Ultimate Scout Dana 44

Monte Lauer

Monte Lauer

Active member
This is just a fishing trip, but I wanted to ask the experts. Instead of swapping out my Scout front Dana 44 for a Chevy Dana 60, what about upgrading it? I don't want any info on swapping it out for something else either, just upgrading the stock 44. Obviously this could be an expensive upgrade, but with the cost of a Dana 60 and the work needed to instal it I am looking at other alternatives.tentative ideas include:


locker
5.13 gears
cromoly axles
stronger u-joints
37" tires

I would really like to run drive flanges, but I can't find any for 27 spline. I found a source that makes Scout 44 stub axles with 30 spline and I found a source that makes 30 spline drive flanges for a Dana 44, but I don't know if they will fit a Scout Dana 44. Has anyone tried this route?

Any ideas would be helpful as long as they are about upgrading what I got already.

Thanks
 
Monte,
sorry I can't help with the flanges. Haven't seen any for 27 spline though I'm sure somebody out there has worked this before. I did just post up a set of superior axles and ctm's in the classifieds though if you decide to go that route.

Paul
 
Upgrade to GM brakes while you're at it. The GM stubs, spindles, and hubs are much stronger in my opinion and you will be able to run easily obtainable slugs for it.
 
ihojeff said:
upgrade to GM brakes while you're at it. The GM stubs, spindles, and hubs are much stronger in my opinion and you will be able to run easily obtainable slugs for it.
Click to expand...

Jeff, pardon my ignorance, but aren't the Chevy stub axles longer?
 
monte lauer said:
Jeff, pardon my ignorance, but aren't the Chevy stub axles longer?
Click to expand...

Yes they are longer - 9.94" verses 8.72". Hence why you need new spindles with this conversion. Your track width will increase 1" with this conversion as well.
 
ihojeff said:
yes they are longer - 9.94" verses 8.72". Hence why you need new spindles with this conversion. Your track width will increase 1" with this conversion as well.
Click to expand...

So I can use Scout inner axles and Chevy stubs. :gringrin: the Chevy stubs would be 19 spline? If that is the case the wagoneer drive flanges would bolt right on?

There are several sources for cromoly axles but if I am going to mix and match does someone make the u-joints to do that?
 
monte lauer said:
so I can use Scout inner axles and Chevy stubs. :gringrin: the Chevy stubs would be 19 spline? If that is the case the wagoneer drive flanges would bolt right on?

There are several sources for cromoly axles but if I am going to mix and match does someone make the u-joints to do that?
Click to expand...

Yes, yes, and yes to answer your questions. Both GM d44's and Scout d44's use the same axle ujoint.

This conversion will net you stronger, more abundant and cheaper parts on your axle and will look like the one seen in this pic.

75d1170007113-Scout-II-SOA-r-s-resized_100_3173e.jpg
 
ihojeff said:
yes, yes, and yes to answer your questions. Both GM d44's and Scout d44's use the same axle ujoint.

This conversion will net you stronger, more abundant and cheaper parts on your axle and will look like the one seen in this pic.

75d1170007113-Scout-II-SOA-r-s-resized_100_3173e.jpg
Click to expand...

Right on! :gringrin:

thanks Jeff!
 
Regarding those internal spline hubs...is there an item similar to a drive flange for those to eliminate the locking hubs? I never messed with those older "fulltime 4x4" chev and dodge rigs that used similar hubs that could be converted to part-time hubs selectables. Is that what some folks call "slugs"???

Monte, I just got home from meeting with wayne baker over in pleasant hill...seems he has a locker he'd like to unload, ya might talk to him about that.
 
Yes micheal, you can get slugs for 44's.

To answer the question at hand, you can go and buy 400 dollar ctms, 3oo dollar Yukon shafts, an ARB, new bigger piston (thunderbird? Calipers, and spend allllllllllllllllll kinds of money on a 44. And, I konw you said you dont want to hear it, but let me tell you from experience, that you can throw all the money you want at a 44, and it still isn't a 60.

So, saving the 60 v 44 argument for another thread. What are the tube thickness' of a Scout 44? You can llok to swap shafts, ujoints, cryo, 30 spline locker/inners, upgraded c's etc. But its gonna be bank
 
Most of the Chevy 3/4 ton are thicker than a 1/2 ton 44. Jeff probably knows the exact thickness of each. I can't remember off the top of my head.

On the 44/60 argument. I too will not get into it on this thread but will say that I have known many people that have done tons of wheelin on a 44 without issue. I think it's more about driving style and what you expect out of your rig.
 
Yep, you got it. Chevy knuckles, caliper supports, calipers, spindles, outers. Ford hubs, rotors. The trick is to make sure you get the small bearing Chevy spindle.
 
ihochad said:
yep, you got it. Chevy knuckles, caliper supports, calipers, spindles, outers. Ford hubs, rotors. The trick is to make sure you get the small bearing Chevy spindle.
Click to expand...

!0-4. Thanks Jeff and Chad for the very helpful info. Is there a write up about this somewhere that I May have missed?

Monte
 
I got that combo on my waggy 44's when I bought them.:gringrin: good thing about it, is I got about 8 deg of caster already built in!:winky: they look pretty good, except they aren't under my Scout yet! Will be watchin this thread to take notes on some future upgrades.
 
Ford stuff is late 80's to early 90's the Chevy stuff is from early 70's to early 90's (what ever year they switched over to ifs). The hard part is actually finding the small Chevy spindles. The cool ones are what Jeff and I call the tri-fecta. It's a mid 80's (if memory serves correctly) waggy housing as michael stated. It comes from the factory with this set up. 5 lug and everything. We found one in the wrecking yard a couple of years ago. These are great for staying spring under and keeping a relatively stock width. However if you are going spring over and full width just go with the Chevy housing.
 
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