I hauled off a Ford truck front half that was leftover from making a trailer a couple years ago. After reading some posts here I realized it might have a High pinion 44 that I could use in my 95 Suburban. Checked it today-it is a hp 44. My list just got longer. Anyone done this using the Ford springs and mounts? I am searching it too.
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388100

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Is it drum brake??Most 44's from that era are.

Plus it may have the (F150) C-arm mounts cast into the axle tube vs. welded on...may make it funky to make leaf/coil/link mounts for it.

you need a ford dana 44 out of a 77-79 half ton Ford. the 77 has welded on C's, the 78 and 79s are cast into the tubes. the 77 housing is much more desirable. it also has disc brakes and open knuckles. you can swap out the knuckles for a flat top off of a GM, and use GM disc brakes.

you will have to do some measuring of the frame to determine how much you need to offset the spring mounts or if you even if you need to do so. using a 73-87 frame, I had to space the spring mounts out 2 inches on each side. you have a different frame with different measurements.

You could save some money by pulling the spring mounts off the Ford frame you have, and start measuring the frame for width and to compare the two.

you have most of the parts you need, so start mocking things up using the old drum brake axle, while looking for the 77 axle.

Is it drum brake??Most 44's from that era are.


I will be switching it all to 6 lug Chevy stuff anyway, so it will be disc. (Whenever I get to it) If I am really lucky it will have 3.73 gears,

The title I got with it says it is a 77. I will check the truck out more carefully. Could it be a mix of earlier and later stuff like Ford did in the mid 60s?

Whats pictured is a 67-72 model.My guess is a 69ish model.

The title I got with it says it is a 77. I will check the truck out more carefully. Could it be a mix of earlier and later stuff like Ford did in the mid 60s?

Or, any individual could have done at any point in the past 31 years........crawl under and take a look.

Well at least now I know to hold on to it. I almost gave it away. Been reading Mr. Ns page on reverse spiral 44s. I know where the right year axle is that I will try and make a deal on now. I didn't think this truck was a 77, but had to look at images to refresh my memory. I generally trade off Ford stuff for Chevy stuff.

Grumpys idea of using the Ford axle, spring mounts, springs radius arms and brackets is a good one. Then bolt Chevy knuckles, spindles, calipers and rotors on it. If I remember correctly all F-100 coil spring 4x4's were open knuckle. The older model leaf spring ones were the last of the closed knuckle front 44's in a F-100. Your front driveshaft may bolt right up. Once you get the upper control arm mounts off the frame the track bar upper mount would be easy to fabricate.

If I am really lucky it will have 3.73 gears,

More than likely it will have 3.55 or possibly 4.10 gears in it

Get a yoke from a 80's-90's TTB 44 and u can use your stock front drive shaft.

Whats pictured is a 67-72 model.My guess is a 69ish model.

X2 on the model years, my guess is 71-71 since it has the aluminum grille, earlier usually had steel grilles. Most of the trucks of those years i have junked had 4.10's and had the 9 3/8ths rear axle. You can put chevy brakes on it but you will have to check the bolt pattern of the knuckle where the spindle bolts on. Some older D-44's had the small 6 bolts like GM but sometime in the early 70's they went to the larger 5 bolt, they went back to the 6 bolt in the 80's but i dont know when. That truck most likely has the 360ci engine too i am guessing.

Thanks for the replies. There is something wrong with the Front wheel drive on the Suburban anyway so if it turns out to be more than just the front axle engagement diddley , like a blown diff, then the SAS will begin . I traded for this suburban with a blown rear and non working front, guy I got it from was clueless about it. Already installed a new rear axle off Craigslist, 4 wheel drive needs to work too, though.

If you do the swap you may find buying the Cage Off Road radius arms would be a good investment. You may be able to pull the coil buckets out of the Ford and bolt them to the Chevy frame "after measuring of course", this would give you a much smoother ride.