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Folks,
I am reposting here a nice writeup by Mark Hudson on the upgrading of the Dana 44 rear ends for Hudsons. Its really great info for the Hudson community and I wanted it easily accessible. Here it is:
I wanted to resurrect this thread to bring some more information to light regarding the Dana 44 rear end.
As you may know, the Fairborn Axle conversion to update to flanged axles is available even now. However, budgets being tight for yours truly, I wanted to do something a bit more sequential in terms of spending my money and eventually getting to the same place. The Fairborn Kit is $495.00. The original tapered axles are 19 spline to work with your existing carrier, or they can have axles made that have the newer 30 spline end.
I called the folks at Reider Racing, as Park suggested. The reason was to hunt down the different carriers that are still made for 19 spline axles.
Something interesting came up in the discussion. The original limited slip carrier as used by both Studebaker and the original 427 Shelby Cobra (Dana 44 equipped), is still available new. And guess what, its 19 spline. And, its the preferred piece for restorers of the previous mentioned vehicles as it is able to be certified as original. Reported by Reider also to be the best limited slip/positraction carrier out there for street driven vehicles.
Link to the Carrier in question
http://www.reiderracing.com/danapowrlok.htm
Its an original Dana Powr-Lock. Cost is $400.00
This means, you can replicate the Jack Clifford hop up of using a Studebaker Twin-Track (Its actually the Dana Powr-Lok) with the rear ratio of your choice, which is also Dana original gears @ $159.00.
By using a 19 spline carrier, you can get up and going with your original tapered axles and be able to switch to the Fairborn flanged axles of 19 spline later.
Or, all at once.
You will also have to buy a new pinion yoke for the finer pinion splines produced currently.
Dana Power-Lock = $400.00
Dana Ring Gear and Pinion = $159.00
Dana 44 Overhaul kit = $100.00
New pinion yoke = $30.00
For $689.00, you have a posi-traction Dana 44 rear end of the ratio of your choosing. That you can also update with flanged axles for and additional $495.00. If the flanged axles are a bit much, you can run your original tapered/hubbed axles.
If it was good enough for Carroll Shelby - I think it will hold about as much as anybody here is going to unleash upon it.
and the good thing is, nobody will be able to tell anything about it - Its all Hudson from the outside with no fuss in the swapping.
Mark Hudson |
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Posted by 51hornet Tuesday, October 10, 2006 (21:54:25) |
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| Restoration vs Buying a Nice Hudson |
You have to ask yourself why you want a to own a Hudson. There are some of us myself included that would try to rebuild a complete car if the only part you had to start with was the left rear lug nut. I like to tinker. I grew up in a garage. I started hanging out in my Dad's garage when I was six. By 12 I had rebuilt many engines and stripped down a lot of cars. So I like to work on old cars.
Not every one has the skills necessary to do the work. Don't let that deter you. Join a club like HET find owners in your area and go out, join in and learn. Then just take your time and you will find its a fun and enjoyable pastime.
If you love Hudsons and you are weighing the option of buying a nice car versus buying a fixer upper. Look at how much money and effort you want to expend. You can spend more fixing one up than you can if you just look for a nice example. There are a nice set of Wasps on ebay now and I saw a 54 Hornet go for cheap that would have been nice with a new paint job and some minor maintenance.
Always make the decision yourself and don't let people deter you. Preserving a Hudson is a noble cause, at least thats what I tell my wife. 
Find a nice site (like mine,shameless plug) join, get stuck in and ask lots of questions. There is nothing a Hud owner likes more than talking about their cars. Hudsons are all about community so don't be afraid to join in.
51hornet |
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