Hybrid front end, 609 on a budget = 448

Well, I was thinking with some redneck fab and did some search on Pirate...my ability to re-gear differentials, does not exist. At least not at this time.

So I got thinking... I'd love to have removable third members, I know about 609's did a little research on them and came to the conclusion that there is far too much custom stuff involved to make it worth my while i.e. 35 spline shafts

Not to mention that the 9" is a bloody pig and it's pinion is fn' lower then anything out there... the funds for a Hi9 were completely out of the question

So I started thinking, some more pondering about what to do... D44's are cheap but I can't find a drivers side drop pumpkin for the life of me...

Found this thread:
http://www.greatlakes4x4.com/showthread.php?t=67134

Hmm D44 stuff isn't much of an upgrade (x297's) but to have lock outs, and 30 spline stuff is always nice...

Then I asked the yota guys if anyone has done such a crack pot idea...
Great success, it's been done!

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=726641&highlight=hybrid

So on good ol' Kijiji I found a passenger drop D44 for $100 that I'm going to check out and scoop up, I have a line on a Toy 8" rear which I am also going to snag and then you guys are going to get some tech

Best part is, none of this is really "custom"
8" Toy chunk
Waggy d44 shafts with the appropriate lengthened and trussed tubes,
Removable 3rd member
I can carry a spare 3rd if shit hits the fan
Better clearance then a D35 WOOT
Spares aren't too hard to come by but I may pony up the $ for alloys

As of right now I have a line on a Taco rear with an e-locker but buddy wants $900 for it:bs:


I'll be checking out this 44 on the weekend and will hopefully start some cutting and grinding

Anyone else ever thought of something this ridiculous or am I the only crackhead on here? Hopefully it works

So you are using a Toy 8'' center section, with D44 outers?

How are you going to make the tubes, and then how are you going to make the tubes work with the D44 inner Cs.

What are you going to do about the driveshaft?

Whats the point of doing all that work to only run stock shafts and ujoints? Might as well keep your D30.

You must be in Ontario Canada, not Ontario, California? I'm just wondering because driver drop D44s are pretty plentyful and cheap around here.
Billy

interesting. At least you will be able to run some lower gears than the d30, 5.29's are available I beleive. Good luck, sounds interesting.

Starboard M said:

So you are using a Toy 8'' center section, with D44 outers?

How are you going to make the tubes, and then how are you going to make the tubes work with the D44 inner Cs.

What are you going to do about the driveshaft?

Whats the point of doing all that work to only run stock shafts and ujoints? Might as well keep your D30.

Click to expand...

x2

I could be missing something here but don't get it right now. It sounds like making a custom d44/toy8. Which has been done, and isn't as common any more since Longs came out. Toy 8" gears are pretty weak, d44's have a larger ring gear. Got any more info on your plans?

Starboard M said:

So you are using a Toy 8'' center section, with D44 outers?

How are you going to make the tubes, and then how are you going to make the tubes work with the D44 inner Cs.

What are you going to do about the driveshaft?

Whats the point of doing all that work to only run stock shafts and ujoints? Might as well keep your D30.

Click to expand...

Better gear ratios, I thought more about the e locker and having one front and rear would be quite nice

Flange adapter for the u-joint and the tubes, depends where you chop you can use the same size tube to sleeve the 8" and it'll fit the inner c

JeepFreak21 said:

You must be in Ontario Canada, not Ontario, California? I'm just wondering because driver drop D44s are pretty plentyful and cheap around here.
Billy

Click to expand...

That is correct,

you know there are kits for putting d44 shafts into toy8 housings... right?

http://www.fourwheeler.com/techarticles/129_0409_birfield_eliminator_kit_install/index.html

http://www.off-road.com/trucks4x4/R...Article/detail/264278?contextCategoryId=11529

http://www.ringpinion.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProdID=1237

I see little to no advantage of the 448 over a d30... seems like a lot of work for little gain...
In your first post, you said the 297 joint was a limiting detail for you...

get a custom front axle housing (i'm pretty sure Trail-Gear is getting close to releasing their housings) to get drivers side drop, waggy width, slap a 3rd in there, and the 44 shafts from the birfield eliminator kit, and call it a day...

probably $1k out the door...

XJ_ranger said:

you know there are kits for putting d44 shafts into toy8 housings... right?

http://www.fourwheeler.com/techarticles/129_0409_birfield_eliminator_kit_install/index.html

http://www.off-road.com/trucks4x4/R...Article/detail/264278?contextCategoryId=11529

http://www.ringpinion.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProdID=1237

I see little to no advantage of the 448 over a d30... seems like a lot of work for little gain...
In your first post, you said the 297 joint was a limiting detail for you...

get a custom front axle housing (i'm pretty sure Trail-Gear is getting close to releasing their housings) to get drivers side drop, waggy width, slap a 3rd in there, and the 44 shafts from the birfield eliminator kit, and call it a day...

probably $1k out the door...

Click to expand...

Benefits of doing this
Hi-steer kits
Clearance over 44 pumpkin
larger brakes
lock outs
e-locker possible for a reasonable amount
better ball joints

As far as upgrades over the 30, as far as the ring gear being weaker? Can it be that much worse then a LP44?

The birf field eliminator kit does not however address the width issue to my knowledge? Which is why I wanted to run stock width alloy's or the factory stock axles for now?

I'm assuming you're going to spring for some chromo axles and real aftermarket u-joints. Running stock shafts would make the whole project an excercise in futility.

i agree with a lot of people here... what are you gaining? in the end youve built a small ring gear housing that runs weak u-joint shafts... what size tires are you planning to run on this setup if ive missed it? as far as the clearance issue goes i run an lp 44 in my junk and it has never been an issue.... if i was going to go through the effort and the money to go THAT custom it would be a 609 housing or build my own HP 60.... it just seems like a lot of work for marginal gains