77 Ford HP Dana 44 / Ford 9 Full width into ZJ swap

[rjsoaz]

Hi Everyone this is my first post as a newbie here.

I've decided to take the baptism by fire approach and jump straight into a hp44/9" swap.

I have a pretty decent deal on a 77 ford f150 chassis. It has the Cast "c"s I believe they are called. So I will be Keeping the ford Radius Arms set up.

I've found a shit ton of old write ups WITHOUT pictures on the subject, and most recently orange powers, on other forums, although haven't found it on this one yet.

It seems pretty attainable, from what I've seen/read. Figured I'd start with something small like this

Is anyone else running this set up now, or have run it previously?

[IndyZJ]

77 = not cast wedges

It's radius arms. There's nothing different about it. Like you said, it's been covered numerous times. I believe I posted a link in Orange Power's thread that has some useful info. Really, if you can't figure it out yourself yet, you shouldn't be designing your vehicle's suspension. Keep searching and reading.

[rjsoaz]

77 = not cast wedges

that's what i thought by all the reading I've been doing on the subject, but the title says 1977, yet when I look at the axle its clearly cast wedges. So I figure either the original owner must have replaced it, or its an anomaly.

Really, if you can't figure it out yourself yet, you shouldn't be designing your vehicle's suspension. Keep searching and reading.

You gotta start somewhere right?

I'm going to continue to search, read, and do some trial and error. Either way it should be fun.

[moparrr07]

find the bom (bill of materials) number



and enter it here

http://www2.dana.com/expertforms/deabill.aspx

or do a google search for that number like this one

http://www.patooyee.com/Dana/By%20BoMN.htm



after doing all of this i found on my that i thought i had bought a 76 jeep grand wagoneer axle because it had flatop knuckles and was advertised as a 76 was actually a 79 axle(which is same dimensions) but either way it works

[rjsoaz]

find the bom (bill of materials) number



and enter it here

http://www2.dana.com/expertforms/deabill.aspx

or do a google search for that number like this one

http://www.patooyee.com/Dana/By%20BoMN.htm



after doing all of this i found on my that i thought i had bought a 76 jeep grand wagoneer axle because it had flatop knuckles and was advertised as a 76 was actually a 79 axle(which is same dimensions) but either way it works

thanks for info! definitely bookmarked!

the bom is 610067-2


that tells me its from a 79.
short of disassembling to measure the tube thickness, is there an easier way to tell?

I can get the whole chassis with a 9" rear for 500.00.

I'm a little on the fence now on whether i want to do it. I think if its 1/4 in wall I may walk.

How bout some opinions from complete strangers that are hundreds of miles away?

[moparrr07]

measure the outside of the tube,

all dana 30 and 44 use 2 inch inside diameter tubing so using basic subtraction:
3 inch axle tubes= .5 wall
2.75 inch tubes= 3/8 or .375 wall
2.5 inch tubes= 1/4 or .25 wall

here in the midwest the going rate for the best dana 44 (78-79 f250 [high pinion, drivers drop, 3inch tubes, leaf spring perches ]) is around $250-$300, just as a reference

[IndyZJ]

here in the midwest the going rate for the best dana 44 (78-79 f250 [high pinion, drivers drop, 3inch tubes, leaf spring perches ]) is around $250-$300, just as a reference

I picked mine up for $200. 9" go for $100 regularly. Of course, that's needing to be completely rebuilt.

[ratmonkey]

Iirc the 79 150 hp44 is pretty much the worst one, light duty tubes as well as being cast wedges.
I'd hold out for a f250 one personally. or a real welded wedge axle.

Realistically the 9" is worth 100-125 & the vehicle scrap value is probably about 200$ with no axle weight at a yard. Not a great value really.

[rjsoaz]

Thanks everyone for the help. I decided to walk , going to keep my eye out for a better deal on some welded wedges