1980 Dana 44 rebuild
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 988
Likes: 183
From: South Carolina
I have a 1981 with aluminum differential,I ordered one already built with 3.54 gears from a company in TX,I haven’t put it in yet,so can’t give you a positive or negative response on it does,but took about 6 weeks to get,everything looks good though,but Duntov Motors is where I ordered mine,but they were the only ones I saw that even mess with aluminum differential.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,187
Likes: 4,009
From: Connecticut, USA
A simple look on the transaction feedback forum tells a story. This is only one item that comes up, I didn't write it but it's interesting reading. There's more there too I just pulled the first one that came up.
Duntov Motors Chapter 11 Proceedings - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Duntov Motors Chapter 11 Proceedings - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Pro
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 571
Likes: 207
I have a 3.54 from Zip in my 80. Will most likely order the same for my 82.
https://www.zip-corvette.com/instant...+differential+
https://www.zip-corvette.com/instant...+differential+
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 904
Likes: 569
From: Central NJ
A simple look on the transaction feedback forum tells a story. T
When I had my business I was named in a bid rigging scheme that I had absolutely nothing to do with, I wasn't even in the type of business being bid. After a very unfriendly FBI visit my lawyer discussed options on how to protect my self... Bankruptcy was part of it, I'm no lawyer or CPA but I would have done what he said if the Government had not backed off... So Duntov filed, maybe on advice of counsel, they seem to have plenty of bad posts and a few good ones... Lets see how Golferdad does with his... They might even be the vendor building them for ZIP, which is out of stock anyways..
60
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,726
Likes: 558
From: Seattle Washington
No mention of why your wanting to rebuild it. From a performance standpoint your 1980 4 speed is the best Dana 44 GM put in the C3's with a 3:07 gear ratio and the 1350 U-Joints in the 1/2 shafts. Works well with a TKX 5 speed Trans. If your planning on making a real performance build you might consider an Iron Diff Conversion. If your looking for a spare Dana 44 or parts I have plenty I would part with.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
The diff is leaking from the pinion seal and I wanted to change gears. I like my toys to be as bulletproof as possible and I've never done a differential before. To be honest I would love to rebuild it myself but in the mean time I want to drive the car. Looking at the iron conversion now because some day I'd like to have 450 hp.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 342
Likes: 29
From: vancouver washington
A simple look on the transaction feedback forum tells a story. This is only one item that comes up, I didn't write it but it's interesting reading. There's more there too I just pulled the first one that came up.
Duntov Motors Chapter 11 Proceedings - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Duntov Motors Chapter 11 Proceedings - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,960
Likes: 4,517
From: Virginia
I'm doing the same thing. I have a 1980 Dana 44 in my 4-speed (the best possible combination, apparently). I bought a 79 3.55 iron diff as a spare. I'll run the Dana until it blows up, then swap, keeping the Batwing, but needing a new driveshaft at a minimum.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 365
Likes: 93
From: Chesterfield VA
Where there is smoke there is fire...most of the time. I spent 15 minutes searching that forum... I don't think I'll ever order another corvette part... Ecklers, RPI, Zip, and some I never heard of...
When I had my business I was named in a bid rigging scheme that I had absolutely nothing to do with, I wasn't even in the type of business being bid. After a very unfriendly FBI visit my lawyer discussed options on how to protect my self... Bankruptcy was part of it, I'm no lawyer or CPA but I would have done what he said if the Government had not backed off... So Duntov filed, maybe on advice of counsel, they seem to have plenty of bad posts and a few good ones... Lets see how Golferdad does with his... They might even be the vendor building them for ZIP, which is out of stock anyways..
60
When I had my business I was named in a bid rigging scheme that I had absolutely nothing to do with, I wasn't even in the type of business being bid. After a very unfriendly FBI visit my lawyer discussed options on how to protect my self... Bankruptcy was part of it, I'm no lawyer or CPA but I would have done what he said if the Government had not backed off... So Duntov filed, maybe on advice of counsel, they seem to have plenty of bad posts and a few good ones... Lets see how Golferdad does with his... They might even be the vendor building them for ZIP, which is out of stock anyways..
60
Pro
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 704
Likes: 503
From: Temple, TX
I bought my 3.54 D44 diff from Duntov in September 2022 and it was delivered about 2 weeks later in October 2022. Went right in. No noises, no leaks, and posi does posi things. I visited the shop in Dallas to turn in my 3.07 core in February '23 to save on shipping (~2 hour drive from my home) and to check out their shop. Friendly people. They had moved their race car and racing operation out to a facility near Eagle's Canyon Raceway sometime in the past, but their parts business and customer street car operations were still in Dallas and seemed to be going strong.
I visited again this past January to sell them my control arm and steering box cores. No issues there at all. I was welcomed in again and given another tour of what they were currently working on. Nice place to visit. Left with a check for my cores that day as well.
I cannot speak for those that had issues in the past, but I have had no problems with Duntov's parts or people. When I turned in my D44 core, they did mention that good rebuildable D44 cores don't come into the shop very often and they do sometimes have delays in getting units turned around and orders filled. I figure that could happen to any shop.
Just my $0.02.
I visited again this past January to sell them my control arm and steering box cores. No issues there at all. I was welcomed in again and given another tour of what they were currently working on. Nice place to visit. Left with a check for my cores that day as well.
I cannot speak for those that had issues in the past, but I have had no problems with Duntov's parts or people. When I turned in my D44 core, they did mention that good rebuildable D44 cores don't come into the shop very often and they do sometimes have delays in getting units turned around and orders filled. I figure that could happen to any shop.
Just my $0.02.