D44 from wrecked Vette ?

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Feb 5, 2009 | 06:48 PM

rayosequis

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From: Cypress Texas

D44 from wrecked Vette ?

I found a good deal on a D44 from a '96, but the car has been hit on the passenger side and damaged some of the rear suspension components on that side. Anyone have any experience with how well the differentials hold up in a wreck ? It's a great deal that I hate to pass up, but don't want to end up with a big paper weight either.

Feb 5, 2009 | 07:03 PM

CorvetteMike2024

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Which components are damaged? did half shafts get damaged? Got any pics? Good luck.

Mike

Feb 5, 2009 | 07:14 PM

BrianCunningham

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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA

all depends

I've seen, not on a vette, a diff shattered in a front end crash when the engine was driven backward putting the driveshaft into the diff.

Feb 5, 2009 | 07:41 PM

383vett

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From: moraga ca

I'd pass. Not worth the time, money and effort installing the thing and find out you have a cracked case or bearing cap problems from the halfshaft being driven into the differential.

Feb 5, 2009 | 07:42 PM

rayosequis

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From: Cypress Texas

Thanks for the advice, I don't have any pics of it. And that is my fear about one of the half shafts pushing into the diff and breaking something inside.

Feb 5, 2009 | 07:55 PM

WVZR-1

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If it's close enough to you to inspect it it would be an easy "evaluation". If it was a side impact on the suspension the "batwing" is quite fragile and will "break" If the "batwing" is intact the rest is pretty straight forward.

IMPORTANT!! The front of the differential where the c-beam is bolted will break or likely fracture from a hard impact, a light impact will do like wise! You need to look close here! If all you're looking for is the differential for a D36 swap, inspect the mentioned areas closely and you could do well. The c-beam needs to be unbolted from the differential for inspection.

Internal damage if the case or batwing isn't broken is very unlikely. I'd take my chances after a very close inspection. Age, ratio and mileage are important!!!!

I've welded a couple and all are "one the road" doing well!!!

Last edited by WVZR-1; Feb 6, 2009 at 08:25 AM.

Feb 5, 2009 | 08:02 PM

KoKane

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I have a new dana 44 coming from exotic muscle. I'm going from 3.45s to 4.10s. I'm going to start this weekend on removing the original dana from my car. I will be selling it. My car only has 7,900 miles on it. So if anybody wants to make me an offer.

Feb 5, 2009 | 09:25 PM

rayosequis

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From: Cypress Texas

Thanks again everyone, I was hoping to get a few pointers of what to watch out for.

I am going to try and get a good look at it this weekend or the early part of next week.

KoKane, I am afraid I couldn't make you too good of an offer at this point, my other car decided it wanted some attention too and decided to break a valve spring (for the 3rd time