Dana 44 for a dually?

[Mattman2010]

I have a 1985 C30 Crew cab that I am wanting to convert to four wheel drive. The truck has dual wheels in the rear, Is it possible to be able to convert the hubs on a Dana 44 to be able to run the dual wheels on the front? I know running a dana 60 would be a better idea, but I am trying to do this on a budget and I already have a Dana 44 that I could use.

Thanks,
Matt

[freelancegenius]

There are companies that make adapters that are essentially very wide wheel spacers so dually wheels can be run on single wheel axles, but they're not exactly cheap.

I understand the budget thing, I converted my regular cab dually to 4WD with parts from a 3/4 ton donor and originally thought about going that route, but I worried about bearing failure moving the weight outboard on hubs that weren't designed for it. So, I've just run the truck with mismatched wheel types, which no-one seems to notice much ... except me. But it cost me nothing extra (monetarily, anyway :P) and I could acquire a proper D60 later down the road. Which I have!

[Mattman2010]

Yeah, I wouldn't trust spacers either, I just didn't know if there was some way of converting it or not.

I have thought about just putting it on there and running different wheels, but the wheels on the axles now are from a 90's 3/4 ton dodge, so they are chrome and my dually wheels are not. I think it would look goofy, but it would allow me to have 4x4.

Another thing about my dana 44 is that the gears are 3.73's (I think, To make sure I would have to pull the diff cover) and my dana 70 has 4.10's; So it would cost me about $200 to get it re-geared which wouldn't be to bad.

[Rpratt]

2004 Chevy HDs have adapters that will clear the lockouts and allow you to run budd wheels. This is what I have on the front of my truck.