esc

iTrader: (6)

Well then, I expect it will take more punishment than most T56 clutches can dish out. So you better upgrade that if you want the Dana to be the weak link.

skinny z

I'm searching for info on the Dana 44 and this is the kind of experience I can relate to.
Anyone else have seat time with one of these?

ZONES89RS

iTrader: (2)

I still have not got all the parts for mine, i have to much junk not wanting to stay together for me long enough to put money into the damn thing.

esc

iTrader: (6)

I recently came across the origional 10 page installation instructions that came with mine. Not much usefull information, but some good pictures!

If you have any specific questions, I'll be happy to answer any I can.

skinny z

I'm looking at this as a replacement for my 9-bolt.
Consensus is that it's stronger but only marginally. I hear there is better aftermarket support though.
Looking at your 1/4 mile time it would seem that it can take a fair bit of abuse. My 9-bolt broke the pinion on my first sub 13 second pass (one full tooth) however did manage to stay together for another 10 or so passes the same evening. Even managed a 300 mile tour to get home breaking another tooth along the way. I'm not sure if it's up to running next season on slicks even with a thorough rebuild and fresh gears.
Do you have a recommendation one way or the other?
Being an OEM replacement does it use the OEM rear disc setup?

esc

iTrader: (6)

Yes, it uses the OEM rear disk setup. The early ones (like mine) were set up for the iron calipers and if you want PBR's instead you have to press off the axle bearings to replace the caliper brackets to get the PBR brackets on.

The later ones let you replace the brackets without removing the bearings, or so I'm told.

As far as the strength, I understand that the 9 bolt is only a little stronger than the 10 bolt. I went through 3 ten bolts in a matter of months running 13's before I got the Dana 44. I've now had it for 20 years running 11's (low 11's now) and never had to do anything to it.

Now I bought mine new, so if you get a used one there is no telling what it has been through. You may very well get a really good 9 bolt that will last longer than a used up Dana 44. But I would be surprised.

skinny z

I've gone through a crap load of info on the Dana 44. GM Performance Parts Catalog # 14044853.
What I haven't come across is a single document with the axle spline count.
Earlier in this thread is reference to a 30 spline axle (sofakingdom) but nothing else.

esc

iTrader: (6)

That is my part #! With the 3.31:1 gears.

I recently found the origional 10 page installation instructions that came with it. It doesn't say anything about the axle splines, and I have never bothered to count them.

FYI:
14044853 is 3.31:1 ratio (what I bought)
14044854 is 3.92:1 ratio
14044855 is 4.09:1 ratio

skinny z

I'm picking up a 14044853 as well as a 3.73 gear set. The case break is between 3.73 and 3.92 so that's as much ratio I can get without swapping out the posi carrier.
Which posi does your diff have?
As far as the installation instructions go, if you have the time and the technology I would like to see a copy of it. I've got a binder full of literature and that's something that I'd like to add.

esc

iTrader: (6)

Mine is a 14044853 , so I would have the same posi as you.
I'll see what I can do about getting it scanned in.

Morit

Just a short question - is the Dana 44 used in Jeep's the same thing that was in Firehawks etc..? Mainly - will it fit, is it a straight bolt on..?

big gear head

The F body Dana 44 was made just for these cars. No other Dana 44 will bolt in because of the torque arm mount. These rear ends are rare.

Morit

Damn.. And it could be so beautiful :P
Almost new, with posi, high gears and disk brakes.. :P And cheap :P

skinny z

I picked up the Dana over the weekend. It's only seen service as a spare for a SCCA Camaro racer. Appears to be immaculate, at least on the outside. TracLoc posi and two sets of gears. The original 3.31 and some 3.73's.
What I have to do now is source out some rear discs. It only came with the backing plates.

88MCLS

iTrader: (1)

I just bought a 1983 Z28 and it has this Dana44 rear under it. 3.31 posi ratio with a 5 speed trans. <This car has the factory fiberglass functional hood. Is this an 82 leftover? The dana44 axle appears to be factory installed?

esc

iTrader: (6)

The 82-> mid 83 Crossfire Injection cars came with the functional ABS hood. The Carb'ed Z-28s from the same time frame came with a non-functional ABS hood (That's what I have, except I made it functional)

The Dana 44 was not available until the mid 80's, so it could not have origionally come on your car. I've heard that it was sometimes installed under warranty, but most people had to buy them over the parts counter, like I did.

