Paging Dana 44 installations
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 2
From: Castro Valley Calif.
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Paging Dana 44 installations
Hi, I'd like to get some input from people that have D44's installed. I've just bought one w/3:07's to put into my '87 automatic. The D44 is coming with the batwing, but no half shafts. From what I've read on earlier threads, i guess the only concerns I'll have are shortening my driveshaft and changing the speedo sensor. Am I on the right track?
Also, I'd really like to hear from people who have 3:45's (and other ratios for that matter).......maybe I'll just want to change out the gears before I even install it......i dunno. My car is pretty darn stock, but (and here's the kicker) a 400 block may be in my future. Either way, at least I've got the 44 in there and the real question just becomes the gearing with either engine package. Oh, by the way, this car is not gonna see much strip time even IF I end up with a bigger small block. Thanks in advance :D :seeya
Also, I'd really like to hear from people who have 3:45's (and other ratios for that matter).......maybe I'll just want to change out the gears before I even install it......i dunno. My car is pretty darn stock, but (and here's the kicker) a 400 block may be in my future. Either way, at least I've got the 44 in there and the real question just becomes the gearing with either engine package. Oh, by the way, this car is not gonna see much strip time even IF I end up with a bigger small block. Thanks in advance :D :seeya
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
Re: Paging Dana 44 installations (Caboboy)
I think you'll like the 3.07's, they are nice overall street gears. That's what I have in mine. I didn't shorten the driveshaft, I just modified the splined end of the inside. You will need a new speedo sensor though. Half shafts are the same but you might want to replace the U joints while you are in there.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 2
From: Castro Valley Calif.
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Re: Paging Dana 44 installations (Fastguy)
fastguy, thanx for your response. yeah, i think u joints for sure, but you lost me on the spline thingy. do you mean where the driveshaft goes into the tranny? the splines have a different pattern? what did you do?
also, did you notice a big difference over the 2:59's (that's what mine are now) down low? any idea how you tach at 70 mph? thanks man, this is the kind of stuff i need to hear! :cheers:
also, did you notice a big difference over the 2:59's (that's what mine are now) down low? any idea how you tach at 70 mph? thanks man, this is the kind of stuff i need to hear! :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 0
From: Olive Branch (Memphis suburb) MS
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Paging Dana 44 installations (Caboboy)
Here is what you'll need, the pumpkin, the bat wing, the different length drive shaft and the torque arm. +the speeddo gears. :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
Re: Paging Dana 44 installations (Caboboy)
I went from a 2.59 stock setup to my current setup all at once so its hard to say since I did the exhaust and torque converter at the same time. The reason the auto driveshaft won't fit is because the outpput shaft on the trans is only splined up about 2". If it was splined 2 and 3/4" it would fit fine. Since its impossible to re-spline the out put shaft, I took a carbide burr on a die grinder and ground out the first 1/2" of splines on the driveshaft yolk. This way it slides up further without damaging anything. It has been in there since March and I have made about 60 passes at the dragstrip and driven it thousands of miles with no problems.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 2
From: Castro Valley Calif.
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Re: Paging Dana 44 installations (Fastguy)
thanx again fastguy, sounds like grinding out the splines might be a better way to go than taking an inch or two out of the driveshaft. ramrod, do you mean i'll need to get another torque arm? i haven't been under there yet with the new unit so i can't compare the bolt up to what i've got. see, this is the sweet deal with the forum, guys save each other a buncha potential headaches. very nice, thanks a lot! :D :D :D :D :D
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 0
From: Olive Branch (Memphis suburb) MS
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Paging Dana 44 installations (Caboboy)
Tim, read through this http://w1.601.telia.com/~u60113744/diff/diff.htm :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
Re: Paging Dana 44 installations (Ramrod92)
I would definitely get the six speed torque arm because that is what references the angle between the trans and diff.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 2
From: Castro Valley Calif.
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Re: Paging Dana 44 installations (Ramrod92)
ramrod, NICE link, thanx! :D looks like that guy just re-drilled the torque arm cause the D44 case was a little longer. that coincides with what fastguy did to get the yoke to fit also, since the distance between the tranny and rear end is an inch or so shorter. i think i'll probably just go with the 3:07's at this point since fastguy likes them and i do get out on the freeway quite a bit. thanks for all your help guys!!!!!!!!!
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: