Lifting a w200 power wagon?

[crusty]

I think the Dana 44 is an excellent axle if you respect its limitations. I have a stock one in the front of my Ford with 36s. I have had no problems at all, but I use the 4wd like it was originally intended- as a traction assist. I don't beat on it, and evaluate how bad I really need to drive into something before I start. Some would say that takes the fun out of it, but it works for me

[getwired]

I agree it all depends on how big you want your tires. I have a 67 W-200 power wagon crew cab. It has bone stock suspension and when I bought it had 33x12.50s on it and they looked normal. I had several inches of clearance left. I could easily go up to 35s possible higher with out modifying the suspension.

[crusty]

Any pics?

[OregonDodgeboy]

Yeah, we love to see lifted Swepts here. Bust out the picts!

Anyway, it also depends upon how hard and how often you take it off road. If you seldom engage the 4wd, the 44 front will hold up fine. There's many factors to how well they hold up really. But the best way to make them live under harder use is to upgrade the internals. The 44 and the 60 are not that far apart in strength really. The 44 can take an amazing amount of abuse if you spend a little in the right places. Upgraded shafts being the most common. Besides, think about it, the truck is how old? If you plan on using it alot, upgrade. Cheap and easy insurance.

Here's a link to a very comprehensive article from Four Wheeler about this subject. I typically don't promote these guys, but they really put down their biases in this article and cut to the facts:

http://www.fourwheeler.com/techarticles ... index.html

[CrazyMatt]

I seem to be getting away with 38's on my stock d44. Just dont look @ my drive shaft :D

[Jonte]

A guy here in sweden I know has a late 70´s Power Wagon with a 440, Dana 44´s and big wheels. He showed me a drive shaft he´d broken straight of on tarmac, and told me he always keeps one or two spares in the truck

[PwrWgnWalt]

Guys;

In 1987 I bought a non-running but complete '71 W-100 (318, 4-speed, short bed) - it was a project, to be sure, but the price was right ($300). After putting the distributor in correctly to get it running, and putting mufflers and exhaust on it, I lifted the otherwise stock half-ton with a commercial kit. I don't recall for sure if it was Superlift or Skyjacker - Superlift, I think. It was their advertised 4" lift; front springs and rear blocks.

Since there was not (& still is not, to my knowledge) any aftermarket producer of a lengthened drag link or a modified knuckle arm for our closed-knuckle Sweptline Power Wagons, this was the lift limit (4") to be able to use all the stock parts. Any lift will produce a greater distance between the steering gear output arm and the steering knuckle input arm (simple geometry) - thus creating the need to either get a longer drag link or to limit the lift. I did the entire lift in the driveway (college student). I used Energy Suspension spring inserts and the supplied U-bolts.

Had to get some lengthened brake lines (2 front, 1 rear), and got Rancho longer-than-stock shocks. Checked the driveshafts to ensure they still had enough insertion/mesh, even at full drop (no problem). I had just refurbished the Dana 44 (normal duty) front axle from the knuckles outward (seals, bushings, bearings, etc.), including the brake cylinders, shoes, and had added power brakes. Since the front 4.09 ring & pinion were toast I replaced them with 3.90 gears (because I had a 3.91 ratio, stock 8-3/4" Chrysler 3rd member with sure-grip for the rear axle).

I was able to run "Q" Buckshot Mudders (about 35", I think?) just fine for many years and over 30k miles, including a bit of mud bogging, heavy loads, and lots of off-roading (no jumping, no real nasty straight uphill stuff, etc.). Never a problem with any of it; but didn't try to trash it, either. Have plans to put those same springs on my W200 Crewcab... If I can find my pictures and get them scanned, I will try to post pictures next week.

Low budget, good performance, not so radical that it breaks stuff. Just the right look with those narrow Q Buckshots, too! (Plus, I could still climb in without a step-stool!)