went all out, except for yukons stubs and kept breaking things. It's got a 60 and 14b under it now with bigger tires.

Dima, I just drug home a cruiser that's got a 44 in the front that's got every goodie imaginable thrown at it, CTMs, Alloys, cryoed R&P, etc.. Even with all that I'm still hesitant to hit it hard, because my gut feeling is whe something does let go, it's more that likely gonna be ugly. :D I didn't and wouldn't sink that kind of coin in a 44, not to still have that kind of reserved feeling wondering when it's gonna break. Go 60 and don't look back.:smokin:

I built my buggy with a D44 and broke something every trip (more HP, gearing and bigger tires). I sold it to Im4yotas and told him I thought alloys and ctm's would hold up. He went all out, except for yukons stubs and kept breaking things. It's got a 60 and 14b under it now with bigger tires.

Yea, but in all honesty, how much HP were you running? What size tires? Do you think that made much of a difference?

Once again, a
stock 4.3
TH400
Dana 300
38" swampers

Maybe I am just making excuses

The last option, whcih I am NOt a fan of, is to run Min truck stuff with 37's and build the buggy super light/

Dima

Yea, but in all honesty, how much HP were you running? What size tires? Do you think that made much of a difference?

Once again, a
stock 4.3
TH400
Dana 300
38" swampers

Maybe I am just making excuses

The last option, whcih I am NOt a fan of, is to run Min truck stuff with 37's and build the buggy super light/

Dima

Why don't you like this idea? It's stronger than a lightly built 44, and WAY lighter than a 60. Just a thought.

Why don't you like this idea? It's stronger than a lightly built 44, and WAY lighter than a 60. Just a thought.

Lack of good width is a key component. That and a set of built yota axles is not cheap either.

DIma

A cruiser axle/yota axle, is going to cost the same if not less to build as a 44 and will be stronger, this I am confident of. I'm rolling on 40s fj60 axle consists of, lock right, hysteer with assist, and 30 spliners, hasn't treated me wrong. Just gotta keep them knuckle studs and hub studs tight.

But I stick to what I said, go d60

don't even fuck around dima, go for the 60. the 44 will never be as strong....

Go with a toyota axle before a 44


That is the gayest thing I've heard in a long time. You have to put $$$ into a Toyota axle just for it to be equivlant to a stock 44. We can go round and round over this like I'm sure we will! It's been picked over and over around here for many years already.

Back in the olden days, I used to break atleast one drivetrain item everytime I went wheeling, pinions, birfields, axles, spindles, t-cases, etc..

Since swapping out everything to Dana 60/44/300, I have broke one u-joint, and one hub in the past 8-10 years. Everyone I know that has done the swap to Dana, has had the same good luck (in comparison to the Toyota stuff).

Dimitri, you're right I did'nt help you! So now I will. It's clear that you are trying to save a few bucks, so go with the 44, get good shafts and u-joints, and drive it.

I'd think having extra weight with the D60 up front is a good idea for climbing steep obstacles. Don't waste your money with a D44.

That is the gayest thing I've heard in a long time. You have to put $$$ into a Toyota axle just for it to be equivlant to a stock 44. We can go round and round over this like I'm sure we will! It's been picked over and over around here for many years already.

Back in the olden days, I used to break atleast one drivetrain item everytime I went wheeling, pinions, birfields, axles, spindles, t-cases, etc..

Since swapping out everything to Dana 60/44/300, I have broke one u-joint, and one hub in the past 8-10 years. Everyone I know that has done the swap to Dana, has had the same good luck (in comparison to the Toyota stuff).

Dimitri, you're right I did'nt help you! So now I will. It's clear that you are trying to save a few bucks, so go with the 44, get good shafts and u-joints, and drive it.

I totally agree wiht you here Jeff. The 44 stuff is WAY stronger than the mini truck stuff. You can throw some Longs in there, and then cryo the gears,... blah blah blah.

I know the 60 is the right way to go, but the pocketbook says go 44. If I go the 60 route, I am going to have to wait a while longer not wheeling to get it done... BAH!!!!! I hate this decision.

Dima

a built 44 isn't really all that much cheaper than a 60 w/some 35spl stubs and good joints.

Do the right thing! :D

If I go the 60 route, I am going to have to wait a while longer not wheeling to get it done... BAH!!!!! I hate this decision.

