dana 44 gear application
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 51
From: Angier nc
dana 44 gear application
i purchased a used 4.09 gear for a dana 44 from a forum member.i was told it would fit the vette.i talked to tech at dana and gave them the part #.they said it was a truck application and there was a difference in the pinion that would prohibit it from working in the vette.anyone lend any experience here?let the buyer beware,did i get taken or not?thanks in advance,george
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 34
From: The Top of Utah
Dana tech gave you the straight scoop. Dana never made a 4.09 ratio for the 44 ICA differential. BUT, Tom's (I believe) and maybe others, adapted a truck gear to fit the 44 ICA by welding a sleeve to, or otherwise, modifying the pinion. It is very possible BOTH are correct.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
i did it with 3.73's back when vette tall gears didn't exist...4.09 might need a 4 series carrier, i don't know....no welding required, just have an industrial bearing supply house cross bearing id numbers to get proper fit (i may still have that data somewhere if its a prob to get)...use the pinion seal from the truck application for its smaller id
truck driveshaft yoke too as i remem (been a looooooong time)
truck driveshaft yoke too as i remem (been a looooooong time)
Last edited by redrose; Apr 18, 2006 at 09:11 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,949
Likes: 23
From: Bowling Green KY
I'm pretty sure my car has 4.09, not 4.10 - I'm actually trying to get in touch with original owner to find out the answer to some other questions, if I find out anything about the gears I'll let you know.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
just remember that your d44 ''thorough-bred'' isn't as strong as the d44/d60 crossbreed pinion shaft used in the vette, later vipper...somebody thought more was reqd or they wouldnt have spent their bucks to do something nobody can see, and maybe they were right
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 0
From: Toronto ONTARIO
redrose is right. I found out my d44 was modified to fit 4.09s 10 years ago when there weren't many 4.09s available. Sure enough i have a carrier that is probably from a jeep cherokee. Im in the process to put 3.73s back in it and i had to purchase a new 3 series carrier, yoke, and everything else in there. If you do go 4.09s remember to keep your old stuff because if you do fee like switching back for any reason most of the stuff is discontinued from gm. heres what i had in mine...
3.73s are on the left. the 4.09s are on the right that came out.
here's the carrier/posi unit that came out. Its different than a 3 series one.
3.73s are on the left. the 4.09s are on the right that came out.
here's the carrier/posi unit that came out. Its different than a 3 series one.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 51
From: Angier nc
my factory 3.45 diff is still intact and fine.i bought the 4.09 ring and pinion not knowing it was a stepchild.my question is will the 4.09 work with my existing carrier/yoke,etc.?if NOT i will eat the loss and buy the correct gear.thanks guys!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
I have the 4.09 in mine as you discribe. I broke one dana 44 diff, but it was due to the pin going through the spider gears breaking. By chance I purchased another d44 already set up with the 4.09 gears. If you want to go with the better gears, get it from a chrysler dealer. It is a 4.10 ratio. I may be wrong but I dont believe you will find a 4.09 with the bigger pinion shaft.