Size difffence between 71-72 and 73-77 Dana44 axle U-Joint????

[chevy_muscle]

I've been told that the axle U-joint on the dana44 was increased in '73.

Can anyone give me the size specs on the earlier and then the later U-Joint.

Also, is there a list of codes on the Dana44 (code on the webing) that can identify the year-model it goes into (or at least if it was 71-72)???

Thanks guys /forums/images/graemlins/1zhelp.gif

 

[Burt4x4]

Actually some late production 72 models came with the bigger ujoint. But yes 73 up has the 297 ujoint. I think the smaller one is 260, I can't recall if that is the number or not.
You can swap in the larger ujoint axels. Depends on which spindals you have(bigger and smaller also) on weather or not the spindals need to be swapped..
Best way to upgrade is to have a donor D44, you can bolt it all up to the one under your rig /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
Good Luck

 

[84_Chevy_K10]

Earlier u-joint is a 260x like the common day Dana 30 front axle.

Later joint is the 297x which nearly every D44 has, as does the 10 bolt.

260x:
2.188 from clip to clip
2.805 across with caps off
.657 trunnion diameter
1.063 cap diameter

297x:
2.188
2.934
.768
1.188

 

[Beast388]

The 72-older D44's used the 260X u-joint whereas the 73-later used the 297X. If you have access to a Spicer catalog or maybe even searching online, you should be able to find the specs of each joint.

Dana axles are supposed to have a BOM number on the axle tube that identifies the year, gears, options etc, but I was never able to find it on my original '71 D44.

One thing to look for is the axle tube diameter. My '71 D44 has tubes that are 2.75" in diameter and my '77 D44 has 3.0" tubes. I am not sure when the tube diameter changed, but that may help in your search. /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif

 

[84_Chevy_K10]

I edited my post with specs, hopefully that helps.^