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Dana 45?

jk3078

jk3078

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Moyie Springs Id.
Was such an axle ever made? The markings on the housing say 45 in all the usual dana spots. This axle has a six lug bolt pattern and the axles are held in with 4 bolts similar to a 9''. It has a powerlok diff and if I am reading the date right on the ring gear it was manufactured in '58. Ever seen an axle like this before? What was the application? Thanks for any info.
 
jk3078 said:
Was such an axle ever made? The markings on the housing say 45 in all the usual dana spots. This axle has a six lug bolt pattern and the axles are held in with 4 bolts similar to a 9''. It has a powerlok diff and if I am reading the date right on the ring gear it was manufactured in '58. Ever seen an axle like this before? What was the application? Thanks for any info.
Click to expand...

Sounds about right. For instance:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts/184426749.html

cracksmokers ... but it's 50's vintage, Napco conversion, kinda stuff.

-- A
 
Don't think it's NAPCO, they used the 9" style Eaton rears. Buddy has a junkyard and gets some weird stuff in now and then, thought he talked about a rear like this, and it was out of a Jeep of somesort.
 
b454rat said:
Don't think it's NAPCO, they used the 9" style Eaton rears. Buddy has a junkyard and gets some weird stuff in now and then, thought he talked about a rear like this, and it was out of a Jeep of somesort.
Click to expand...

Yea, I have seen the NAPCO diffs and thats not what this is. It does look similar to the one that dremu posted the link to, which are NOT NAPCO diffs! Thats funny I was thinking jeep to...
thanks.
 
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Some of the late 50's 1/2-tons used this Dana axle. GMC with the Dana, and the Chevy with the drop-out style. (Not always though.)
 
Early military flatties had a Dana 41 in them. Floaters they were too! Lots of odd-ball stuff out there....
 
Dana 41's are semi-float and came in early Cj-2A's, most of the parts for an early D44 will fit them. WWII MB's had a Dana 23-2 full floating rear axle that was very weak compared to the Dana 41. This along with replacing the MB's T-84 trans with the T-90 in the civilian jeeps were major improvements over the MB.

Sorry for the history lesson but I have a "script F" Ford GPW and learned a lot about early jeeps while I was parts hunting for it. I love old iron. Next project will be a power wagon when I can find a descent WM-300
 
V-8 rear ends were the (Dana)44
Studebaker also made No. 23, 27 and 45 axles (smaller diameter axles and
"U"bolt's).

The Stude 44 axles have a 2 1/2" diameter axle housing.
They are hypoid, semi-floating axles (by Spicer/Dana) in the Avanti and RQA
models of Avanti II.

If you find a tag on the cover plate with 45B, this will tell you it is a
limited slip (Twin Traction) rear end (not a 45 axle).
Early Twin Traction Axles used a axle cover tag with a large T on them (they
had a 30 degree ramp angle).

A 45 "C" is a Dana 44 with the Limited Slip. A Limited Slip differential is
denoted as a "45" and the "C" is the type of Limited Slip" clutch assembly.
If you look in your Studebaker shop manual it shows the different clutch
packs and their letter designation.
--

Tags also were on the axle cover plate, with the rear end ratio listed.

Axle model #'s are cast on the housing, just around the corner from the
filler plug.
Spray some engine gunk on the axle and take it to a self service pressure
car wash to clean it up.



I just found this with a little digging. Interesting.......
 
resurrected_jimmy said:
Dana 41's are semi-float and came in early Cj-2A's, most of the parts for an early D44 will fit them.
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OK then what has my friend got? 44 cover fits it or is REALLY close, came in a mil flattie, FF using front stub spindles & wheel hubs, Dana 18 offset. Seem to recall the the hsg has "41" cast in it, but I'd have to check on that. Hsg ends are an exact match to the front stub spindles & the backing plates have obviously had the spidles bolted over them for a very long time.
 
I have a Dana 45 my buddy just dropped off. He swapped in into his 1969 Blazer in the 1980s. It looks just like a 6 lug semifloating Dana 44. There is "45" cast into the corner of the center housing. He says the ring and pinion is a little bigger then a 44 and they came in 1950-53 Chevy trucks. Its 3.73 open and the BOM number is only partially readable.
 
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