Dana 44 2.72:1 ring & pinion

X

xelhan

Member
Hello,
I'm trying to find a 2.72:1 ratio ring & pinion for a DANA 44 axle - new or good used
Any help would be appreciated
Shipping to California - not Sweden
Regards,
Chris
 

Attachments

  • YGD44411.jpg
    YGD44411.jpg
    143.8 KB · Views: 7
Last edited:
Thanks Sal,

Yes, 2.72:1 was the highest gearing (low number) from DANA.
Drivetrain Spec.had nothing on their site, but I have sent an email just in case.

Chris
 
Ford didn't use any that tall in the years that they used the Dana 44. It may have been for the independent suspension versions of the Dana 44 used on Corvettes or Jaguar cars. Gear ratios this tall are generally used on automatic overdrive applications.

What is the application that it's needed for?

Randy's Worldwide has a lot of stuff for the Dana 44 but I don't know about a set of gears that tall. It sounds more like Dana 36.
 
Picture of my axle housing.

This is from Wikipedia:

General specifications
Ring gear measures 8.5 in (216 mm)
Ring gear measures 8.9 in (226 mm)
OEM Inner axle shaft spline counts are 10, 19, 29, 30, 32, 33 and 35
Pinion shaft diameter: 1.375" (most Dana 44s) 1.625" (JK rear 8.9" Dana 44s)
Pinion shaft splines and spline diameter: 26/1.12" (most Dana 44s post 1970), 24/1.25" (JK), 10/1.12" (early pre-1970 Dana 44s)
Gear ratios range from 2.72:1 to 5.89:1
Carrier break: 2.72:1 – 3.73:1 and 3.92 – 5.89:1. 6.17:1 (Volvo C202)
 

Attachments

  • Jag diff case bolt nose.2.jpg
    Jag diff case bolt nose.2.jpg
    29.4 KB · Views: 10
That is an independent Dana 44. They are heavier duty than the Dana 36 that replaced it. A lot of folks look for Dana 44 set ups to do a conversion.

I go to Randys WW (used to be Randy's Ring & Pinion) and specifically look for Dana axle information. It lists each type of axle from Dana/Spicer. They even have stuff for the old 19-spline axle set ups listed. If you look for the Corvette axle listing it will show what's available. The Dana 36 Corvette axle will show what it has. Someone may have confused Dana 44 & 36 in the Corvette series axles as to the available R&P ratios. Not all Wiki stuff is gospel. It's made up of stuff folks add in and mistakes can happen.

Here's a link: https://www.randysworldwide.com/differential-identification/
 
Decades ago, I had a '57 Custom 300 with 292 Y-block and the standard 9" banjo housing rear axle. The factory gear ratio in that thing was 4.76:1. You could have the engine redlined on the highway and struggle to achieve 60mph. I hated it so much I went to a junkyard and found a '58 Fairlane 500 that had the factory 2.91:1 rear end ratio. I plucked that pumpkin in a New York second and popped it into my car. Boy did she ever fly after that !!!
 
Last edited:
I found this for Nitro 272 gears. http://justdifferentials.ru/D44-272-NG-p/d44-272-ng.htm

This must be a sort of odd ratio for these units. I never say never when looking at all this stuff unless I have some sort of inside information and I don't. I hope your friend has a carrier that will fit the base circle of the ring. This application would have to have some low 1st gear ratio to get started out and 4 or more speeds forward.

I had a 95 Buick Roadblaster with a ratio like this but it had the LT1 engine and a transmission that would definitely pull it. It had an automatic overdrive set up 4L60E.
 
Last edited:
Dana 44 2.72 ring & pinion gears are no longer made. Several years ago, I searched all of the U.S. for a set. I was ready to end the search, when I found a used set at a differential shop in my home town. It was a matched set that came out of an 80s Corvette.

