Ok, it's finally starting. 95 Rodeo D44 SAS build

Slim-Whitey

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So I figure the other topic might as well just stay where it is. It's been too many months.

This one will be here for my SAS. If other planned things happen, they'll go here too.

I'm going out tonight to work on my housing and leafs. Yes I'm going leaf. Fuck off. It started life with torsion bars, there's nowhere to put fucking coils.

Will post pics when I'm done what I can do tonight.
 

Slim-Whitey

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Why do all that work just to have a shitty 44 under it at the end.

Because I'm going to be running 160hp/240ftlb through it, because we don't have many rockslides to climb in Saskatchewan, and because I paid literally 100 dollars for the complete axle, suspension, and an 8,000lb winch.
Oh, and it means the front and back axles will match, it means I keep my 6 bolt pattern instead of having mismatched wheels, and it means certain parts like bearings, gears, and the like are shareable.

I've heard all the whining and pissing about Dana 44s.

End of the day, Dodge saw fit to make an 8 bolt 44 and run it under 1 ton dually gas trucks while certifying it to hold 4500lb. I'm not worried about it holding up to a 1/4 ton Isuzu with 35x12 (MAAAAYBE 37x11) tires.

If I break it, I'll go get a set of Super Duty axles from a blown 6.4 I'll buy for a grand, and a driver's drop T case just to really piss off everyone since it still wouldn't say "Toyota" on the axles.
 

Slim-Whitey

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Now that I've explained my reasoning behind using a 44.

A few pictures.

IMG_20190722_211643.jpg

That's what I had tonight. We cut the axle tube down some time ago. There are two factory lengths of axle on each side. My factory WMS is 60" up front, cutting down the one side will get me to 62" on this axle. I'll live with that I think. If I really can't, I'll trim down the other side. But I doubt it.

IMG_20190722_213806.jpg

Cleaned up the cut and beat the C on. It was funny, a couple of buddies said "You'll never hit that thing on, they're pressed fit then welded". Well fuck em. An old chunk of tube and a real hammer and on it went.

IMG_20190722_213739.jpg

Needs some adjustment, but I'm close to the indexing marks anyway.

IMG_20190722_214329.jpg

Grabbed an old friend from a past project to ream the knuckles. They didn't need much. Reamed out way easier than the knuckles and steering arm on my 95 dodge!

Yes, I've done this before. I took a 95 Dodge diesel with an auto, slammed in an Nv4500, and then took the KP60 and 205 from a 93 Dodge diesel and put them in. Got rid of the coils for leafs.

Drove real nice. Had to sell it. Life caught up to me.

Back to this project, I managed to keep the drag link when I sold that truck, and it's being repurposed for this project. By the way, if anyone wants a KP60 high steer arm, I have a spare I found in the shop for sale XD.

IMG_20190722_215607.jpg

So there's where I am for tonight. I'll need to get some perches from TMR and I'll need to get some balljoints. That'll be the next thing. Then I'll need to get the outer running gear together to mock this thing under my spare Isuzu. Shouldn't be a bad job, I just feel like having it all figured out before I do anything for sure, and things tend to crop up with even the best made plans.
 
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Slim-Whitey

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Oh, and I should mention, I'm not standing here shouting about how amazing D44s are.

It's just ... It's going to work for what I do, and it's going to check off the right boxes for me to put up with it.

Factory engines in factory applications put more power and strain on a 44 than I will. A 90s dodge 5.9 uses a LP44 front with 250hp and over 300ftlb running through it, with a 3500lb GAW-F rating and a 5000+lb towing cap.

It's going to work.
 

AssBurns

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End of the day, Dodge saw fit to make an 8 bolt 44 and run it under 1 ton dually gas trucks while certifying it to hold 4500lb. I'm not worried about it holding up to a 1/4 ton Isuzu with 35x12 (MAAAAYBE 37x11) tires
Ever stop to think dodge made a shitty decision on putting a D44 under a 1 ton truck?

Just giving you shit. I’m sure a D44 is plenty for your application. Run chromo axles if you need to, but a D44 is plenty for 35’s and hard wheeling. No point in losing ground clearance with something bigger.
 

Slim-Whitey

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The 8 bolt 44 worked fine for that generation of 1 ton.

Otherwise known as the one with a 175hp 360 behind it.
 

Slim-Whitey

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Need some advice

So the axle needs, presently:
Ball joints
Axle U joints
Long side axle
Calipers
Perches

I have carrier/4.30 gears/bearings/etc from another 44 already.

What do I buy next? Ball joints would allow me to assemble the outer running gear and mock the axle under the spare rodeo, I think those are the next logical choice.
Any input?
 

TACOVRD

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You may be right....


I grew up in MB, but have lived in SK, AB and ON for several years before ending up south of the border.
 

Slim-Whitey

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Traitorous dog.

Edit: Settled on balljoints tomorrow and ordering perches Monday/Friday. Depending on paycheque might get calipers too.

That'd leave an axle shaft and U joints. Oh, and seals. It needs seals.
Might get the thing mounted before full assembly of the axle. I'm kinda thinking getting it into the vehicle for the purposes of figuring out steering, brake line routing, shock position, and driveshaft length would be a good idea.

Kinda sad cause the way this is going, I'll be doing the driveshafts twice in 6 months. And driveshafts are fuckin expensive. . .

Cest la vie
 
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Slim-Whitey

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I bought too much booze and can't get balljoints now. Fuck me dead. Bad decisions. Oh well. I danced with the wifey in a downpour that near canceled the dance after the demo Derby. So I'm happy. Fuck projects for tonight.
 

Slim-Whitey

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That post makes sense to drunk me.

Maybe you need a higher B.A.C. to make sense of it.

Basically, I spent my parts money on liquor at the demolition derby today (shit).
After the Derby there's a dance.
While the dance was starting there was a true blue SK thunderstorm.
I didn't give a shit, danced with my wife in the pouring rain anyway. We were heavily applauded.
And because of that damn good time I don't care about the project taking another week.

There. All explained.
 
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