Twisted1
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- March 28, 2005
- Messages
- 282
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- Lee, NH
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 97 2wd SOHC 5 speed
I found a Dana 44 for sale locally on Craigslist for $200. It was exactly what I needed, full width, already set up for a 3 link, custom heim jointed 2" thick tie rod, High pinion and 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern. I didn't think much of it when I bought it but once I got home I realized it was a leaf sprung axle origionally but I was told it cam out of a late 70's ford. I didn't question it because it was the standard bolt pattern for an F-150. So I did some asking around and research and no one could tell me what it was out of, and of course the numbers had all been cleaned from the tubes so I couldn't even reference those. It had some oddities to it as well that made me think it was a 3/4 ton that had been modified to run half ton knuckles and hubs. I was told when I bought it the tubes themselves had been drilled and tapped to bolt spring buckets directly to. I wasn't thrilled with that set up because I figured it would do nothing but weaken the tubes so I got out the welder to fill them. Then I noticed that the tubes were 1/2" thick which again made me think it was a modified 3/4 ton. Come to find out it is in fact a factory F-150 Dana 44 out of a 79 F-150 crew cab long bed. They are the only F-150 to come stock with leaf springs. The axles feature the HP, 5 on 5.5 lug pattern, 1/2" thick tubes and F-250 steering set up. I've been trying to find info on it and I've read in a couple different places that this is the rarest, strongest and most desireable of all Dana 44's. Has anyone else ever come across one before? And is what I've read true about it? Either way I feel like I stole this thing from the guy, I feel better knowing I didn't try and haggle at all just gave the man his asking price of $200