89 Grand Waggy Dana 44

Lurch830

Lurch830

messin' with sasquatch
Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Location
Wilton & Albemarle, NC
Planning on doing a SAS on my Nissan in the future, and found what looks to be the perfect axle in a local junkyard. 1989 Grand Wagonner Dana 44 (think its a driver side drop). My questions are where would the best place to get 4.88 gears (Nissan has 4.625, but want to upgrade to 4.875), how easy is it to do a gear swap in the 44, what type of locker works best with this axle and is this a good/dependable/sturdy axle? Sorry for all the stupid questions, trying to learn all I can before I dive-in.

Thanks in advance,
Brandon
 
I had the same axle in my YJ. V8 and 37" tires with ARB. I had zero issues with mine. Swapped in flat tops and did a high steer. I am sure you will hear they are good up to 35" tires, but should upgrade axles. A lot has to do with your driving style, but I did not baby mine. Guess call it luck? I did my own gear swap as well (1st one) and it went pretty easy from my standpoint, just tkes patience. I like the ARB, but if you are on a budget, I would go with a lock right.
 
I would go 5.13s, but for the occasional drive to Carolina Beach, 4.88s would prove to be much better MPG-wise. Anyway, I want it to still be a road-worthy rig whenever I get done.
 
For all the FSJ ppl on the board. How can I be dead sure what I've got is a Dana 44 since I've heard Dana 35s aren't worth upgrading (as far as I can tell, all '89 Grand Waggys had front and rear 44s)? Also, anybody know of a good source for parts such as gears (4.88), locking hub conversion kit, & SOA kit (in case I decide not to make my own)?
 
Anybody got an opinion about BJ's Off-Road customer service & delivery-wise? I found some 4.89 gears for the 44 and the SOA kit from BJ's. I was planning on running 4.875 gears in the Nissan axle and 4.88 in the 44 (0.005 wouldn't be too big of an issue). Now it looks like my choices are 4.875 rear w/ 4.89 front or 5.142 rear w/ 5.13 front. Leaning towards the 4.875/4.89 combo for gas mileage, is 0.015 not enough to worry about or will it bind in 4WD?
I'm beginning to think that nobody makes a manual locking hub conversion for this axle b/c I sure can't find one. Any ideas on where one might find such a conversion kit?
 
Lurch830 said:
Anybody got an opinion about BJ's Off-Road customer service & delivery-wise? I found some 4.89 gears for the 44 and the SOA kit from BJ's. I was planning on running 4.875 gears in the Nissan axle and 4.88 in the 44 (0.005 wouldn't be too big of an issue). Now it looks like my choices are 4.875 rear w/ 4.89 front or 5.142 rear w/ 5.13 front. Leaning towards the 4.875/4.89 combo for gas mileage, is 0.015 not enough to worry about or will it bind in 4WD?
I'm beginning to think that nobody makes a manual locking hub conversion for this axle b/c I sure can't find one. Any ideas on where one might find such a conversion kit?
Click to expand...

any of the warn hub kits for a d44 will work on it.
 
Lurch830 said:
For all the FSJ ppl on the board. How can I be dead sure what I've got is a Dana 44 since I've heard Dana 35s aren't worth upgrading (as far as I can tell, all '89 Grand Waggys had front and rear 44s)? Also, anybody know of a good source for parts such as gears (4.88), locking hub conversion kit, & SOA kit (in case I decide not to make my own)?
Click to expand...


if it's an '89 GW, it's a driver's drop 44 front and a centered 44 rear...FSJs never came with 30s or 35s
 
Bought a few things from BJ's - quick shipping, no problems. Any D44 hub kit will work (Superwinch, Warn, MileMarker, etc...) Here's a link to help you out Dana44 Hub Rebuild. TT fabworks has the SOA perches ($50 or $60 I think), that small a difference is fine for the gears, lockright is the cheapest (which isn't "cheap" anymore). Heavy wheeling, weld the tubes, you'll be fine.
 
Thanks everybody for answering! After I finish cleaning it up, I'll order parts and dive-in.
 
dana 44

the wagoneer dana 44 ive got going into my 95 xj i just used chevy outers. chevy brakes hubs everything from the knuckles out. passenger side flat top with crossover. all the chevy parts are cheaper than jeep stuff and easier to find. i think my entire front end only cost me like 150 bucks. it was like 60 bucks to get the knuckle drilled and tapped.
 
Yea, he has probably already upgraded to a D60 by now :lol:
 
I wish....its actually sitting in the shop floor. I've got all my parts spec'ed out, just waiting on a roommate so I can afford them and still be in the black.....any takers?
 
Back
Top