Hemi + 5-speed = blown axles?

[Ericshere03]

Hey guys!
Been a keeper for years and the 4.0 just takes too much money for power … thinking a hemi might cure my ailments!

How are people with Dana 44 axles doing with their hemi and wheeling???

I intend on using a manual transmission. This leads me to think a Dana 44 might not live too long.

I don’t plan on going above 35” tires, but I have an LJ so temptation may push me to 37’s someday.

Initially I had though upgraded shafts, Detroit locker/true track for my Dana 44 and HP30…. BUUUUUT, starting to second guess.

But then again the 392 JL runs a “Dana 44” ish axle and a 6.4L, I’d stay with 5.7.

Then I remember the titans ( see what I did there) and those Nissans were frying their rear ends with the Nissan V8.

Anyone have experience with a manual hemi 5.7 and actually wheeling their jeeps??? What axles are you running???

 

[Oldtimingman]

Hey guys!
Been a keeper for years and the 4.0 just takes too much money for power … thinking a hemi might cure my ailments!

How are people with Dana 44 axles doing with their hemi and wheeling???

I intend on using a manual transmission. This leads me to think a Dana 44 might not live too long.

I don’t plan on going above 35” tires, but I have an LJ so temptation may push me to 37’s someday.

Initially I had though upgraded shafts, Detroit locker/true track for my Dana 44 and HP30…. BUUUUUT, starting to second guess.

But then again the 392 JL runs a “Dana 44” ish axle and a 6.4L, I’d stay with 5.7.

Then I remember the titans ( see what I did there) and those Nissans were frying their rear ends with the Nissan V8.

Anyone have experience with a manual hemi 5.7 and actually wheeling their jeeps??? What axles are you running???

those Dana 44 in the JLs are different then a stock old Dana 44- chromoly axles are a minimum- I ran 33s, 35's with 350 SBC for years on Con & Fordyce, BUT - easy on skinny pedal - Weight & traction are #1 factor. ( controlled slippage ) Have cammed LS, NV4500, Dana 44 chromo front going into TJ- either 9inch or Dana 60 rear now for 35's or 37s

 

[Woodrow]

Hey guys!
Been a keeper for years and the 4.0 just takes too much money for power … thinking a hemi might cure my ailments!

How are people with Dana 44 axles doing with their hemi and wheeling???

I intend on using a manual transmission. This leads me to think a Dana 44 might not live too long.

I don’t plan on going above 35” tires, but I have an LJ so temptation may push me to 37’s someday.

Initially I had though upgraded shafts, Detroit locker/true track for my Dana 44 and HP30…. BUUUUUT, starting to second guess.

But then again the 392 JL runs a “Dana 44” ish axle and a 6.4L, I’d stay with 5.7.

Then I remember the titans ( see what I did there) and those Nissans were frying their rear ends with the Nissan V8.

Anyone have experience with a manual hemi 5.7 and actually wheeling their jeeps??? What axles are you running???

LJ with a hemi gets tons and 40s if its mine. But I do think built stock axles could survive a mild 5.7 and 35s with prudent behavior.

 

[Wildman]

Hey guys!
Been a keeper for years and the 4.0 just takes too much money for power … thinking a hemi might cure my ailments!

How are people with Dana 44 axles doing with their hemi and wheeling???

I intend on using a manual transmission. This leads me to think a Dana 44 might not live too long.

I don’t plan on going above 35” tires, but I have an LJ so temptation may push me to 37’s someday.

Initially I had though upgraded shafts, Detroit locker/true track for my Dana 44 and HP30…. BUUUUUT, starting to second guess.

But then again the 392 JL runs a “Dana 44” ish axle and a 6.4L, I’d stay with 5.7.

Then I remember the titans ( see what I did there) and those Nissans were frying their rear ends with the Nissan V8.

Anyone have experience with a manual hemi 5.7 and actually wheeling their jeeps??? What axles are you running???

@NashvilleTJ has a built 5.7 (now 392) with a 545RFE and he's broken a Dynatrac HP60 in his rear so upgraded to a 14Bolt and broke a tooth on his pinion if I remember correctly. But he's got 40" tires & LOVES his skinny pedal....

I have a Ford HP44 front and TeraLow CRD60 rear and have broken a R&P in 35" tires but I think it was a bad setup issue. Then switched to 38" tires and broke a R&P again. This was with a 5.2 Dodge Magnum V-8.

I've got a 5.7 Hemi & 545RFE & M/T Baja Pro XS 38" tires now but just got done with the build so can't say how my axles will fair yet.

As already stated your right foot & it's connection to your brain plays a part in which axles will survive.

 

[NDSpeed]

@NashvilleTJ has a built 5.7 (now 392) with a 545RFE and he's broken a Dynatrac HP60 in his rear so upgraded to a 14Bolt and broke a tooth on his pinion if I remember correctly. But he's got 40" tires & LOVES his skinny pedal....

View attachment 629091

I have a Ford HP44 front and TeraLow CRD60 rear and have broken a R&P in 35" tires but I think it was a bad setup issue. Then switched to 38" tires and broke a R&P again. This was with a 5.2 Dodge Magnum V-8.

I've got a 5.7 Hemi & 545RFE & M/T Baja Pro XS 38" tires now but just got done with the build so can't say how my axles will fair yet.


View attachment 629090

As already stated your right foot & it's connection to your brain plays a part in which axles will survive.

that’s why i’m not going over 35”. i’m already in hot water on thin ice

 

[Wildman]

that’s why i’m not going over 35”. i’m already in hot water on thin ice

I never thought I'd break a Dana 60 on 35's... So I'm not sure it's always the tire size. I knew guys with AMC 304's & 360's on 36" tires back in the CJ7 days who never broke stock alxes...

Edit: While I don't have a right foot my brain still likes to tell it to HAMMER that skinny pedal... Which could be why I break parts...

 

[Cope]

Dana 44s with upgraded shafts and a good locker can handle a 5.7 Hemi and 35” tires fine for moderate wheeling. Manual or not doesn’t matter much for axle stress.
But don’t expect stock Dana 44 parts to hold up well with 37” tires or heavy abuse. The 392 JL Dana 44s are stronger than older ones.