2.3splash
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2007
- Messages
- 26
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Need some help, which option.
The Current Combo
87 Bronco II, 5.0L H0, C4 trans, BW Dual Tcase doubler, explorer 8.8LSD rear, Narrrowed (3") Dana YJ HP dana 30 on leaf springs. 35" MTR's.
Usage-narrow/off camber trails and rocks, no more lift than required to clear tires and close to stock axle width are important.
The Front axles need an upgrade, I want to get to bigger U joints and better axles to handle a locker or at least a trutrac in the front dif.
What I have to work with.
-Complete Dana LP 44 from a 83 dodge ram Flat top knuckles, warn hubs, wrong gears, wrong side dif, inner axles wrong length for anything.
-Bare housing from a 78 Full size HP dana 44 (cast C's not good for leafs)
-My Current HP dana 30 with the correct 4.11 gears.
-$1500 (canadian) think about $1200 USD
-Good fab skills (mig/plasma cutter/cut off saw/press/small lathe access).
Option 1
Upgrade current HP Dana 30
-Install alloy shafts (delete CAD) and trutrac,gusset and weld housing.
Pros=Basically a bolt in solution, good clearance, use existing gears, alloy shafts are stronger than stock dana 44 shafts at the joint, no wheel replacement required, easy wheel end service (am still running the orginal jeep hubs after 6 years).
Cons=No upgrades left, no lockout hubs, due to narrowed axle width long side inner axle would have to be custom, small brakes, front drive shaft is always spinning. 27 spline axles.
Option 2
Low pinion Dana 44
-narrow dodge dif and relocate housing to use stock length EB passenger side aftermarket big joint axle, stock F150 Drv side axle, Dodge outers, good spicer joints, tack welded. Detriot Trutrac (close to locker abilities, easier on parts). Re drill rear axles and drums for 5x5.5 bolt pattern and replace rims.
Pros=cost, larger Dana 44 carrier, low pinion clears my exhaust/oil pan (which are currently close (touched once on jump) to my HP Dana 30, real hubs, bigger brakes. Get a high clearance steering system.
Cons=Lots of labour, LP dana 44 gear itself is marginal if any stonger than my current HP dana 30, have to spend a good part of the budget on wheels, gears and steering linkage, and have to redrill rear drums and axles.
Option 3
Dana 44 hp
-cut up dodge dif and and F150 cast C dif and sleeve tubes to make HP DANA 44 about EB width Use stock length EB passenger side aftermarket big joint axle, stock F150 Drv side axle, Dodge outers, good spicer joints, tack welded. Detriot Trutrac Re drill rear axles and drums for 5x5.5 bolt pattern and replace rims. Build complete crossover steering system.
Pros=Larger Dana 44 carrier, Strongest gear option. real hubs, bigger brakes. Get a high clearance steering system.
Cons=Lots of labour, HP Dana 44 hits oil pan/exhaust/cross member, requires unwanted lift. Have to spend a good part of the budget on wheels gears and steering linkage (things that I already have), and have to redrill rear drums and axles.
Option 4
Hybrid HP Dana 30/44
Cut up dodge dif and and HP Dana 30 and sleeve tubes to make Dana 30/44 hybrid about EB width Use stock length EB passenger side aftermarket big joint inner axle, stock F150 Drv side inner axle, Dodge outers, good spicer joints, tack welded. 30 Spline Yukon Air locker. Build complete crossover steering system. Re drill rear axles and drums for 5x5.5 bolt pattern and replace rims.
Pros=Close to the same strength as LP Dana 44, more ground clearance, use existing gears, still have oil pan/exhaust clearance. real hubs, bigger brakes, real dana 44 axles fit with the 30 spline locker, future upgrade to alloy axles possible. True locker. Don't have to buy gears. With doubler t-case I only need 4.11 gears which means the gears themselves are not likely the weak spot in this combo yet. Get a high clearance steering system.
Cons=Smaller pinion shaft diameter and have to find a cheap source for compressed air for locker (probably old lincon air ride compressor from autowreaker). True locker more likely to break parts. Have to spend a good part of the budget on wheels and steering linkage (things that I already have), and have to redrill rear drums and axles.
What would you do and why?
