Dana 44 8 lug conversion

[Dieseladdiction]

Ok this may be a dumb question or been covered but I haven't found it. I have a 79 chevy that currently has Dana 44 front and 12 bolt rear. I picked up some axles for cheap which are 14 bolt FF and a 10 bolt 8 lug. I think I have decided to keep the Dana 44 in the front and I'm wondering if I can make it 8 lug using parts from the 10 bolt or am I way off track here? If I can't what do I need to make it 8 lug? Thanks

 

[VAL]

I do believe HotRodPC had a write on this issue.

 

[Mattchu60]

I believe everything interchanges between the 10 bolt and Dana 44 on the front axles from the spindles out. You should be able to pull the Dana 44 hub/rotors off and backing place for the caliper and possibly the spindle needs to be interchanged as well, but everything should swap over.

 

[roadwolf]

heres is an interresting topic :

http://coloradok5.com/8lugconversion.shtml

 

[Dieseladdiction]

Thanks Matt, and road wolf I've read threw that but it doesn't say anything about using parts from a 10 bolt.

 

[MadOgre]

Just curious why the need to keep the dana 44 ?

There just about identical as axles. I don't see the worth of doing all that work.

Is the gearing the same from the dana44 to the 10 bolt ?

My 10 bolt has seen some serious abuse and its still holding up pretty good. I have even run 42 inch tires on it for extended periods of time, the axles have never seen anything less than a 33 inch tire.

My steering box, now that's another issue! LOL

 

[HotRodPC]

Thanks Matt, and road wolf I've read threw that but it doesn't say anything about using parts from a 10 bolt.

It's the same process. In fact, I'm fairly certain, someone else can confirm, on those parts, D44 and 10 bolt will interchange.

 

[LateOnTheBrakes]

Sorry to revive a dead thread but I have a few questions on this. I've seen mixed info one whether I can just replace the backing plate, brakes, rotor, and hub or if I have to go deeper into the spindle and bearings. From what I can tell there are two different sizes for the spindle depending on whether it's for a 1/2 or 3/4 ton truck.

What do I need to measure to see if it will be the cheaper, or more involved swap to eight lugs? I have my hubs off now to replace a few broken wheel studs.

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[AuroraGirl]

iirc you can change the lug pattern but the axle tubes and shaft diameters are different. i accidently bought an extra half ton axle shaft when i fixed my axle shaft last year, and its way thinner. less splines. but you prob can change the lug pattern for wheels

 

[LateOnTheBrakes]

They would be way smaller if it's really a 1/2-ton axle. I am not convinced that is the case. This truck has been frankensteined together. Even the wheel studs are wrong (1/2-20 when I'd expect 7/16-20 or 9/16-18).

 

[bucket]

The hub bearings are the same IF the dana 44 had the same internal type locking hubs as the later years. Earlier dana 44's used external type locking hubs and that's where there's differences.

If that's your hub in the pictures, you have the internal type hubs and spindles. Hubs, rotors, caliper mounts and dust sheilds is all you should need to convert to 8 lugs.

 

[LateOnTheBrakes]

Yes, those are my hubs. No idea what year the axle came from or what you meant by "later years". The rear axle is a 12-bolt so I assume both axles came from the 70s.

 

[bucket]

By '77, internal style locking hubs were being used and it generally was the last year that the dana 44 was widely used in the GM trucks. 10 bolts were phased in that year. The 12 bolt rear axle carried on for a few more years.

 

[LateOnTheBrakes]

By '77, internal style locking hubs were being used and it generally was the last year that the dana 44 was widely used in the GM trucks. 10 bolts were phased in that year. The 12 bolt rear axle carried on for a few more years.

Thanks. Can I search parts for a '77 K20 to buy the parts I need? Or is there a full kit that gives me the parts I need? I'm picking up a 14 bolt rear and want to match bolt patterns.

 

[AuroraGirl]

My 1980 k25 has dana 44, and my 1977 k25 frame has d44, and my 1978 k10 has a d44, but its much skinnier tube and has a smaller axle shaft