Shimmy front Dana 44

[chepdog1]

How safe is it to shim the front dana 44 closed knuckle low pinion so the pinion sits a bit higher instead of finding and spending the xtra cash on a high pinion front axle, anybody done this before?

[PhantomoftheBumpside]

Spend the extra money on a high pinion front.  The high pinion was actually designed for front ends and the reverse cut ring gear is stronger. Also, the drive line angle will be correct and you won't get surging from having unmatched angles (like you will if you point your low pinion up at an angle, which will wear out everything).

[chepdog1]

Thats good to know, i dont do any extreme 4 wheelin but its nice to know id have extra crawling room under the cab plus disc brakes.

[1971ford]

The original pinion angle is set to match the driveline angle. Point it up and the driveline angle won't match the t-case it's connected to. think of the angle the t-case output yoke sits at... it's the same as the pinion angle.

Find a 78/79 HP44 and swap it in. You get high pinion, open knuckles, and disc brakes out of that swap.

[chepdog1]

Hey 1971 thanks, i was pondering the idea about the newer dana 44's, i can wait though. I was wanting to ask you about your diesel highboy, what kind of gas mileage are you getting, and how much would you charge someone for a setup like yours? Thanks.

[1971ford]

I'm not sure on the mileage I was getting (I saw "was", because the truck has been sitting with a blown tranny for quite some time now). I have the pump turned up quite a bit, and seem to drive it with a heavy foot, so I bet the mileage isn't all THAT great as-is. I'm guessing it's low teen's. But, If i simply turn the pump back down (or even below stock), keep my foot out of it, and with the 5 speed thats going in, I should be able to break into 20+ i think. I'll turn the pump down and drive it lightly when I get the truck going again, so I can get a mileage test.

As for how much I'd charge to do the swap again, it's hard to say. Probably more than anyone would be willing to pay. I don't have the free time I used to have anymore