Dana 44 nifty new find

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averagef250
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Dana 44 nifty new find

Post by averagef250 »

Bought a 78 HP 3/4 ton 44 today. Need it for a lifted highboy for the front driveline angle. The truck has power assist. Just discovered that some genius Ford engineer back in 1977.5 decided to up the diameter of the 3/4 ton axle tubes by 1/8". Now I need to do serious machine work to the assist cylinder bracket so it will fit the housing. WHY????? Why would they do that!

Just had to vent. Atleast, you now know power assist is not a bolt-on with a HP 44 housing.

Also, if anyone has any questions regarding 76-77 or 78-79 44's and their differences ask away, I have one of each side by side right now.
1970 F-250 4x4 original Willock swivel frame chassis '93 5.9 Cummins/Getrag/NP205/HP60/D70
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re: Dana 44 nifty new find

Post by 67highboy »

The dia. is bigger because they used a lot heavier wall tubing on the HD44
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re: Dana 44 nifty new find

Post by Wes »

lets see a pic or 2 of your new one and the assist pls
Wes

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Post by averagef250 »

I'll try, My camera has become quite a turd lately. It won't take a decent picture in my shop anymore.
The power assist on the HP axle will look the same as any other factory highboy with power assist.
1970 F-250 4x4 original Willock swivel frame chassis '93 5.9 Cummins/Getrag/NP205/HP60/D70
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Post by averagef250 »

I got the HP44 all wrapped up and in today. Believe it or not, the assist bracket bolted right on, tight fit, but didn't have to modify anything. The one headache I had to deal with was swapping on 76-77 knuckles because the 78-79 knuckles have big tie rod holes. I had to run the 76-77 drag link, so the knuckles had to match.

I know it's come up before whether or not the 76-77 and 78-79 rotors will interchange and I can say for 100% sure they are identicle. All the brake parts are exactly the same.

Also, the tubing diameter is larger on the 78-79 axle, but it is thinner wall than the 76-77 axle. If I had to form an opinion of which axle is better I'd say the 76-77 low pinion axle is tougher. The hubs and spindle bearings in the later axle are cheezball in comparison to the big hubs on the 76-77 stuff.
1970 F-250 4x4 original Willock swivel frame chassis '93 5.9 Cummins/Getrag/NP205/HP60/D70
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