Rear Axle: dana 44 gear ratios?

[wuga]

I am currently running a dana 44 in my 1962 Lark wagon with a 259 and T5. The rear gear is something like 3:23. I would like a lower gear for towing, especially having the overdrive. Excuse my ignorance, but I cannot find a definitive answer to this. I have a dana 27 with a 3:70 gear set and I also have a dana 27 with a posi and 4:10 gear set. Will either the gear sets and/or the posi fit my dana 44. I wanted to know this before I wasted countless hours tearing everything apart only to find it won't work.
Thanks
Warren

[StudeRich]

Your Studebaker Chassis Parts Catalog will show that No Major Parts interchange between the two Axles.
A Dana 44 is a H.D. Axle for Station Wagons, 289 Engines, Towing, Heavier Loads and Performance use.

A light weight Dana 27, was used on 6 Cyl. Cars and 259 Engines in Non-Wagons.
Most Overdrives came with a 3.73 or 4.09, a 3.54 would be a good choice for Today's Fuel Cost & "Cruising", but for Towing you will need Lower, at least 3.73, unless you drive it in Direct Gear a lot.

Any Higher than that IMHO is just lugging the Engine and killing the Clutch, unless you have installed a "Big Block".

Dana 44 Axles used in '60's Studebakers came in: 3.07, 3.31, 3.54, 3.73, 4.09, 4.27, and 4.54 for "Normal" use.

[wuga]

Thanks StudeRich, I was hoping to here from you. The wagon was originally a 259 with a three speed. The rear gear would be 3:31. I have these two rear ends and was taking a stab in the dark that I might get a better towing gear. I haven't had it in 5th gear yet. The search continues.
Warren

[RadioRoy]

Dana 44 Axles used in '60's Studebakers came in: 3.07, 3.31, 3.54, 3.73, 4.09, 4.27, and 4.54 for "Normal" use.

They also came in 3.92.

[StudeRich]

I believe those were discontinued in about '58 or even '57, they were used on Overdrive Presidents with the T-85.

[skyway]

Don’t know about elsewhere, but here in the Midwest at least, 3.92’s seem to be especially few & far between. In fact the only one I ever had a chance at was out of a truck.

[Mike Van Veghten]

The 3.73 is a good all around gear ratio. It works with many applications well.

Mike

[wuga]

I am going to order a new 3.73 ring and pinion. Does anyone have the Spicer part number for the set used in the Studebaker dana 44? If not, can these three questions be answered; The pinion spline count, the ring gear diameter and the pinion shaft diameter.
Thanks again for your input.
Warren

[RadioRoy]

My 1956 parkview/commander wagon had a Dana 44 with a 3.92 ratio behind a 259 with overdrive.

[PackardV8]

The '56J with overdrive also came with the 3.92 rear gear. Your bad luck is I just sold a rebuilt unit with TT.

FWIW, the Dana 44s with TwinTraction are still thick on the ground in Studedom. Also, for first timers, setting up a new gearset is a PITA. Suggest putting out a WTB here and see who reports in. There a couple of members up your way with piles of parts.

If you do decide to go new, just take it to a Jeep/4WD/Off-Road shop. They have all the parts and rebuild Dana 44s all the time.

jack vines