Wheels to fit a Dana 44

[01STrunner]

So I have finally started to take the plunge and swap in a dana 44 up front. I need some new wheels though as the hubs are HUGE compared to the stock axle. Any and all suggestions are welcome as I'm not really sure what I want. Pictures and links would be most helpful. Thanks guys!

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Depends on what Dana 44 you're using or I should say what truck it's from. What "Look" are you going for? When I do mine I wanna find a set of wagons from a '70's Scout II (love that classic look), I had a '79 and I really miss that beast.

Not mine but mine had the same lift, sport doors, etc... (picture is from google search).

 

[01STrunner]

Its from an 88 Grand Waggy. From what I've found its a 108mm bore size and I know its 6x5.5" bolt pattern. As for "look" I can't decide whether I want to go with something like I have now or steelies w/ or w/o bead locks. Although they have to be 17" to fit my current tires.
I've always liked the old scouts, broncos and wagoneers

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Are you gonna do the 5 bolt conversion like Chad did on his?

 

[theluke19]

So I have finally started to take the plunge and swap in a dana 44 up front. I need some new wheels though as the hubs are HUGE compared to the stock axle. Any and all suggestions are welcome as I'm not really sure what I want. Pictures and links would be most helpful. Thanks guys!

Damn, bro, you're moving right along! I like your style !

Hopefully things go smooth in the SAS dept. Wish I could be of more insight and help, but I am merely a birdbrain when it comes to that subject.. :/

 

[MidnightRebel07]

I'm starting the stockpile of parts for mine as well, gonna be so nice to get rid of the IFS (words cannot describe my hatred of repeatedly replacing parts on the IFS).

 

[MyTrac]

Oh this is going to be fun to follow...I love watching others complete stuff, just shows my complete incompetence.

 

[BigGreenV10]

I agree wish I had the resources to do the SAS oh well will have to live that route through others as well.

 

[jjaganashi]

i searched for months for for wheels for my 1-ton swap not haveing a clue what i wanted. i found John with SDWheelCorp through ebay.. (i know, its ebay) but he was extremely patient and helped me a ton.. i just told him the axles i had and what they origianally came out of and he sent me a huge list of wheels they offered.. I ended up with the Fuel Hostage wheels and i got a set of terra grappler extremes from him as a package deal. he didnt charge me shipping and the tires came mounted and balanced on my new wheels.. even came with all new hardware.. Even with my 4wheelparts (at cost) discount.. he still beat the price..( i dont think my package cost will matter to you because i went witha 17" rim and a 40+ inch tire) since then ive bought three other wheel and tire packages from him..
max

 

[interscope8]

Oh boy! Make sure you take lots of pictures!!

 

[01STrunner]

Are you gonna do the 5 bolt conversion like Chad did on his?

No I'm planning to stay 6 lug. Do you remember why Chad went 5 lug instead?

 

[01STrunner]

i searched for months for for wheels for my 1-ton swap not haveing a clue what i wanted. i found John with SDWheelCorp through ebay.. (i know, its ebay) but he was extremely patient and helped me a ton.. i just told him the axles i had and what they origianally came out of and he sent me a huge list of wheels they offered.. I ended up with the Fuel Hostage wheels and i got a set of terra grappler extremes from him as a package deal. he didnt charge me shipping and the tires came mounted and balanced on my new wheels.. even came with all new hardware.. Even with my 4wheelparts (at cost) discount.. he still beat the price..( i dont think my package cost will matter to you because i went witha 17" rim and a 40+ inch tire) since then ive bought three other wheel and tire packages from him..
max

Those wheels look pretty sweet but not really sure if I want to spend a fortune on them. At least I wont have to get new tires anyway.

 

[01STrunner]

Damn, bro, you're moving right along! I like your style !

Hopefully things go smooth in the SAS dept. Wish I could be of more insight and help, but I am merely a birdbrain when it comes to that subject.. :/

Oh this is going to be fun to follow...I love watching others complete stuff, just shows my complete incompetence.

Oh boy! Make sure you take lots of pictures!!

I am not the mastermind behind this one to be honest. A friend of a friend owns a fab/body/repair shop and he's done quite a few SAS's in the past. Anyway he's going to do most of the grunt work for me. I honestly don't have enough skill and experience to do this and I dont want to mess up the steering. Hopefully I can get some pics as the project moves along.

 

[interscope8]

Well take lots of pics so other members will have a guide to follow in the future

 

[01STrunner]

Haha aiight. So plan is SOA front and rear with crossover steering. still not sure on what steering box yet. I might get a remanned waggy to make it simple. By going with leaves up front it's about the same amount of $$ with crossover steering as it would be for coils/spring and radius arms with tons less bump steer and better road manners.

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Keep it simple and get a 1st Gen Ex steering box. That's the route I'll probably take. Come tax time I have a set of '79 F-250 axles lined up for a grand. Their geared, locked and have all new parts. The guy had them in his huge Show Truck but went with a different setup when he installed the brand new PowerStroke deisel in it.

 

[LONO100]

You may want to convert to 5 lug to match up with your rear wheels. Not sure if that's why Chad converted his, but tire rotations my be tricky if you got 5 lug in the back and 6 up front. Then your also looking 2 different pairs of wheels.

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Lono, Chad has adapters to fit the rear wheels on the Ford 8.8 which is 5 x 4.5. He'd just need adapters from 5 x 4.5 to 6 x 5.5.

 

[buckwill]

the early waggoneers,, jeep cjs, in fact all the old jeeps,, scouts, ford pu, international half ton big lug,, were 5 lug 5 1/2 inch,, oh old broncos when they were full size,,,,,, then newer waggoneers after 73, chev from um 71 mebbe an older, were 6 lug,, lots jap trucks, mazda nissan, land cruisers, were 6 lug 5 1/2,,

 

[01STrunner]

Keep it simple and get a 1st Gen Ex steering box. That's the route I'll probably take. Come tax time I have a set of '79 F-250 axles lined up for a grand. Their geared, locked and have all new parts. The guy had them in his huge Show Truck but went with a different setup when he installed the brand new PowerStroke deisel in it.

That sounds like a sweet setup for him and you get a good deal out of it. I'll look into the ex box. May also look at a super duty box. The only time I can really talk about it to my friend is during my lunch break and I hate to take up his for very long. Makes it a little difficult.

You may want to convert to 5 lug to match up with your rear wheels. Not sure if that's why Chad converted his, but tire rotations my be tricky if you got 5 lug in the back and 6 up front. Then your also looking 2 different pairs of wheels.

Lono, Chad has adapters to fit the rear wheels on the Ford 8.8 which is 5 x 4.5. He'd just need adapters from 5 x 4.5 to 6 x 5.5.

My original thought was that I'll stick with 6x5.5 just so I only need adapters for the rear and then both axles would match up width wise since the 44 is a little wider than our 8.8s. No matter what all 4 corners will be the same bolt patter for rotation and it would look dumb with 2 5 lugs and 2 6 lugs anyway.