Dana 44 Conversion Questions
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Dana 44 Conversion Questions
If, somebody could explain to me how the whole system works I would appreciate it. I have a 383 stroker and recently had to have the transmission rebuilt because it was left stock by the previous owner and the 383 must have ate it up. Now when I really get on her at speed pushing it down over halfway on the pedal I hear kinda of a whorrrr sound like gears grinding. Friend of mine and someone that works on my car here and there said it was most likely my differential being that I had an automatic w/ a Dana 36, that wasn't setup to take that kind of power that I have now. My question is what do you need to convert over to the stronger dana 44, costs, best place to get them, and what gears are the best? Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 36
From: Waynesboro, PA
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
You will need the whole rear and cover (batwing), the C-beam, and the driveshaft. Some have used the D36 C-beam and redrilled the holes, and I believe some have even used the auto driveshaft. But the best way is to use the parts from the manual car, as the D44 is longer in the forward direction, which is why these 2 parts are shorter. The tailshaft of the transmissions should be in the same place. You can sometimes find a deal on here, or you could try a corvette junkyard, like Contemporary Corvettes (I believe). I'd say a little over a grand, give or take a little.
If, somebody could explain to me how the whole system works I would appreciate it. I have a 383 stroker and recently had to have the transmission rebuilt because it was left stock by the previous owner and the 383 must have ate it up. Now when I really get on her at speed pushing it down over halfway on the pedal I hear kinda of a whorrrr sound like gears grinding. Friend of mine and someone that works on my car here and there said it was most likely my differential being that I had an automatic w/ a Dana 36, that wasn't setup to take that kind of power that I have now. My question is what do you need to convert over to the stronger dana 44, costs, best place to get them, and what gears are the best? Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Unbolt D36 batwing ( the part that bolts to the frame with the diffhead in it) and bolt in D44 batwing.
All parts the same .
You will NEED the "C" beam off a D44 and a D44 driveshaft unless you get yours cut down.
All parts the same .
You will NEED the "C" beam off a D44 and a D44 driveshaft unless you get yours cut down.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
There are 4 pieces that are needed to make it a bolt in swap.
pumpkin
batwing that bolts to back of pumpkin
c-beam that connects trans to rear pumpkin
driveshaft
The auto yoke is swapped to the stick shaft, everything bolts in and only a speedo gear change is require(to match the new ratio).
These 4 pieces together often sell for $2000.
Sometimes slightly more, sometimes slightly less
Some guys have redrilled the auto support beam and managed to reuse is. Some have made driveshaft mods and reused it as well. Some guys have also fabbed adapters to allow the auto batwing to botl to the stick pumpkin.
When the complete set comes up for sale, here or e-bay, they often sell quickly and for top dollar. Gm no longer sells alot of the dana 44 stuff and there is no common aftermarket parts available.
pumpkin
batwing that bolts to back of pumpkin
c-beam that connects trans to rear pumpkin
driveshaft
The auto yoke is swapped to the stick shaft, everything bolts in and only a speedo gear change is require(to match the new ratio).
These 4 pieces together often sell for $2000.
Sometimes slightly more, sometimes slightly less
Some guys have redrilled the auto support beam and managed to reuse is. Some have made driveshaft mods and reused it as well. Some guys have also fabbed adapters to allow the auto batwing to botl to the stick pumpkin.
When the complete set comes up for sale, here or e-bay, they often sell quickly and for top dollar. Gm no longer sells alot of the dana 44 stuff and there is no common aftermarket parts available.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Wow, so nobody has come up with an aftermarket kit...In any case, if you have the h/p the dana 36 isn't an option, no way to beef it up or what not? I guess I'll end up having to baby it until I can find one, what effect does the different gear choices have in your choice of dana 44s?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Wow, so nobody has come up with an aftermarket kit...In any case, if you have the h/p the dana 36 isn't an option, no way to beef it up or what not? I guess I'll end up having to baby it until I can find one, what effect does the different gear choices have in your choice of dana 44s?
3:07
3:33
3.45
3.54
Not all ratios were available in all years
3:54 was later zr1's
3:33 was 89-90 only if my memory is correct
3:07 was the early standard gear
3:45 was later standard gear
Many have invested money upgrading a dana 36 only to break it and upgrade to a 44 anyway. Price for used is high because supply is low and demand is high.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,077
Likes: 4
From: Scarborough ONTARIO
pete k has a nice D44 pumkin in sale section check that out, but u have to look for either an adapter sandwiched between batwing (cover) and pumpkin (center section) or find an used batwing for D44.
I recently bought an pumkin and still lookin for either adapter or used batwing, not lucky so far.
I recently bought an pumkin and still lookin for either adapter or used batwing, not lucky so far.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Yeah jesus, I need to catch up on a few bills related to the car first before I can buy a new dana, but man just checking around this is kinda crazy for how much they want. Is, there any aftermarket companies coming up with a solution...I am sure I am not the only one who has modded an automatic for alot of power...and there are but so many manual cars...and not all of them are going to wreck lol...
