1990 GMC Solid Axle swap truck

[SuperBuickGuy]

79 they went to the molded mount.... but that differential is a 77/78 dana 44 high pinion heavy-duty 3/4 ton coil spring axle...

[b454rat]

78/79 were molded. Can only use coil with these axles as there is no tube once the Cs are cut off. 78/79 were also only years for 3/4 ton high pinion. But the knuckles out are interchangeable, for all 44s and even 10 bolts.

[Twin Turbo Skylark]

Can anyone tell from the pics what front axle i have? Gm Dana 44

[SuperBuickGuy]

Originally Posted by Twin Turbo Skylark

Can anyone tell from the pics what front axle i have? Gm Dana 44

Dana 44 - if it were a corporate 10 bolt, the bottom of the gear cover would be round (without the step).

[SuperBuickGuy]

Originally Posted by b454rat

78/79 were molded. Can only use coil with these axles as there is no tube once the Cs are cut off. 78/79 were also only years for 3/4 ton high pinion. But the knuckles out are interchangeable, for all 44s and even 10 bolts.

this


is what is being talked about.... but honestly, I've no idea what he's talking about... first he said that 77 3/4 ton was all leaf-spring. As my picture proves, no they are not leaf spring. Then he said 78/79 were molded - no, 78 wasn't molded, that was 79....

As for what is cast or not - I honestly don't know, I see the cast end and I look for another differential. Though if you get one of those, seriously consider simply putting the GM ends on the Ford center section. There are LOTS of Dana 44s out there so going to that extent is probably interesting but not something you'd willingly do. I had very specific things in mind when I built mine...

The major reason to use a Dana 44 is cost, as was said, Dana 60 front axles are $1000 - which is also the neighborhood of cost to convert a 14 bolt to front-axle duty (thus making the whole dana 60 thing kind of pointless)

[b454rat]

Without going completely off OP post, 78/79 1/2 tons were coil, with molded Cs. 78/79 3/4 ton were leave, and high pinion. 77 and older 3/4 ton were low pinion leave spring. All 1/2 ton were high pinion. Only 3/4 ton in 78 and 79 were high pinion. No high pinion prior to 78 in a 3/4. If you had an 8 lug coil spring axle, someone swapped the 8 lugs on to it. The diff should say 44-5 or 6 or something like that....That pic you posted was from littlekeylime.com, awesome info on 44s. Also 20+ years of junkyard tours lol....selling axles as well.

[SuperBuickGuy]

oh good grief.

anyway, moving on.

[b454rat]

People come here for information, just giving the correct information.

[SuperBuickGuy]

Yet you're wrong, I just don't have the time or desire to argue with you. 20 years of going to junkyards doesn't make you an expert. Continuing to argue doesn't make you right, it just makes you a troll.