Author Topic: front dana 44 8f??  (Read 5639 times)

Offline hardinclan

  • New Users
  • Posts: 2
  • Newbie
front dana 44 8f??
« on: September 16, 2014, 11:35:37 AM »
I just bought a 1977 K10 4x4,350 350 1/2 ton for $600. The front end iz a dana 44 with stock 3.07 gears 
i pulled them out in peices. It has maybe a 4 inch lift with 33 12.50 15's. Is it because of the tire size that the gears were chewed up or poor driving.if the tire size what should i runn cor a everyday driver and liftle off road thanks

Offline roundhouse

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1474
  • Newbie
Re: front dana 44 8f??
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2014, 04:10:51 PM »
Ideally for 33s. I'd guess 4.10 gears

I've run 33s on the Dana 44 in my 74 bronco for almost 20 years with no problem

Lack of maintence or more likely driver abuse
Since the front gears dont turn unless you got it in 4wd

Offline bake74

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 5871
    • Build Thread
Re: front dana 44 8f??
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2014, 07:50:02 PM »
     If you pulled the ring and pinion gears out in pieces, it was not the tires that did it.  If they broke up that bad, more than likely someone did not put them in right with the proper backlash or pinion gap.
     If set up right it is hard to destroy the ring and pinion gears, unless the fluid never got changed in 40 yrs or it got filled with water and rusted all up.
     Roundhouse is right, with your set up 4.10:1 gear ratio would be idea for your truck.  If you wanted it a little more highway friendly you could go with 3.73:1 ratio.
#1: The easiest and most obvious solution to any problem is 99% of the time correct.
#2: There is no such thing as impossible, it just takes longer.
  74 k10, 77k10    Tom

Offline hardinclan

  • New Users
  • Posts: 2
  • Newbie
Re: front dana 44 8f??
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2014, 08:11:53 PM »
I shoild have mentioned that the pinion bearings went bad i guess but they drove it anyway
so the pinion gear chewed the carrier to peices.it was bearing parts a d gear teeth  its so a full time 4x4

Offline roundhouse

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1474
  • Newbie
Re: front dana 44 8f??
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2014, 10:16:01 PM »
There's still full time 4wd rigs that haven't been converted?


I grew up living in the mountains and liked the full time 4 WD

My dad was a forest ranger and his favourite was a 77 Dodge with the full time 4 WD

You could really tell the difference on a curvy paved or dirt road   
Felt much more stable

Offline Irish_Alley

  • Tim
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13319
  • Family is not an important thing. It's everything.
Re: front dana 44 8f??
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2014, 10:41:55 PM »
i run 4.10s in my 79 with tires ranging from 38-44s but the 44s ripped the front apart with no problem. the 44s are too much for that axle. if i was to re-due my ratio i would op for 3.73 just for better mpgs with a smaller tire i would hate to be in a 1:1 trans and 4.10s but thats just me. i would think 3.73 would be good for 33s
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes