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Dana 44 Value ? Or Scrap ?

AGShelby

Sr. Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2006
Messages
510
Loc.
San Antonio, Texas
I have a Dana 44 out of an early '70s 3/4 Ton ford. It is wider than a Bronco - and has leaf springs instead of coils. I plan on taking out the diff and inspecting (not sure of specifics/gear ratio)- but is there any value to the housing, axles, etc ? It has disc brakes - and a 5-bolt wheel pattern.
 

Hal9000

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 12, 2008
Messages
1,324
Loc.
Flagstaff, AZ
Nah, no value, send it to me and I'll get rid of it for you....

Seriously though, anything can be made to work with enough effort. A leaf spring axle isn't ideal but its not trash. At the very least, it makes good trading stock (I'm sure somebody somewhere is looking for a new ford 3/4T axle).

For 3/4T, FW swaps, I think most people are looking for D60s these days. So you might have to look outside the bronco crowd to find an interested buyer.
 

ep67bro

Contributor
Bronco Junky
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
3,873
Loc.
Easton, MD
If it is early 70s and 3/4" it should have the closed nuckle. They are junk! The 1/2" ton dana 44 from the early 60s may have been a leaf spring, closed nuckle with 5on 5.5 bolt pattern but it would have been drum brakes? But the seventies dana would have had coil springs and a open nuckle with disc brakes. If it is the open nuckle you should be able to sell it.
 

bmc69

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jun 11, 2004
Messages
12,015
5 bolt wheel pattern on a 3/4 ton?

nope..never was. Weird combination, leaves and 5-bolt hubs. IIRC..that might have been a combination that came out on some 1/2-ton crew cabs back then.
 
OP
OP
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AGShelby

Sr. Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2006
Messages
510
Loc.
San Antonio, Texas
5-Bolt

Yeah - I was surprised to see 5 bolt with leaves, too. This piece is in my Dad's scrap metal pile - and per his memory - it came off an early 70s 3/4 ton 4x4.

I don't really trust his memory - so I guess I will take some photos next time I am up there.
 

SpareParts

Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 13, 2004
Messages
5,595
I think the 5 lug leaf sprung axle did come out of a supercab 1/2 ton truck. Or like has been said already, some body put the 1/2 ton stuff on a 3/4 housing. It would be a great axle for some one wanting to do a full width conversion and stay with 5 lug.

I could probably get around $300 for the axle around here.

David
 

DirtDonk

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Messages
51,617
And if someone found a way to fit disc brakes to an early closed-knuckle housing, a LOT of people would be interested in knowing how they did it!
Factory disc brakes didn't come out until about mid-'75 too (at least on the 1/2 ton stuff), if I remember.
So this is one interesting axle assembly!!!

Paul
 

Oatmeal

Sr. Member
Joined
May 17, 2009
Messages
664
I think the 5 lug leaf sprung axle did come out of a supercab 1/2 ton truck. Or like has been said already, some body put the 1/2 ton stuff on a 3/4 housing. It would be a great axle for some one wanting to do a full width conversion and stay with 5 lug.

I could probably get around $300 for the axle around here.

David
Beat me to it! The XJ Cherokee guys would snap that thing up quick! High pinion, driver's side diff and no "C" wedges to cut off. Good candidate for narrowing and swapping out the D30s those things come with. www.naxja.org ........yeah, I'm a member! --------Hans
 
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