Chevy Dana 44 to Ford Knuckle Swap? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

KacksterK5 · 09-06-2001, 01:25 PM

Does anyone know if the knuckles from a Ford Dana 44 ft end will swap onto a chevy Dana 44?. I need the 5 on 5.5 inch lug pattern not Chevy's 6 lug. Any help appreciated. thanks.

Lloyd · 09-06-2001, 01:30 PM

Should do. But I've heard that you can also keep the knuckles, maybe spindles too depending on which ones you have, and just put Ford hubs and rotors on. I've never done it so don't know if this is true, but it was posted on this board a while back so it must be true!

[ 09-06-2001: Message edited by: Lloyd ]

Aggro · 09-06-2001, 01:53 PM

yeah no sweat. Change everything from the ball joints out for a guaranteed fit, or go with just hubs and rotors for an almost guaranteed fit. Ball joints out I have done with a scout housing and ford stuff. Works great.

Shaker · 09-06-2001, 02:26 PM

Go for it the knuckles out are interchangable between ford/dodge/chevy. easy swap no sweat..... <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

patooyee · 09-07-2001, 08:25 AM

I just looked the parts numbers up and the knuckle part numbers are not the same, so it looks like you'll need knuckles and evrything.

J. J.

Lloyd · 09-10-2001, 06:41 AM

The bolt pattern between the spindle and knuckle is different, no doubt about that. What was suggested previously was that the spindle itself was the same outside dimensions, took the same bearings, and would accept Ford hubs. I rather doubt it, but this is what someone had claimed. I don't know if this was the large or small bearing setup.

pcorssmit · 09-10-2001, 11:45 AM

I have a couple buddies running Chevy knuckles and spindles w/Ford disk brake hubs and rotors, Chevy calipers and brackets, and I believe Ford stub shafts. Chevy spindles are 6 hole, Ford disk brake ones are 5. The wheel bearings are the same. Both these axles are 44s on CJs.

Pete

Lloyd · 09-10-2001, 01:39 PM

Thanks Pete - good to know. BTW, what years are those Chevy spindles from? I'd really like to know if it's the big bearing setup or the small one that matches the Fords.

pcorssmit · 09-11-2001, 11:07 AM

The Chevy stuff they used was '73-~'77 stuff, I don't think there is a difference in the bearings (among Chevys) other than the 3/4 tons with the external bolt on hubs that had larger (inner?) bearings. Not positive on 10 bolt inerchangeabilty, either.

Pete

dumplin' · 09-11-2001, 11:19 AM

I know ya'll are gonna grill me on this one, but here goes . I have a 74' ford EB, it has
a stock dana 44 front. I swapped to chevy backing plates ,spindles and used a ford hub
and rotor . the chevy donor was a 76' Blazer
w/ a D44 front.The ford donor was a 78' bronco w/ a D44 front.The caliper and hose
were for the blazer 44. Pretty ez swap and well worth the effort. Hope this helps you out. dump <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Lloyd · 09-12-2001, 06:25 AM

These would be the small (common) inner bearings. I've got a 6-lug d44 from a '78 Jimmy that has the large inner bearings, spindles; they did make some that way. So to go 6->5 lug use the small bearing hubs and spindles, and to go 6->8 lug the large ones. This is the first time I've ever seen this sorted out properly. Thanks guys!

09-06-2001, 01:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
KacksterK5 Rock God Join Date: Jul 2001 Member # 5851 Location: Harford County, MD Posts: 1,426	Chevy Dana 44 to Ford Knuckle Swap? Does anyone know if the knuckles from a Ford Dana 44 ft end will swap onto a chevy Dana 44?. I need the 5 on 5.5 inch lug pattern not Chevy's 6 lug. Any help appreciated. thanks. __________________ "If you ain't first, you're last" 86 4Raisin A bunch of stuff under it 02 Chevy 2500 HD Tow Rig

09-06-2001, 02:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
Shaker Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Mar 2001 Member # 3694 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Posts: 3,584	Go for it the knuckles out are interchangable between ford/dodge/chevy. easy swap no sweat..... <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> __________________ Need Steering? www.shakerbuilt.com Too Many Projects not enough Time...

09-07-2001, 08:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
patooyee www.patparts.com Join Date: May 2001 Member # 4821 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL Posts: 8,755	I just looked the parts numbers up and the knuckle part numbers are not the same, so it looks like you'll need knuckles and evrything. J. J. __________________ www.PATPARTS.com Like Patooyee's Parts on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/Patooyee

09-10-2001, 11:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
pcorssmit Rock God Join Date: May 2001 Member # 4406 Location: Denver Posts: 2,336	I have a couple buddies running Chevy knuckles and spindles w/Ford disk brake hubs and rotors, Chevy calipers and brackets, and I believe Ford stub shafts. Chevy spindles are 6 hole, Ford disk brake ones are 5. The wheel bearings are the same. Both these axles are 44s on CJs. Pete __________________ Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways , beer in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOW, what a ride."

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09-06-2001, 01:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lloyd * Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 538 Posts: 1,803	Should do. But I've heard that you can also keep the knuckles, maybe spindles too depending on which ones you have, and just put Ford hubs and rotors on. I've never done it so don't know if this is true, but it was posted on this board a while back so it must be true! [ 09-06-2001: Message edited by: Lloyd ]

09-06-2001, 01:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
Aggro Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Dec 2000 Member # 2587 Location: 3845.859N 12034.534W (N. Ca) Future location of beachfront property. Posts: 4,027	yeah no sweat. Change everything from the ball joints out for a guaranteed fit, or go with just hubs and rotors for an almost guaranteed fit. Ball joints out I have done with a scout housing and ford stuff. Works great.

09-10-2001, 06:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
Lloyd * Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 538 Posts: 1,803	The bolt pattern between the spindle and knuckle is different, no doubt about that. What was suggested previously was that the spindle itself was the same outside dimensions, took the same bearings, and would accept Ford hubs. I rather doubt it, but this is what someone had claimed. I don't know if this was the large or small bearing setup.

09-10-2001, 01:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lloyd * Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 538 Posts: 1,803	Thanks Pete - good to know. BTW, what years are those Chevy spindles from? I'd really like to know if it's the big bearing setup or the small one that matches the Fords.

09-11-2001, 11:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
pcorssmit Rock God Join Date: May 2001 Member # 4406 Location: Denver Posts: 2,336	The Chevy stuff they used was '73-~'77 stuff, I don't think there is a difference in the bearings (among Chevys) other than the 3/4 tons with the external bolt on hubs that had larger (inner?) bearings. Not positive on 10 bolt inerchangeabilty, either. Pete

09-11-2001, 11:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
dumplin' Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Member # 6856 Location: cowan state of mind Posts: 36	I know ya'll are gonna grill me on this one, but here goes . I have a 74' ford EB, it has a stock dana 44 front. I swapped to chevy backing plates ,spindles and used a ford hub and rotor . the chevy donor was a 76' Blazer w/ a D44 front.The ford donor was a 78' bronco w/ a D44 front.The caliper and hose were for the blazer 44. Pretty ez swap and well worth the effort. Hope this helps you out. dump <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

09-12-2001, 06:25 AM	#11 (permalink)
Lloyd * Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 538 Posts: 1,803	These would be the small (common) inner bearings. I've got a 6-lug d44 from a '78 Jimmy that has the large inner bearings, spindles; they did make some that way. So to go 6->5 lug use the small bearing hubs and spindles, and to go 6->8 lug the large ones. This is the first time I've ever seen this sorted out properly. Thanks guys!