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Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 08:50 PM
  #1  
TurbomanKnight's Avatar
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From: Brooklyn, NY
Car: 1983 Recaro T/A
Engine: L69
Transmission: MM5
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

Alright guys. I'm unsure about this. But when I bought my car, the ad listed a Dana 44 rear. I dont know much about it as I am not familiar with the term. Can I have some information about it? And what are some ways to tell if it truly is a Dana 44 rear?



Thanks in advance!
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 08:59 PM
  #2  
Apeiron's Avatar
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

Search is your friend, embrace it.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...hlight=dana+44
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 09:03 PM
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

Rear cover will have a metal fill plug in it.

Dana 44. At one time, it was an over the counter replacement part available from GM. It was also available in the SLP Firehawk. Strongest and best differential for the third gen available from GM yet wasn't a production model for cars like the L98 Z28 which could have used it. Instead they got the 9 bolt which although is stronger than the 10 bolt, parts are hard to get and expensive.

Dana 44 is commonly used as front axles in Jeeps. It has a 8.5" ring gear and has lots of aftermarket parts available.

Finding a used third gen Dana 44 now that's in good condition can be just as expensive as buying an aftermarket 9" or 12 bolt.
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 09:06 PM
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TurbomanKnight's Avatar
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From: Brooklyn, NY
Car: 1983 Recaro T/A
Engine: L69
Transmission: MM5
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Re: Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

Thanks for the info guys! I really appreciate it. I'll jack the car up this week to take a look at it.

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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 09:12 PM
  #5  
Apeiron's Avatar
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

No need to jack it up, just have a look underneath.
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 09:41 PM
  #6  
TurbomanKnight's Avatar
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From: Brooklyn, NY
Car: 1983 Recaro T/A
Engine: L69
Transmission: MM5
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Re: Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

I'm gonna be jacking it up to check out somethings anyway.
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 04:53 PM
  #7  
TurbomanKnight's Avatar
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From: Brooklyn, NY
Car: 1983 Recaro T/A
Engine: L69
Transmission: MM5
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Re: Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

Damnit. Went underneath the car looks as if it's a stock rear. =(
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 06:51 PM
  #8  
AlkyIROC's Avatar
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

No metal pipe plug in the rear cover?
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Old Jul 8, 2008 | 08:49 PM
  #9  
TurbomanKnight's Avatar
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From: Brooklyn, NY
Car: 1983 Recaro T/A
Engine: L69
Transmission: MM5
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Re: Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

Not that I can see. I dont know if the Dana has the plug on the left side. My plug is on the right side. I have to jack the car up, I can barely fit under the car to see anything.
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Old Jul 8, 2008 | 09:58 PM
  #10  
AlkyIROC's Avatar
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

3 diffs offered in the third gen can be easily identified by just looking at the rear cover on the diff.

The 9 bolt is the easiest because it has 9 bolts on the cover but also has a rubber fill plug in the cover.

The Dana 44 has 10 bolts holding the cover on but has a metal fill plug in the rear cover.

The typical 7.5" 10 bolt found in most third gens has a smooth cover and the fill plug is on the side of the housing.
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Old Jul 8, 2008 | 11:50 PM
  #11  
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From: Tulsa OK
Re: Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

Dana 44

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Old Jul 14, 2008 | 02:22 AM
  #12  
RPOL98's Avatar
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20 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 286
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From: USA
Car: 90 IROC
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt BW
Re: Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

t_towner:

damn, the underside of that car is so damn clean, must be it's never been driven on a rainy day, holy smokes! do you wear a dust mask or respirator when you work on it?

flip that car over, and you could eat off of it, heck, you could do open heart surgery on the floor pan.

good job! awesome. I am, suitably, impressed.
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Old Jul 25, 2008 | 07:39 PM
  #13  
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From: Brooklyn, NY
Car: 1983 Recaro T/A
Engine: L69
Transmission: MM5
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Re: Tell me about a Dana 44 rear.

Yeah, I have a stock 2.77 9 Bolt. Thanks for your help guys!
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