how to protect those expensive gears and lockers on a dana 44!
first, the easiest thing to do to protect it o na solid 44 is to go to a junkyard and get a front dana 44 cover off a 70's waganeer. the cover is twice as thick as the stockers and most other covers out there(i forgot the pic today or a comparision, but i will get one tommorow and edit this)
that itself will be a good swap, and is cheap

my diff protecter is also cheap, but requires time and tools.
a torch and welder required. total cost was $15 each.
i used used metal, so it was cheap. the rock ring is 3/8", and the spreader bars are 3/4" solid. bend the steel stripping to the shape off a diff cover so it will lay on top of it. get it bent up using the torch, big hammers, and vice. once its bent to shape take it and pound it on th eground with the sledge while its still hot to make shure it is flat. do not use water to cool, let it air cool! it will warp if you rapidly cool it.
lay it over th cover and mark the holes to drill. drill them a size or so over to make it an easier bolt on and to calculate for error.
once its drilled stick all th ebolts through the cover and the rockring and bolt it on. make shure the rock ring fits niucely over the cover, then take and grind off any extra of the rock rings strip that hangs past the cover so it wont get snagged.
http://www.superford.org/registry/vehicles/users/372/1549/rockring.jpg
then lay out a plan for your bracing with steel rod. Cycle your steering to make shure it wont hit the tie rod of draglink. bend the strips and tack weld it all in place and recheck any clearence issues with steering or anything else. weld it all on good, and again let it air cool. makje wshure you left room to get the fill plug in and out.
Bolt it on and refill with gear oil. wella, cheap mods that work great! takes some time to get it right, but its worth it, espically if your cheap!
http://www.superford.org/registry/vehicles/users/372/1549/diffguard1.jpg
http://www.superford.org/registry/vehicles/users/372/1549/diffguard2.jpg
http://www.superford.org/registry/vehicles/users/372/1549/diffguard3.jpg

Sweet :cheers:

the rear one, a second design that i think will work better.
an 8,8 cover could be easily made also. my next one i make is going to be for the sterling.
http://www.superford.org/registry/vehicles/users/372/1549/rockguardrear.jpg
http://www.superford.org/registry/vehicles/users/372/1549/rockguardsecondattempt.jpg

i tested this one before i installed it. it took several good full wacks with the sledge and it didnt budge.

Interesting design .. I was thinking about making one for the front of my Bronco, but I am not skilled in the art of welding .. I like your design though, I'll print it out and bring it to a friend who does weld :P

Raider, glad you found our site, you should go over to introductions and tell everyone about yourself and your rig. However, Badassbronco is no longer a member here, so he can't see your response. But, he is gifted in the way of fabbing.

Good luck with your diff. protector.

I'll do that now, as soon as I find that section :P .. Still have to put an avatar together .. If anyone wants to see my truck though it can be found at http://www.mudnuts.org/gallery/members_raider ..

do thye sell things like what you made? i dont have the stuff to fabricate it myself

do thye sell things like what you made? i dont have the stuff to fabricate it myself

If you look two posts up you'll see this:

However, Badassbronco is no longer a member here, so he can't see your response. But, he is gifted in the way of fabbing.

But to answer your question, yes they do, Jeff's Bronco Graveyard has one. And I know a few others have them as well.

bummer the pics don't still work, I'd like to visualize this one.

This post is useless with out pics.. =)

Look at the Dates:twak :duh

haha.. Old ass post dug back up.

haha.. Old ass post dug back up.

maybe he used the search feature and found it. i see people getting hammered for not using it , so good job.:thumbup

This post is useless with out pics.. =)
Yes it is.
Look at the Dates:twak :duh
I saw the dates and that beating-stick hurts.
maybe he used the search feature and found it. i see people getting hammered for not using it , so good job.:thumbup

And indeed I used search and that first post is exactly what I need, I'm gonna hunt that wagoneer Diff Cover.

Also, I found something a year or so ago in a 4WD magazine about some custom made cover to protect the lowemost foward u-joint from crap and it looked really really easy for even me to fab. I'd like to do this soon and I'll post pics here when I do.

Here's some diff protection I whipped up, granted it's for a 60, but the same principle applies....

http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84434