will a dana 44 bolt right up to a ranger

[Big Red Ranger]

will it do this with out cutting the axle

 

[metalmacguyver]

No.



















Its not likely that the spring perches will be the same width. What is the axle out of? Is it a front or a rear? More info needed!

 

[LittleBigFoot]

+1

Whats it from? What's it goin into? Front or rear? Leafs or coils or?

 

[Branger2B]

YES IT WILL........ Either full width of EB depending on the way it is done. I have done 4 of these swaps. if u use all the stock parts from the EB or F-150. I have easilly done this swap with NO welding. stock F-150 radius arm brackets (77.5-79 at least) bolt ot he frame. aswel as the STOCK F-150 coil buckets with 1'' spacer between the bucket and frame (if ur using a FW axle.). With Stock EB axle i used the stock explorer coil buckets as they matched the width fine. Make a plate to bolt to Frame using 3 power steering box bolts to hold in in place then after you mock up ur axle and decvide where to put the track bar. all i did was drill two 1'' holes in my 5/16'' plate and countersank the heads of the bolts into the 1'' hole and i welded them in there creating a STUD for the track bar bracket to BOLT to. and can easilly be removed by unbolting it. oh yah.. drive shaft bolts up.. (may need to be shortened but will work..) the only othe rproblem u may run into is the fack that the radius arms go right where the tranny crossmember is locketed ont he frame. oso what i have done is cut the Crossmember to fin inside the frame and clear the brackets instead of wrapping around the outside. I also made a custom trannymount/Raduis arm crossmember on one of my builds. Hope this answeres some of you questions. Cheers. Oh and heres a couple pics to get you horney about ir build.

in the picture abouve you can see the blue plate i made to mount the track bar.

the only 2 tools you need....

 

[4x4junkie]

I have easilly done this swap with NO welding. ...

...all i did was drill two 1'' holes in my 5/16'' plate and countersank the heads of the bolts into the 1'' hole and i welded them in there creating a STUD for the track bar bracket to BOLT to.

Huh?? Which is it?

 

[Mutant Pony]

It can be done but, A welder and Torch make things easier and stronger.

 

[Branger2B]

It can be done but, A welder and Torch make things easier and stronger.

How so? Accually id rather bolt than weld to my frame. unless of course i had a certified welder on hand. then maybe id put him to work. I can weld very good. but i would bolt over weld in a heartbeat. (on roll cages and exhaust.. ect.) Lift brackets.. Definaly bolt! IMO...

Huh?? Which is it?

Hah ok Junkie you got me... I welded the nuts into my peice of plate because i didnt feel like screwing around inside the frame liek my buddy did. what he did was drill a 1'' hole on the bottom of the frame just infront of the coil bucket.
then with a peice of tape over the box end of the wrench and the nut securly inside he reached the wrench up into the frame and managed to get his bolts started. It can be done with no welding I just cut a corner on that step to save myself 2 hours and alot of cursing. its hard to start threads when you cant feel or see the bolt.... Thx for bustin me

 

[compleckz]

got any pics of what u did for the trackbar mount, Branger?

 

[Branger2B]

top picture. blue plate infront of coil on frame. made some studs out of 1/2'' bolts welded to the plate (can be bolted right threw) and mounted the track bar and bolted it on.. oh ha. the plate bolts to the frame using the power steering box bolts. 3 of them.

 

[bobbywalter]

on the t/bar i have used the fullsize bracket with a hole drilled to clear the steering gear bolt and a washer at the bottom to space it...on the earlier frames you can easily reach in and start the bolts and torque em. then run a strap made from angle to the other side from the mount where the pin bolt goes. theres a few ways to do it without welding. when possible i dont like to use any of the steering gear bolts as i seen too many of them ripped off the frame. going to an outside box makes it real easy too as you can simply use angle depending on what bar you use.


of course cutting up steering links and using tierod type ends is my favorite method...but thats all welding. using old leaf spring bushings is another fave to make mounts for engines and trannies/bumpers/winches and stuff.



essentially, it can easily be a bolt in....


or an act of congress.




....its all in what a guy wants or what one is actually capable of.

generally i do a ladder setup to do the initial setup...all it is is bolt on temp bases to get it dialed in. saves on welding shit to the frame and cutting and reworking later.

 

[Mutant Pony]

How so? Accually id rather bolt than weld to my frame. unless of course i had a certified welder on hand. then maybe id put him to work. I can weld very good. but i would bolt over weld in a heartbeat. (on roll cages and exhaust.. ect.) Lift brackets.. Definaly bolt! IMO...

Using a Torch in removing what you don't need/removal of seized bolts. A welder to build/modify brackets so that you can bolt it in!
You can strengthen a frame by welding it if you know what you are doing. NEVER weld a vertical line on a frame.