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Yeah jesus, I need to catch up on a few bills related to the car first before I can buy a new dana, but man just checking around this is kinda crazy for how much they want. Is, there any aftermarket companies coming up with a solution...I am sure I am not the only one who has modded an automatic for alot of power...and there are but so many manual cars...and not all of them are going to wreck lol...
To my knowledge, no one is stepping up with a viable aftermarket for the dana 44's.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Well, I wish I was in a better position right now, or I would ****** yours right up, it looks to be in great shape and reasonbly priced...just don't have that type of cash right now. Just had the trans rebuilt, new fuel pump, tuning, tires, and more crap I can't remember, seems to be always something cropping up with this thing. I suppose if I drive easy maybe the beam will last until I can find one...man kinda blows...I knew that my tires don't sound like what I was hearing, sucks it has to be expensive and on top of that hard to find now...
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Well, I wish I was in a better position right now, or I would ****** yours right up, it looks to be in great shape and reasonbly priced...just don't have that type of cash right now. Just had the trans rebuilt, new fuel pump, tuning, tires, and more crap I can't remember, seems to be always something cropping up with this thing. I suppose if I drive easy maybe the beam will last until I can find one...man kinda blows...I knew that my tires don't sound like what I was hearing, sucks it has to be expensive and on top of that hard to find now...
Once I finally bought it, I was relieved. The unit I bought from Geogolf, (in the sale section) was purchased for a back up unit due to the difficulty of finding one. Quite honestly, I almost hope it does not sell because I am relieved to have a spare. Unless someone does step up in the aftermarket, the availability will positively decrease and used prices increase. Alot od diehard racers are doing dana 44 to solid axle conversions because they are tired of going broke when they break.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Is the solid axle converstion even more expensive or? Will probally take me another 6 months to purchase one, I wonder how much more expensive it'll get. I would think this vette makes maybe 425 bhp, but thats not alot by what I have seen, so I am suprised the dana 36 didn't hold up. Usually is the grinding sound (whrrrr) gears breaking down/meshing? Would just replacing the gears do it, or is that just a bandaid...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Is this it? And if, so where are the leaf springs...?
http://www.neverliftracecraft.com/NLRC0121.htm
http://www.neverliftracecraft.com/NLRC0121.htm
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Hmmn, I see guess thats not feasible. I suppose last question before I let a dead horse lie, would be does hearing the sounds of gears grinding indicate that the whole axle assembly isn't suited for the horsepower, or do they normally go bad sometimes in regular application? I mean when there is too much horsepower for the assembly what does it generally do as a warning. I have been hearing that they break, but I am hearing a gear grinding noise when I get on it too much, could a simple gear change be it?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 0
From: bakersfield cali
Is this it? And if, so where are the leaf springs...?
http://www.neverliftracecraft.com/NLRC0121.htm
http://www.neverliftracecraft.com/NLRC0121.htm
doing a four link job is not that big a deal. i have four linked some jeeps and with the pictures on this website it doesn't seem that difficult to do. if you want to learn how to four link a car, start hanging around some hard core drag racers or four wheelers. the link you provided is giving me all kinds of crazy ideas. from the pictures it just doesn't seem like it's that hard.
find a good used ford 9 inch in the bone yard and start cutting. find some where in your area with a water jet to make the small pieces and use most of the c4 brake stuff and you are almost half way there. with the prices of used dana 44's getting up there in the 2g's and there questionable reliablity to hold under a lot of power this might be a worthwhile alternative if you can do most of the work yourself.
i might have to attempt it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Yeah its defiantly getting up there in price. $1200 wouldn't be that bad, but the prices have jumped alot since most of the people I have seen/talked to have bought one. My last hope would be trying to figure out the warning signs of to much h/p / torque for a dana 36. Like I said I am hearing a grinding/wrrrr noise when I really get on it. If, for some reason that might be a simple gear change and its a normal thing to happen I guess I get lucky, however, if thats a sign of to much power I suppose im screwed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,413
Likes: 9
From: The Old Dominion
The factory ratios available in a dana 44 were:
3:07
3:33
3.45
3.54
Not all ratios were available in all years
3:54 was later zr1's
3:33 was 89-90 only if my memory is correct
3:07 was the early standard gear
3:45 was later standard gear
Many have invested money upgrading a dana 36 only to break it and upgrade to a 44 anyway. Price for used is high because supply is low and demand is high.
3:07
3:33
3.45
3.54
Not all ratios were available in all years
3:54 was later zr1's
3:33 was 89-90 only if my memory is correct
3:07 was the early standard gear
3:45 was later standard gear
Many have invested money upgrading a dana 36 only to break it and upgrade to a 44 anyway. Price for used is high because supply is low and demand is high.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 66
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
I always thought that too. The 3.54:1 wasnt a factory fitted ratio as far as i know, unless the Callaways that had them left the BG factory with them. (which they probably couldve, but i dont think anything else did!!)