A friend offered to sell me a 3.92 posi disc Dana 44 out of a 1992 Firehawk for $750. I totally trust that hes not trying to sell me junk so I'm considering this (what appears to be) good deal.

Exactly how strong are these rears? I really don't know anything about them whatsoever. Are there any downsides? Also is $750 a good price for one?

If I'm buying this rear I want to be COMPLETELY confident I'm not going to break it. I know Dana44's are strong but how are they compared to 12-bolts or a 9"?

 

They've got an 8.5" ring gear so they're pretty strong. It's probably worth more like $1200 too. I doubt it's from a 92 Firehawk though.

 

As mentioned already they have a 8.5" ring gear. That's comparable to the older 10 bolts in the first and second gens. Not quite as strong as a 12 bolt os a 9" but still more than strong enough for any street car.

They axles are bolted in like a 9" so c-clips are not used.

Gear selections are pretty good since many 4x4's use a Dana 44 as a front diff.

 

92 Firehawk's had 3.54 gears....

IMO it's about the best rear you could have a 3rd gen without spending a grip of $$$

 

Gears for the front differential are cut differently from the rears though.

 

The Dana 44 is a popular rear diff for off-roaders. Dana 35C is what is commonly used in the front.

Makes me wonder though about the 3.92 gears. Is it really out of a Firehawk? As stated above, they didn't come with 3.92 gears....

 

No they are not. The only exception is for a high pinion 44, but thos are the minority of front 44's.

 

No it is not, the Dana 35c was used as a rear axle. It is the most commonly hated axle due to it being weak.

 

Most aftermarket gears for the front differential are reverse cut for strength.

 

You are most likely right. It *probably* didn't come out of a Firehawk. He is fairly positive that its 3.92 gears and he also welded the axle tubes for extra strength. Couldn't you buy these rears from GM years ago?

I'm going to buy it tomorrow.

 

I would just make sure that it has the correct suspension moutning points for a thirdgen on it before you do. If it was out of something else, it will probably be setup for a different type of suspension.

Ben

 

Yes, that's where mine came from.

 

No, they are not. The high pinion axles are the only ones that can run the rr gears. A regular dana 44 will not accept those gears whether its in the front or rear. Most dana 44's are not high pinion, yes ford has some high pinion 44's but chevy(GM) never has even offered a high pinion 44.

 

Is there anyway to get ahold of a dana 44 now? I know it would have to be used but does anyone every sell these things

 

They're in the Bargain Finder (a classified ads newspaper here in Canada) all the time. You ought to have something similar in the US.

 

The rearends themselves have been discontinued from GM, however, GM still sells new Ring & Pinion sets. You can find them in your copy of GM Performance Parts. They have 3.31, 3.92, and 4.09 ratios.

 

Although GM doesn't sell the third gen Dana 44 diff any more you might be able to still buy one from SLP. The cost is about the same as a 9" or 12 bolt.

 

SLP doesn't sell them anymore. Does anywhere know where i can buy one in the US?

 

Sorry, you're right, apparently I misunderstood the first time it was explained to me.

 

Summit used to sell the Dana 44 Thirdgen assembly for $1440.
I saw one at a swap meet last month for $450.
-Rich-

 

were are these swap meets at. I hear people talk about them all the time.

 

One I mentioned was in Pleasanton , CA (about 45 mins from San Francisco), but a good way to find out where local ones are is to check the Drive Magazine Listings:

http://www.driveonline.com/html/all_event_listings.html

It's getting cold out now, though, so might not be much going on until spring (unless you're in California).
-Rich-