This thread is to document the Dana 44a build up:
OK, here's the plan. I bought a Dana 44 aluminum housing axle from Damien that came out of a ZJ. The 44a has a "thick ring gear with a Dana 60 pinion gear" with 30 spline axle shafts housed in an aluminum housing.
. Now that is where things get a little dicey. The aluminum housing is weak enough where using a floor jack on it could cause it harm.
So I talked with Damien and he is prepared to fab a custom Northen Xtreme Custom brand truss to truss up the axle tubes and stiffen up the aluminum housing. Too cool!
So I am prepared to buy the proper gears and an aussie locker to make this thing a reality. The Aussie is running $249 plus shipping while the going rate for the gears is around 159 plus shipping and install kit of 69 plus shipping.
The lowest gear ratio for the 44a is 4.56. My Dana 30 is currently geared 4.10 so I wonder if it is even worth it to gear down to 4.56 from 4.10 at 115 plus shippign for 4.56 Dana 30 gears plus an install kit plus hassle of installation. I plan on putting in another motor at one point but I am not sure whether it will be another 2.5 for ease of installation and price, or if it will be something with a little more power which make the 4.10 gears less of a disadvantage.
OK, here's the plan. I bought a Dana 44 aluminum housing axle from Damien that came out of a ZJ. The 44a has a "thick ring gear with a Dana 60 pinion gear" with 30 spline axle shafts housed in an aluminum housing.
. Now that is where things get a little dicey. The aluminum housing is weak enough where using a floor jack on it could cause it harm.
So I talked with Damien and he is prepared to fab a custom Northen Xtreme Custom brand truss to truss up the axle tubes and stiffen up the aluminum housing. Too cool!
So I am prepared to buy the proper gears and an aussie locker to make this thing a reality. The Aussie is running $249 plus shipping while the going rate for the gears is around 159 plus shipping and install kit of 69 plus shipping.
The lowest gear ratio for the 44a is 4.56. My Dana 30 is currently geared 4.10 so I wonder if it is even worth it to gear down to 4.56 from 4.10 at 115 plus shippign for 4.56 Dana 30 gears plus an install kit plus hassle of installation. I plan on putting in another motor at one point but I am not sure whether it will be another 2.5 for ease of installation and price, or if it will be something with a little more power which make the 4.10 gears less of a disadvantage.
