Guru_4_hire

OK the 80-82 apparently came with an aluminum differential the dana 44, right?

I was doing some looking around and the Dana 44 differential was on a whole host of vehicles, like 80s pick-ups. Are they aluminum too? Would they switch right over?

Or would I need to scavange the differential and get an aluminum corvette case?

VegasJen

the dana 44 used in the '80-'82 was a very specific differential. unfortunately, the casing is very different from pretty much all other dana 44's. the gear set from a c-4 dana 44 won't work and the other dana 44's used in other vehicles are generally cast iron and the mountings are different. the only good news is that the gear set from some of those others, such as the jeeps and other 4WD vehicles are interchangable. i got this information from richmond gear, if you contact them, they can tell you exactly which ones you would want if you decided to change your gears.

Guru_4_hire

OK So I could order the case from ecklers and get a Dana 44 internal from another source such as a junkyard or richmond gear? Is there a place I could get an entire 80-82 aluminum differential?

Twin_Turbo

What do you want to do? a C3 series 3 or 4 carrier will fit the 80-82 differential just fine.

Guru_4_hire

I wanted to put in the aluminum Differential with a gear ratio of my choice. You know save so weight and well be cool

Twin_Turbo

Ah yes, well the stock posi in the D44 is only good to about 2,08 but could be a tad smaller however if you want gears much shorter than that you need a 4 series posi because the ring gears are not available much thicker (some manufacturerrs use thicker ones to give the opportunity to run shorter gears on a series 3), I'm not 100% on where the limit is, maybe someone else knows but FYI, if you want real short gears get the 4 series posi, it will fit contrary to what some say.

Guru_4_hire

Something around 3.07ish

Twin_Turbo

maybe there are ring gears that will fit a 3 series w/ those ratios, you'd have to look around.

Guru_4_hire

Hopefully I can order the case from ecklers and get the rest from a junkyard, and ecklers.

Twin_Turbo

the diff case? I wouldn't order it anywhere, could get very very costly, check out ebay, they pop up every now & then. Maybe ikerds still has some.

Guru_4_hire

What about C4 rearends?

Twin_Turbo

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33731
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33731

C4 needs the frame ears too but also a special mount to adapt to the torque arm pad, a little more work.

Guru_4_hire

OK thanx for the tip