So I'm looking into doing the IFS swap to a SFA and I'm trying to figure out if I should go with a 44 or 60. I'm running 35" tires with stock gearing (3.43???) for now until I can get the cash to run 4.10's. If I don't need the 60, I don't want to spend the money and find out that the 44 would have been good enough. Need your opinions here...

What will ya be doing with it? A d44 will be adequate for 35"s if you don't beat it to hard. I'd go with a d60 but they are kinda $$$$. I put one under my 67 but I plan to run 36"s or 37"s and wheel hard.

Go 60, build it right the first time and you'll end up saving money in the long run. You will spend a couple hundred more to buy the axel, but after that everything will cost about the same. Of course it will be way stronger, and you will get much bigger brakes. You will need to find one out of a Ford to match the drivers side drop on the transfer case. they will be hi-pinon and you can find them in kingpin or ball joint.


Blake

Definately the 60.

There's no reason to run a d60 unless you're wheelin'.I wouldn't run anything but a d60 but theres no reason to use one if you don't need the strength.I buy and sell axels all the time.It's a matter of a $150-$300 d44 or a $850-$1200 d60 if it's a single wheel.If ya go with a d60,buy the whole truck and sell the extra parts.You may end up with a free d60 out of the right deal.I have lots of times.:D

Heybeerman - sources tell me I can use a Chevy Dana 44 or 60 from a 80's or earlier 3/4 or 1 ton CK pickup. According to them, it should match up. What's you thoughts on this?

Nevermind, I spoke too soon. Chevy and Dodge both use the passenger side diff and Ford used the driverside diff.

I have a D44 high pinion if your interested.
SPECS:
Ford high pinion
4:88 ratio with maser install kit
Warn locking hubs
Rotors
Brakes
converted to 6 lug for 1/2 ton swap
hot tanked and painted no rust
This axle is in perfect condition has never been installed after everything was done to it. I bought it to do a nother axle swap but bought the Dmax instead so I never put this axle under the truck.

IIRC my 89 3500 dually had a d60 in front and an d70hd in the rear.

a 44 will work for a pavement queen, a 60 if your going to wheel it.

a 44 will work for a pavement queen, a 60 if your going to wheel it.d.itto I say 60:ro)

There is a guy with a yard full of axels (100's) in Gilbert. It has been a few years since I have bought anything from him. I'll see if I can dig up his number for you. Unfortunately all the rock crawlers are grabbing up the 60's. I bought my last SRW Chevy for $600, and just before that I got a SRW Ford hi-pinion kingpin for $700 both out of runners. But I only look for the deals and pass on anything over $6-700 There are deals out there you just need to stumble upon them.


Blake

ok a dana 44 will be plenty for 35's!!! It has more ground clearence than the 60 and they are a hell of alot easier to find and cheaper!!!! If you find your self breaking axles wheeling then you can always upgrade with a supper 60 kit. It converts your dana 44 to run 60 size axles that are also a stronger material. Then for a combined price of a dana 44 and the super 60 kit you will have the ground clearence of a 44 and the strength of a 60. Also it is a little harder to modify spring purchase on the 60!

So, after some research I think I will be going with a Dana 44. I can buy the axle and do the upgrades for about the price of just the Dana 60. My next question would be the year of the axle. Most things I have read is to stay with the 78-79 Ford axle, but a 1980+ would also work, i would just lose the kingpins and would have to relocate spring pads. Whats your feelings on this? Remember, currently I'm riding on the IFS system and have had no problems. The only reason I want to go with the SFA is for the articulation. I get hung up on a few hills/obsticals because the wheels come off the ground.

Devil - whats your price?????????????

you will prob have to move the spring perchases anyway.

60 all the way. I have an 85 chevy with dana 60's all the way around with 4:88's and 42" TSL's. But I also mud run it. So if your not getting rough 44's will work

Furd didn't use an axel after 79'.It was TTB a form of IFS-:t . I'd go with a 78/79 Furd high pinion one.

http://performanceunlimited.com/illustrations/gears.html
This will give you a little info about ring and pinion sizes/differences. One thing to consider, and a lot of people over look, is how much hp/torque you are going to have verses the ring and pinion ratio. Going from something like a 3:73 ratio to 4:56's or 4:88's dramaticly decreases the amount of tooth contact between the ring and pinion making the setup weaker. If you go to a lot of the Jeep sites (i have a 2001 TJ) you will find that Dana 44's are used by a lot of people, however, if they are frequently tough on their axles, they go to Dana 60's, Ford 9" or have someone like Currie Enterprises or DynaTech build them an axle. Generally a Dana 44 is good for up to 33's if you don't get to rough with them, however, i have seen many broke in the Jeeps we wheel in and most of these are stock 6 cyl's that only have around 200 hp. On the other hand, i have seen guys run Dana 30's up front and 35's in the rear with 35 " tires and go through some pretty knarly stuff and not break, depends on how hard you are on the gas. There are a lot of things to consider here, u-joint sizes, knuckle sizes, axle splines, bearing sizes in the hub/knuckle, etc. Wheel size and the amount of hp/torque and ratio are the 3 biggest factors to consider when selecting an axle. One thing you will learn if you break, always go with the biggest you can afford, break a smaller axle once and fix it and you have then spent the money you would have on a bigger axle.

You can run a 44. I ran one in my offroad truck with 38's and no problems. I did break 1 shaft once. I did not have it locked up though. You should be fine running a 44 with 35's. Most jeeps come with a Dana 30 front axle and run 35's all day long.

If you can afford the 60 then I would do that. Around here you can pick up a 44 for $100 and the 60 will go for $1000 +

I ran a D44 on my 82 with 35's and a 6.2/700R4 combo. I wheeled it all over Alaska and it always came home. I Believe the 44 will work just fine for you and that would be my choice. I did use a tight 4 pin posi in mine just to help out.
Good Luck