I got what I had figured to be a dana 44 out of a wagoneer in the junk yard. Opened the cover and found the jack pot, fairly clean oil, almost new condition gears and carrier, has warn hubs, also in good as new condition. Im begining to wonder with all the modding on this thing is the axle even a dana 44? Is there a way to tell?

Medistorm, I did some searching and talking to several jeepers and this is how they answered your Q:

"look on the lower casting web, it will have the model cast into it there.(30,35,44,60 etc) Also 44's and 60's have the same shap covers but the cover bolts on a 44 have a 1/2" head and the 60 has a 9/16" head. Hope that helps."

"Post the BOM and I'll have plenty of info for you."

"Here are some of my charts:
http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Spicer/graph/SpicerCore_Dana44_.gif
http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Spicer/graph/Dana44partnumberscommon_.gif
http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Spicer/graph/Dana44_Front_Axle_shafts_Mr.N_.gif
http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Spicer/graph/BearingsDana44and60_xls_chart_.gif "

Thank you sir

Do yourself a huge favor and brake clean all that red paint off of the carrier!

Or just replace it with a Detroit.

doing the locker, but I see what you're getting at paint+ oil= no good

Do you know what the R&P is yet? And yes ALL dana axles are stamped so get your cleaner and a wire brush out to reveal the numbers.

That is a Dana 44 with an open diff.

You can turn one hub to verify the gear ratio, too.

It looks stock, but may have had some parts replaced.

SASing soon?

Man, I've done so many R&P's in the last 2 weeks...

What locker are you going with? ARB? Detroit?

The R&P will have the ratio stamped on the ring gear itself. As well as the proper teeth count as well.

The plan right now is an ARB and 5.14 gears. The gears in there are 2.75. I have it down to basic parts now, I have replacement ball joints and u-joints.
The diff is still in the axle. Aparently there is a $400 tool to spread the housing to take the tension off the carrier assembly. Is there another way to get this out?

Yeah, don't use the tool.

Take the caps off (keeping them side to side and up and down correctly!), then you can put a wrench on one of the ring bolts (box end, I believe either 5/8" or 11/16"?). Now, rotate the carrier up until the wrench hits the case and won't allow any more movement. Grab a big screwdriver/prybar and pry on the teeth (since you're not reusing the gears) outward, keeping the wrench up against the case, still on the bolt head. You'll pry that carrier right out of there.

Since you're having to swap in the carrier anyway (especially since you're regearing and there is a carrier split) then you can just huck the thing! Keep in mind that next to each carrier bearing there is a shim. You'll need to keep them on their respective sides as well. It'll give you a place to start when seting up backlash and gear pattern.

I've never heard of a 2.75 gear ratio on a Waggy 44. Is it possible it is a 2.72? Have you tried turning it to get a ballpark idea if what you're reading is, indeed, the gear ratio?

Here is a picture of my ring gear with 4.88s:

Waggy 44 with ARB installed

I was assuming the 275 stamped in the gear was the ratio. it is actually 43:13 or 3.30. All there is to be done now is get a locker, gears and knock out the old ball joints. Thanks for the help guys.