(have looked for a better Dana 44 HP housing locally, can't find)
The Current Combo
87 Bronco II, 5.0L H0, C4 trans, BW Dual Tcase doubler, explorer 8.8LSD rear, Narrrowed (3") Dana YJ HP dana 30 on leaf springs. 35" MTR's.
Usage-narrow/off camber trails and rocks, no more lift than required to clear tires and close to stock axle width are important.
The Front axles need an upgrade, I want to get to bigger U joints and better axles to handle a locker or at least a trutrac in the front dif.
What I have to work with.
-Complete Dana LP 44 from a 83 dodge ram Flat top knuckles, warn hubs, wrong gears, wrong side dif, inner axles wrong length for anything.
-Bare housing from a 78 Full size HP dana 44 (cast C's not good for leafs)
-My Current HP dana 30 with the correct 4.11 gears.
-$1500 (canadian) think about $1200 USD
-Good fab skills (mig/plasma cutter/cut off saw/press/small lathe access).
Option 1
Upgrade current HP Dana 30
-Install alloy shafts (delete CAD) and trutrac,gusset and weld housing.
Pros=Basically a bolt in solution, good clearance, use existing gears, alloy shafts are stronger than stock dana 44 shafts at the joint, no wheel replacement required, easy wheel end service (am still running the orginal jeep hubs after 6 years).
Cons=No upgrades left, no lockout hubs, due to narrowed axle width long side inner axle would have to be custom, small brakes, front drive shaft is always spinning. 27 spline axles.
Option 2
Low pinion Dana 44
-narrow dodge dif and relocate housing to use stock length EB passenger side aftermarket big joint axle, stock F150 Drv side axle, Dodge outers, good spicer joints, tack welded. Detriot Trutrac (close to locker abilities, easier on parts). Re drill rear axles and drums for 5x5.5 bolt pattern and replace rims.
Pros=cost, larger Dana 44 carrier, low pinion clears my exhaust/oil pan (which are currently close (touched once on jump) to my HP Dana 30, real hubs, bigger brakes. Get a high clearance steering system.
Cons=Lots of labour, LP dana 44 gear itself is marginal if any stonger than my current HP dana 30, have to spend a good part of the budget on wheels, gears and steering linkage, and have to redrill rear drums and axles.
Option 3
Dana 44 hp
-cut up dodge dif and and F150 cast C dif and sleeve tubes to make HP DANA 44 about EB width Use stock length EB passenger side aftermarket big joint axle, stock F150 Drv side axle, Dodge outers, good spicer joints, tack welded. Detriot Trutrac Re drill rear axles and drums for 5x5.5 bolt pattern and replace rims. Build complete crossover steering system.
Pros=Larger Dana 44 carrier, Strongest gear option. real hubs, bigger brakes. Get a high clearance steering system.
Cons=Lots of labour, HP Dana 44 hits oil pan/exhaust/cross member, requires unwanted lift. Have to spend a good part of the budget on wheels gears and steering linkage (things that I already have), and have to redrill rear drums and axles.
Option 4
Hybrid HP Dana 30/44
Cut up dodge dif and and HP Dana 30 and sleeve tubes to make Dana 30/44 hybrid about EB width Use stock length EB passenger side aftermarket big joint inner axle, stock F150 Drv side inner axle, Dodge outers, good spicer joints, tack welded. 30 Spline Yukon Air locker. Build complete crossover steering system. Re drill rear axles and drums for 5x5.5 bolt pattern and replace rims.
Pros=Close to the same strength as LP Dana 44, more ground clearance, use existing gears, still have oil pan/exhaust clearance. real hubs, bigger brakes, real dana 44 axles fit with the 30 spline locker, future upgrade to alloy axles possible. True locker. Don't have to buy gears. With doubler t-case I only need 4.11 gears which means the gears themselves are not likely the weak spot in this combo yet. Get a high clearance steering system.
Cons=Smaller pinion shaft diameter and have to find a cheap source for compressed air for locker (probably old lincon air ride compressor from autowreaker). True locker more likely to break parts. Have to spend a good part of the budget on wheels and steering linkage (things that I already have), and have to redrill rear drums and axles.
What would you do and why?
(have looked for a better Dana 44 HP housing locally, can't find)
Last edited: