Another option for an offset D44...

...if swapping to a Toyota front axle.

For those of you who don't follow the crazy ramblings in my build thread, I'm in the process of narrowing a D44 from an Isuzu Rodeo. I'm offsetting the pinion to the driver's side, not the pass side as typical... long story. This "super 44" axle has the same 6 on 5 1/2" bolt pattern as a Toyota, disc brakes with drum e-brakes, many came with 4.10 gears (same as Toyota), and many had TracLocs. They are super-beefy with huge castings, 30 spline shafts and 3 5/32" (80 mm) OD, 1/4" wall tubes.



I was curious what the measurements would end up at if the same thing were to be done by offsetting it to the passenger's side for use behind a D18. I just took some rough measurements laying in the rain, and it looks like the offset 44s' pinion were 5" off center.

If my math is correct, if this same procedure was done on the pass side rather than the driver's side (I cut 7 1/2" out of the driver's side tube), it would net 4 5/8" offset. (This would end up with a 55 1/2" wide axle, matching a Toyota front axle, as I am using.) Moser's axle shaft resplining service is around $75, and there is plenty of meat on these shafts to cut from.

As a disclaimer, I didn't compare housing sizes, so the larger housing on the Rodeo axle might force you to outboard the springs.

Again, this is only logical if swapping to a Toyota front axle. Or maybe a Wagoneer? I can't recall what year the Wagoneers switched to 6-lug, and if they were still narrow-track. But these axles are available CHEAP (I essentially made money by getting this axle), and they have many benifits.

That is all.

 

I love this kind of outside the box fab work great job