There is an ebay seller, who has a set of Dana 44 2.72 gears and carrier that came out of a Jeep Cherokee. He's asking $255. You won't need the carrier. Make sure the gears are standard rotation. High pinion gears have a reverse rotation. Fortunately for me, Corvettes are rear-wheel driven. I had 2.72 gears and Auburn limited-slip differential installed in my 1955 Ford Thunderbird Dana 44 rear axle. It's not on the road, yet, but with 26.9" diameter tires, RPM at 65 mph is calculated to be just over 2200, 600 rpm less than the OEM 3.31 gears. 2.72 is a good highway ratio if you don't have overdrive, but not good if you have a camshaft that has a lot of duration.
 
You might try contacting Bill at Bill Thomas Enterprises in San Bernardino, CA
https://billthomasenterprises.com/

1877 N Massachusetts Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92411
(909) 888-7949

He rebuilt the 8 inch third member that I'm using to replace the 4.10 Dana 44 in my '54 Ranch Wagon. He is an old time rear end and trans shop. He came highly recommended to me by numerous knowledgeable people. He will respond to emails but it may take a couple of days. If you call, will talk for a while but he may just have a solution for you.




https://www.google.com/search?q=bil...hUKEwiiqZefqvDrAhVHHDQIHdtuCDUQ6BMwEXoECBgQBQhttps://www.google.com/search?sourc...pIBAjEymAEAoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpeg&sclient=psy-ab#
 
You must have swapped out the entire rear axle assembly, not just the third member. The Dana 44 is 8 1/2", not the same as the Ford 8."
 
55blacktie said:
You must have swapped out the entire rear axle assembly, not just the third member. The Dana 44 is 8 1/2", not the same as the Ford 8."
Click to expand...


Yes, the entire rear end came from a '74 Maverick. WMS to WMS was the same. The original third member was a 2.80 which was way too high for the 302/AOD combo going in the Ranch Wagon. Bill installed a 3.55 ring and pinion. Looks brand new with USA bearings.
 
55blacktie said:
Dana 44 2.72 ring & pinion gears are no longer made. Several years ago, I searched all of the U.S. for a set. I was ready to end the search, when I found a used set at a differential shop in my home town. It was a matched set that came out of an 80s Corvette.

There is an ebay seller, who has a set of Dana 44 2.72 gears and carrier that came out of a Jeep Cherokee. He's asking $255. You won't need the carrier. Make sure the gears are standard rotation. High pinion gears have a reverse rotation. Fortunately for me, Corvettes are rear-wheel driven. I had 2.72 gears and Auburn limited-slip differential installed in my 1955 Ford Thunderbird Dana 44 rear axle. It's not on the road, yet, but with 26.9" diameter tires, RPM at 65 mph is calculated to be just over 2200, 600 rpm less than the OEM 3.31 gears. 2.72 is a good highway ratio if you don't have overdrive, but not good if you have a camshaft that has a lot of duration.
Click to expand...


Did you have to replace the u joint front seal and front bearing to accommodate the spline count and pinion shaft size?
 
The 2.72 gears were purchased from and installed by Miles of Valley Differential in Stockton, CA. He did say that if the bearings were in good condition, it would be better to reuse them, rather than buy new, because the quality is better.
 
I now have 2.72 and 2.86 gears. I am leaning towards the 2.72 gears due to my 225/60r15 tires. Is yours ok off the line with these tall gears?
 
My 55 Tbird/w 2.72 gears is not back on the road yet. However, my 1988 Mustang 5.0/w AOD had 2.73 gears. Although it could barely break the tires loose/w limited slip and stock 225/60R15 tires, it had no trouble breaking out. As far as my Tbird is concerned, a C4 transmission/w Dynamic Racing Transmission's C4 wide-ratio gear set is replacing the Fordomatic. The gear set has 2.90 1st, and 1.60 2nd. The 2.90 1st/w 2.72 rear gears is equivalent to a Fordomatic's 1st/w 3.29 rear gears. The original Tbird Dana 44 ratio is 3.31, behind the Fordomatic. I have 215/70R15 tires. The calculated RPM at 65 mph/w 2.72 gears and 215/70R15 tires is approximately 2200.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top