Julie Bergman

I'm lucky enough to have one of these GM Parts Dana 44s under my '91 Formula. I mean really lucky! I first put the rear in my 1984 Trans-Am for road-racing in the Camaro Mustang Challenge. When I sold the car the rear went with it, the new owner took out the Dana 44 and sold the car. Finally I got the rear back this year! It has a Detroit Locker in it, we'll see how that goes as a street car!

88MCLS

iTrader: (1)

I ran the vin and it comes back an 83 Z28 with the H engine 5.0 ho and were 3223 cars with that option with the 5 speed. Now this has the functional hood. Thats odd. the hood is broke on the drivers hinge area.

I will be selling the Dana 44 disc complete take out as soon as i can post in the for sale board. Its a 3.31 Posi dana 44 disc brake with sway bar,u bolts and tourque arm..ect

esc

iTrader: (6)

Is the hood properly ducted, or does it just dump into the engine compartment?

The only ones I have seen that were ducted were the CFI motors. I have one of those intakes. I plan on using it as a starting point to make mine close. Right now, I just have holes.

Julie Bergman

Why sell it? Plenty of parts available for it and with forged axles pretty much impossible to break unless you are putting a rocket engine in it!

trackbird

iTrader: (7)

Send me an email, I'm interested in talking to you about this.

trackbird(at)gmail.com

88MCLS

iTrader: (1)

The hood is ducted. I am trying to find the build sheet. It is a wierd optioned car.

88MCLS

iTrader: (1)

PM sent to you with my e-mail addy. Thanks

88MCLS

iTrader: (1)

Pm sent to you,Thanks

FJA1791

iTrader: (3)

I just picked up a Dana 44 and was wondering if rear axle housing came painted or unpainted when purchased over the counter...Thanks Frank

esc

iTrader: (6)

Mine was unpainted.

FJA1791

iTrader: (3)

Thanks...The one I picked up looks to be partialy painted (center section painted axle tubes not) I will be posting some pictures of my rear restoration and swap over the next few weeks.

skinny z

Will you be doing a gear swap or changing the bearings?
If you are, I'd like to know what you'll use for an assembly manual.
If you intend to change the carrier and pinion bearings beware of the counterfeit bearings that have been making the rounds. Out of the 8 parts that make up the complete carrier bearing package (2 pinion, 2 main) one part wasn't made in the USA.
Guess which part failed within the first few months?

IROC YA

Great info...I know this is an old thread.....

I recently acquired a 87 IROC which was a close friends(original owner) whom past and i was willed the car, this has the GM performance Dana 44 in the car as the original diff with 3:42 was in the back of the garage....

Car has been sitting for 15 years and im bringing her back to life, currently has a 383 stroker, AFR heads, Accel Ram intake, with Lingenfelter TB, L/T, built 700R4, had the caliper all redone and moving the car around the rear tires were chirping on turns leading me to believe that it has a spool.
I purchased a LPW diff cover with cap supports, so when i went to install it i did in fact confirm that it has a spool with 3:92 gear set.

I had alot of parts come with the car as my friend never threw anything out, I see posi units from GM still in the original boxes...lol

Question: with a spool set up I'm sure that it should have C clip eliminators yes??, yet I dont see anything at the axle ends that would suggest it has them, car has a disc set up factory, I didn't go any further yet, just looking for some info on what holds the axles in place.

Thanks Chris.

skinny z

The axles are held in place by the retainer on the end of the axle tube. Four t-bolts pass through the back side of the axle flange, through the retaining plate and are cinched down with locknuts.
The axle bearings are pressed on the axle and are further kept in position with a lock ring. It's this pressed on assembly that bears against the retaining plate and keeps the axles in place.
There are pics of the two styles of retaining assemblies in this thread. One early style and the other a revised version.
Their order of operations is slightly different.

skinny z

A fairly comprehensive list of parts and problems is in this other thread.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...arts-list.html

​​​​​​It's in there (and not in this thread as I said earlier) where you'll find details on the axle tube end configurations.

IROC YA

Much appreciated.!!