My 44 Knuckle Swap 35/44 Hybrid

[97TrailRigDD]

Figured I would post some pics and info as I go . Gotta have something to keep me motivated .

Couldn't find any 44 TTB's in the junk yards so I put a ad on Craigslist . This guy call and said he had a 80 F150 and a 83 Bronco . $75 a piece without the 3rd's but that's all I could find and he was willing to cut them out with a torch .

I know this doesn't look safe but we got both of them out and loaded in an hour .

Got a new Afco Racing 1.5" per 1' reamer off ebay .

Got started taking them apart . All the rotors are too thin to turn but I'm going to hopefully be able to press the hubs out .

Soaked everything down with PB Blaster.
Did I mention my wife loves the smell of PB Blaster and gear oil

If any body has any info or links about doing a 44 knuckle swap feel free to post them here .

 

[84stealthranger]

cool this will be something ill be watching

 

[86 slo-vo]

good to see you got them going, ill pick up an extra set of beams from you if you still want to get rid of them

if it all goes pretty good ill probably do this to the explorer

 

[97TrailRigDD]

good to see you got them going, ill pick up an extra set of beams from you if you still want to get rid of them

if it all goes pretty good ill probably do this to the explorer

I do want to get rid of the beams . Railman said he maybe wants the other set .

I think it will go ok . There are a few things I'm a little concerned about ,but it"ll be worth it . The 2" between the wheel bearings instead of the 1/4" on the 35 makes it worth it to me .

 

[spdcrazy]

i'm gonna be doing this as well. just not gonna start for a few more month as i have other projects to do first. keep us updated on the pics.

 

[wahlstrom1]

The 2" between the wheel bearings instead of the 1/4" on the 35 makes it worth it to me .

Thats the reason I went solid axle.... that and bending tie rods on a regular basis.

Good work dude, I wanna build another TTB rig one of these days.....

 

[86 slo-vo]

I do want to get rid of the beams . Railman said he maybe wants the other set .

I think it will go ok . There are a few things I'm a little concerned about ,but it"ll be worth it . The 2" between the wheel bearings instead of the 1/4" on the 35 makes it worth it to me .

cool let me know what you want for a set and next time im that way ill snag them....unless you were planning to scrap and ill trade you for some 35 beams lol

i think it will be well worth it

 

[97TrailRigDD]

cool let me know what you want for a set and next time im that way ill snag them....unless you were planning to scrap and ill trade you for some 35 beams lol

i think it will be well worth it

Not going to scrap . But I'll trade you for a set of 35 beams .

 

[97TrailRigDD]

Pressed all 20 of the wheel studs out .

Pressed the hubs out of the rotors .

Took the spindles off and pulled the shafts .

Tomorrow I'll try to get the knuckles off the beams . That should be fun .

 

[RangerSVT]

Gregg, I came across this a while back and saved it for possible future use, maybe you can use it...
http://www.mappyjack.com/Dana44.htm
SVT

 

[97TrailRigDD]

Gregg, I came across this a while back and saved it for possible future use, maybe you can use it...
http://www.mappyjack.com/Dana44.htm
SVT

A little different from what I'm doing but still useful . Thanks

 

[97TrailRigDD]

Got the knuckles off the arms . Wasn't going very good so I ask slo-vo for some tips . He told me to put the arm on a block heat the bushing and get the biggest hammer I had and go to town . Well I don't have a torch but I had what you could call a big hammer . Took about 3 hits each on the upper ball joint .

 

[86 slo-vo]

i dropped the shit off yesterday....you done yet???

 

[bobbywalter]

what do you want to know?

i would not use those knuckles.

i assume you have a 97, and it has the bolt on brakes?


in that case i would be tempted to run the abs spindles, they can be hard to get so get three if you can find some. new they cost a bit....but are workable... then make the brackets to set the 150 calipers up on the 35 knuckle. or whatever brakes you want for that matter.


http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-32084-oem-d44-bronco-spindle-with-abs-brake.html

 

[97TrailRigDD]

i dropped the shit off yesterday....you done yet???

I'm waiting for you to finish yours

what do you want to know?

i would not use those knuckles.

i assume you have a 97, and it has the bolt on brakes?


in that case i would be tempted to run the abs spindles, they can be hard to get so get three if you can find some. new they cost a bit....but are workable... then make the brackets to set the 150 calipers up on the 35 knuckle. or whatever brakes you want for that matter.


http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-32084-oem-d44-bronco-spindle-with-abs-brake.html

What is wrong with the 44 knuckles