Dima

When was the last running rig you've had anyway??:D

Dimitri, you're right I did'nt help you! So now I will. It's clear that you are trying to save a few bucks, so go with the 44, get good shafts and u-joints, and drive it.


I do believe that a well built D44 is a better choice than a Cruiser axle. I also think if you keep the tires in the 37"-38" range a D44 will live nicely under a light vehicle.

Dima! Go cheap for the time being and just finish your rig! And then build a 60 or whatever while youre out wheeling this thing. Its not like you have to get it right the first time. Hell, throw a Cruiser axle in there for now just so you can get it rolling.

I will talk to my neighbor this weekend and see what he has in his dead Ford for sale. Assuming it has that 60 in the front, I bet you can get the whole truck for very cheap.


cheers!
Dusitn

well a buddy is giving me a full width 44 front for now. Iwill run this until I can get a smoking deal on a 60, or until I can afford to build the 60 right. Iam not goign to dump money into the 44 at all. I will throw a set of gears in there, and call it a day. I will save up for the 60 (or 2.5 tons)

Dima

That is the gayest thing I've heard in a long time. You have to put $$$ into a Toyota axle just for it to be equivlant to a stock 44. We can go round and round over this like I'm sure we will! It's been picked over and over around here for many years already.

Back in the olden days, I used to break atleast one drivetrain item everytime I went wheeling, pinions, birfields, axles, spindles, t-cases, etc..

Since swapping out everything to Dana 60/44/300, I have broke one u-joint, and one hub in the past 8-10 years. Everyone I know that has done the swap to Dana, has had the same good luck (in comparison to the Toyota stuff).

Dimitri, you're right I did'nt help you! So now I will. It's clear that you are trying to save a few bucks, so go with the 44, get good shafts and u-joints, and drive it.

How quickly people forget when Long's weren't around...
My buggy was a solid 350hp and 39" swampers. Two breaks were putting around and not really gettting it. The one that took out the:
-Passenger inner
-Passenger outer
-ujoint
-both ball joints
-knuckle
-warn premium hub
-spindle
- inner C

Was fully getting it, went from 3rd gear wide open @ 40 mph to zero when I punched through a snow ramp.

I will throw a set of gears in there, and call it a day.
Dima

I thought you were going to build the D44 when I re-cast my vote to keep it.

If you keep it stock, you will hate it.

well a buddy is giving me a full width 44 front for now. Iwill run this until I can get a smoking deal on a 60, or until I can afford to build the 60 right. Iam not goign to dump money into the 44 at all. I will throw a set of gears in there, and call it a day. I will save up for the 60 (or 2.5 tons)

Dima


I'm not much of a fan of running tires over 35" on a d44. Sure you can purchase alloy shafts and run CTM's, but you still have that little ring and pinion. Last fall, my rig with 35" A/T's smoked the pinion gear, locking the axle up. If you like to stick the skinny pedal on the ground like I do...
A d44 it's much of an option, it's an axle that is ready to explode.

I spent a $1000 on my first d60, put $2000 in it with gears, arb, 35 spline outters and poly flanges. It's been apart 2 times since 2002, to replace the stubs, but it was well worth the investment. I don't have to worry about the 350 Hp blowing th d44 up.:D

Keep in mind, I saved cash for 2 years before even attemping to build a 60.

Good luck,

Jerry

the really nice thing about a D44 is that it will swap directly out for a D60

Put the D44 in till you save enough money to purchase the D60. It will be 2 years before the truck runs anyway ;)

:laughing: Like having a set of roller wheels for ease of working!

Last fall, my rig with 35" A/T's smoked the pinion gear, locking the axle up.


Did you run it out of oil? I did that once, locking the axle up.

Did you run it out of oil? I did that once, locking the axle up.


No, I broke a couple teeth off the pinion.:eek:

I thought you were going to build the D44 when I re-cast my vote to keep it.

If you keep it stock, you will hate it.

This I agree with. The 44 will be a SUPER weakl link... But honestly, when am I going to wheel??? I think most people are right hahhahaha. Seriously, I don't feel like dropping GOBS of money into a 44. Putting a bandaid on a wound. Only a matter of time until I get the 60 in there (or something else as strong).

Dima