Dana 44 installation
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Dana 44 installation
I have a friend that is getting a 383 stroker engine and wants a D44 in his old 87 C4 with a 700R4 transmission. What does it take to install a D44 other than the new D44 and batwing. Does it also need the D44 C beam from the donor M6 C4? Or is it a direct bolt in using the stock 700R4 C beam? Does it also need the donor driveline?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,629
Likes: 28
From: FL
You will need the driveshaft from a manual car, if it is out of a car with ZF6 you will need to swap the front yoke with the one from the automatic. You will also need the C beam from the D44 for best results, some have redrilled the rear mounting holes and used the C beam from the D36.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,629
Likes: 28
From: FL
One other thing to address is speedometer gears, this calculator should get you very close.
http://tinyurl.com/38dyhb9
Depending on tire size you will likely need to change BOTH drive and driven gears if you are using the stock 3.45's that are in most D44's.
Make sure you change the drive gear while the rear end is out because you must remove the trans tailshaft housing and that is royal pain when the C beam is in the car.
Ask me how I found that out.
http://tinyurl.com/38dyhb9
Depending on tire size you will likely need to change BOTH drive and driven gears if you are using the stock 3.45's that are in most D44's.
Make sure you change the drive gear while the rear end is out because you must remove the trans tailshaft housing and that is royal pain when the C beam is in the car.
Ask me how I found that out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,336
Likes: 2,265
From: Central Maryland
One other thing to address is speedometer gears, this calculator should get you very close.
http://tinyurl.com/38dyhb9
Depending on tire size you will likely need to change BOTH drive and driven gears if you are using the stock 3.45's that are in most D44's.
Make sure you change the drive gear while the rear end is out because you must remove the trans tailshaft housing and that is royal pain when the C beam is in the car.
Ask me how I found that out.
http://tinyurl.com/38dyhb9
Depending on tire size you will likely need to change BOTH drive and driven gears if you are using the stock 3.45's that are in most D44's.
Make sure you change the drive gear while the rear end is out because you must remove the trans tailshaft housing and that is royal pain when the C beam is in the car.
Ask me how I found that out.
When I replaced the tailshaft bushing on my '94 LT1 six-speed car last year, I did succeed in removing the extension housing with the C-beam unbolted and shoved as far to the rear as it would go, but it was a bit of a challenge. That C-beam was badly in the way.
If the tailshaft bushing looks even slightly worn when you get the housing off, replace the bushing while you're in there. If you do replace it, use a saber saw to cut the bushing lengthwise at the oil groove before you try to remove it, or the locking bumps on the bushing will dig nasty grooves in the extension housing on the way out. After you've sliced the bushing lengthwise, you can pry one side of it inward at the cut, and curl the bushing so that you can then grab it with a pair of needle-nose pliers and easily slip it out. IIRC, the tailshaft bushing and seal are the same as what's used on the Turbo 400 automatics.
Live well,
SJW
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
I am using a D44 with 3.07 gears, I will have the transmission out of the car as I am doing an engine swap. According to the link for sizing the speedo gear, I just need to swap the driven gear to get the speedo to indicate correctly. This should be a reasonable easy swap. I also have a M6 driveline so I just need to swap the yokes from the A4 driveline to the donor driveline.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
Tom, I've done buissness with these guys which includes all parts etc. (scroll down).
btw, the swap is a piece of cake.
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/sp...n_______va.htm
btw, the swap is a piece of cake.
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/sp...n_______va.htm
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 4
From: East Wenatchee (2hours from n e where) WA
I will be installing a D44 in a 84. I have the diff, plan on shortening the C beam and drive shaft but need a bat wing. Are the bat wings all interchangeable or is there years ect that I need to find?
Thanks,
Dave
Thanks,
Dave
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 431
From: Dale City VA
The D44 batwings/rear covers are all the same.
Someone here made an adapter so that you could reuse the batwing/rear cover off the D36. Might be easier to use this than finding a D44 batwing.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...g-adapter.html
Will
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 4
From: East Wenatchee (2hours from n e where) WA
Rkless! hows it going? I guess I should have asked this question the last time we were talking on the phone! Thanks for the reply, I forgot about the adapter option, hmmm.
