does my 1981 Dana 44 have a solid axle?
 

Please do not move this thread to the 4x4 section I am having no luck there with my other past question so perhaps I will have a better shot here.

The truck is a 1981 Chevy Scottsdale 20 with a 350 ci. th400 mated to a 208 transfer case and 14 bolt (pan cover) rear end.

If I do have a solid axle which has 8 lug locking hubs and the 14 bolt rear end does that mean this is a more sought after front differential?

I am not sure if it is true but read that a solid axle Dana 44 can exceed the strength of a Dana 60????

Thanks for any help ahead of time,

Re: does my 1981 Dana 44 have a solid axle?
 

No the dana 44 is not as strong as the dana 60. The dana 60's are the ones they put onto the 1 ton 4x4 trucks. The 14 bolt is a strong rear end, they where used in the k20's and 30's some where single wheel, and some where dually. The dana 44's came in both 6 and 8 lug, they are stronger than the 10 bolt that came in the front of some k10's and k20's, but they are not stronger than a dana 60. You cant get a stronger axle than the dana 60 front axle for these trucks that bolts right in!

Re: does my 1981 Dana 44 have a solid axle?
 

And are you wanting to know if you have a solid front axle? If so you for sure do. They started using (IFS) indapendent front suspension in 88 up 4x4s.

Re: does my 1981 Dana 44 have a solid axle?
 

Thanks two both you guys. Any idea if a 1981 th400 4x4 will bolt up to a 1990 np241 transfer case? One guy I spoke to said that after 1986-87 they shortened the th400 4x4 output shaft by 1" although he cannot be certain.

Again thank you.

Re: does my 1981 Dana 44 have a solid axle?
 

I think you need a special adapter to make the th400 bolt to a 241 case. is the 90 case even the correct side drop? most of the older chevys have PS drop and the newer trucks have DS drop.

Re: does my 1981 Dana 44 have a solid axle?
 

benoit454 you're right the drop is on the wrong side; and in '81 the front axle would be a 10-bolt instead of a D44. Unless of course someone else has swapped axles out.

Re: does my 1981 Dana 44 have a solid axle?
 

If your 1990 np241 is from a 3/4 ton Suburban, it should bolt right up to the Turbo 400 and it will have the passenger side drop. It it's from a newer body style truck it will have driver's side drop. If it's from a 90' half-ton Suburban or Blazer it will have the correct drop, but the spline count is different.