Differences in Dana 44's
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Differences in Dana 44's
Here's the deal. I converted my car over from an auto to a 6 speed. So naturally now I want to dump the Dana 36 for a '44. I found a guy selling one out of an '88 which has 3.08 gears for $500, so you know I couldn't possibly pass up this awesome deal! I told the shop I wanted to put 3.45's in it since that is what most cars with a ZF 6 speed seem to come with. I base this off seeing '89-'96 Dana's on Ebay with 3.45 gears. I have heard of some coming with 3.54 (maybe ZR1?). The shop called me and told me I had the heavy duty version of the rear end and also told me that the book calls for 3.54 gears and they said they couldn't get 3.45's for any Dana 44. I told them to go ahead and order the 3.54's because I am sure I won't notice the difference. I just don't want my speedometer to be off by too much. So the question is, did the earlier cars with the 4+3 come with a different, "heavier duty" 44? I have seen some posts about different 44's but no real definitive answers...... Thank you.
Last edited by infinity999; Feb 6, 2009 at 05:26 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
For the C4, there was an early and late Dana 44.
As far as I know, the main differences were:
1) Case.
2) Front pinion yoke and seal.
3) Hole diameters where the strut rod brackets bolt on are different.
I also think there was some difference with the clutch pak.
Tom Piper
As far as I know, the main differences were:
1) Case.
2) Front pinion yoke and seal.
3) Hole diameters where the strut rod brackets bolt on are different.
I also think there was some difference with the clutch pak.
Tom Piper
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
Here's the deal. I converted my car over from an auto to a 6 speed. So naturally now I want to dump the Dana 36 for a '44. I found a guy selling one out of an '88 which has 3.08 gears for $500, so you know I couldn't possibly pass up this awesome deal! I told the shop I wanted to put 3.45's in it since that is what most cars with a ZF 6 speed seem to come with. I base this off seeing '89-'96 Dana's on Ebay with 3.45 gears. I have heard of some coming with 3.54 (maybe ZR1?). The shop called me and told me I had the heavy duty version of the rear end and also told me that the book calls for 3.54 gears and they said they couldn't get 3.45's for any Dana 44. I told them to go ahead and order the 3.54's because I am sure I won't notice the difference. I just don't want my speedometer to be off by too much. So the question is, did the earlier cars with the 4+3 come with a different, "heavier duty" 44? I have seen some posts about different 44's but no real definitive answers...... Thank you.
That is the first "realistic" price that I have heard of for a used rear.
Good find
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Should be able to fit correct speedo gears in the trans while you have the C beam out for the diff swap.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
Most all of the ratios are available and there were these:
3.07, 3.33, 3.45, 3.54 that ever saw production. There seems to have been "pilot" rears with 2.72, 2.87 & 3.31. I've never seen any of the three but I'm not going to say they aren't out there~!
There are builds available for 4.33, 4.56 I believe with no creativity involved!
You can do a build with any ratio available for a conventional 44 Dana but you need to be creative~!
3.07, 3.33, 3.45, 3.54 that ever saw production. There seems to have been "pilot" rears with 2.72, 2.87 & 3.31. I've never seen any of the three but I'm not going to say they aren't out there~!
There are builds available for 4.33, 4.56 I believe with no creativity involved!
You can do a build with any ratio available for a conventional 44 Dana but you need to be creative~!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Yes, Iroc57 that was the best price for a 44 I could find after searching around for a couple of weeks. The guy had a couple of Vettes next to his shop. The one he actually listed was a Dana 36 but he said he had a car with a 4+3. So I took a chance and went to go see it. He told me he would sell it for the same price of $500. Maybe he was desperate for money because I know he could have gotten more if he listen it on Ebay etc... He even delivered it to he driveline shop for me! So $500 plus $600 to change the gears. $1100 is better than any price I can find for a complete rear end. They seem to go for 1700+ on Ebay. There are great deals on Craigslist sometimes!!
P.S. Does anyone know where to buy speedo gears for the ZF? I am assuming that since I am changing to an almost stock gear the speedo will be closer than with the Dana 36 which I believe has either 2.59's or 2.73's in it...
P.S. Does anyone know where to buy speedo gears for the ZF? I am assuming that since I am changing to an almost stock gear the speedo will be closer than with the Dana 36 which I believe has either 2.59's or 2.73's in it...
Last edited by infinity999; Feb 6, 2009 at 08:26 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 777
Likes: 1
From: Fort Worth Texas
I have owned my 1996 LT4 Coupe ZF 6 speed for 10 years and I use to see Dana 44 with 3:45 gears for sale, as my Vette came stock with them. I have looked at Mid America, Zip, and Ecklers and none now offer 3:45 anymore. Weird that this stock gear set is gone now. Just to make sure I looked at my RPO codes again behind the passenger seat and my 96 came with 3:45.
Speedo gears..... call Bill at www.zfdoc.com and talk to him he has a C4 and he is one of the best for ZF reapirs and up grade. Ask him about all the different Dana differential cases. Hey he is building a LS1 kit for installing a LS1 in a C4 and use the ZF trans.
Speedo gears..... call Bill at www.zfdoc.com and talk to him he has a C4 and he is one of the best for ZF reapirs and up grade. Ask him about all the different Dana differential cases. Hey he is building a LS1 kit for installing a LS1 in a C4 and use the ZF trans.
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