D44 FW swap mostly done need some advice

[greasmonky]

hey so im almost done with my sas. all i have left to do is brakes steering and matching the front drive shaft to the yoke. i was wondering what yall think i should do for steering and the u-joint. i got the brakes planned out. im debating between heim joints and flipping the drag link for a cheap histeer. and ive seen you can get the u-joints that have different sizes on the opposing arms. like further down on this page - http://www.driveshaftsuperstore.com/u-joints_conversion_type.htm
i know of some machine shops that can match the driveshaft up but im trying to keep to a super tight budget. thanks oh btw its a mud truck and some trails. no rock crawling for this rig i wish tho.

link to my truck
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31465370&l=b90849ae0a&id=1081209048

 

[NMB2]

3/4-5/8 Heims. 1.5" x .250 tie rod, .125 drag link. Not sure why your joints dont match up now. both should be 1310s.

 

[greasmonky]

really?? havnt been able to get one in there to find out. the needle bearings went everywhere when i was taking them out. should i go buy a 1310 and pop it in? i feel stupid if thats the case lol and should i be worried bout the angle of the driveshaft and yoke? looks like it might be a lil tight. i was thinkin bout going with the 5/8 heims. how bout the u-joint for the rear? i got a ford 9 goin in soon from the same truck the d44 came out of 1979 f150/100

 

[pimtool]

3/4-5/8 Heims. 1.5" x .250 tie rod, .125 drag link. Not sure why your joints dont match up now. both should be 1310s.

Hey,
Sorry to butt in, but when you use the hiems for steering linkage do you ream the knuckles and just use a 5/8" bolt?

Also, on the passenger side is that just a long bolt that goes through both heims and the knuckle?

Thanks a bunch.

 

[bigblockford79]

3/4-5/8 Heims. 1.5" x .250 tie rod, .125 drag link. Not sure why your joints dont match up now. both should be 1310s.

The Dana 44 pinion yoke is a 1330, luckily there is a conversion joint available to attach a 1330 to a 1310. It is Precision U-joint #253, of Neapco #1-0134BF. I believe both Napa and Auto Value carry precision brand and advance auto will have the neapco. Either way bring these 2 numbers where ever you go and they will be able to cross one of them for you.

 

[rangerguy1996]

hmm my u joint fit rite in

 

[greasmonky]

ive been doin as much research as i can and ive found that d44s have two diff yoke sizes according to lmc truck they want you to measure the yoke for which part number to order.

pimtool - im just gonna drill the hole out and bolt the drag link to the bottom of the knuckle and the tie rod to the steering box to the top side of the knuckle so the angles are better.

now how bout the u-joint for my ford9 goin in the rear??

 

[59bisquik]

For the u-joint, my FW D44 came with a 1330. I went to Jeffs Bronco Graveyard and got a 1310 yoke so that all of my u-joints were the same.

As for the steering. I run 7/8" hiems with 3/4" bolts and 1 1/2" .250 DOM tubing. Ballistic Fabrication has a nice kit. It comes with everything. All you need to do is drill out the knuckles from tapered to 3/4". Cut the tubing to length and weld in the bungs. I have beat the hell out of mine with no issues. Just as a personal note, I would not use 3/4 or 5/8's heims. The price isnt much different...go big!

http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/Steering-Kit-78quot-with-High-Misalignment-Spacers_p_1337.html

 

[pimtool]

Thanks guys.

 

[MUDDING B-3000]

ya im doing my steering with 7/8 3/4 johnny joints from TMR customs. 1/4 wall dom for everything

the only problem were running into if that i cant achieve full drop out with the johny joints on the drap link. even with misaligment spacers on each end. but where re machining the knuckle to fix the problem

 

[greasmonky]

damn man i love the setup but i cant go that high. you getting the histeer flattop arms? cops might notice im out of lift laws lol i dont suppose you plan on doin any highway driving with that? cause i plan on makin some roadtrips with mine.

ight so i think i got my steering figured out. just gotta wait for another paycheck to come in to buy everything. now what about rear axel? if im assuming right bisquik is sayin i should get a 1310 for the rear? and i should be good?

 

[NMB2]

go big!

why do you have a Dana44 then?

back on track,

nothing wrong with a 3/4 - 5/8 heim joint. it is rated at over 40,000lbs, and considering my PSC ram only accepts 3/4" threads, it was personally my only choice.

however, do NOT use a 3/4 - 3/4 heim joint, significantly weaker than the 3/4 - 5/8 because they use the same casing, the wall thickness on the 3/4 - 3/4 is much thinner.

 

[greasmonky]

your not doin somethin right if you dont have haters.
you dont know my situation so im fine with you not likin it.
theres more than one way to skin a cat.