can you change bolt pattern on a Dana 44

I am trying to figure out if I can change the bolt pattern on the IFS Dana 44 on my 84 F150. There isn't as big of selection of light weight wheels for the 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern. I have a Ford 9" now and I can get almost any bolt pattern for it, but the front axle bolt pattern will decide what pattern axles I get for the rear.

I believe there where some very early 1980's f-100 4x4 trucks that had the smaller 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern. I have never had one or seen one and from what I heard require that specific ifs front setup as it has different spindles and everything from the standard ifs Dana 44 or the solid axle dana 44. Good luck on finding that setup as they are hard to find

Probable easier and cheaper to get a custom wheel?

you might take a look at these forum,, http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/33911-dana-44-ifs-to-8-lug.html

But , like Dave said, custom wheels, cheeper

get a set of adapter plates and run wide 5 wheels. Give a call to Scott at Racing in the Dirt and they can set you up with the wheels and the plates

How light of a wheel are you wanting to run? Don't forget the fact your not running a 2600-3000 pound race car, a 4500-5000 pound truck going up and down the road and around curves will bend/warp the hell out of some nice wheels. I weighed aluminum outlaw 2 wheels and steel white spoke wheels when I was running in the mud the both were 15x8 the aluminum wheel saved 1 pound over the steel wheels.

Im fine with steel wheels I just can't find any decent looking wheels. I kinda wanted to run a set of 15" Five wide wheels from "Real Wheels". I'd like a set of Weld wheels and I figured I could find a set of used if I could change the bolt pattern.

Whats the final plan for this thing? race truck? street bruiser? trail toy? There are plenty of places to get you an aluminum 15" wheel with the 5x5.5 bolt pattern if it's just a driver. I run the aluminum wide 5 wheels with adapter plates on my mud truck that sees quite a bit of air, but its also skinned down to sheet metal, frame and running gear.

Go to Summit racing, they have Bart wheels, in chrome, white, black, 15s all the way up to 14 in, wide 5 x 5.5

kjett wrote:Whats the final plan for this thing? race truck? street bruiser? trail toy? There are plenty of places to get you an aluminum 15" wheel with the 5x5.5 bolt pattern if it's just a driver. I run the aluminum wide 5 wheels with adapter plates on my mud truck that sees quite a bit of air, but its also skinned down to sheet metal, frame and running gear.

The slicks will have their own wheels and I'd like to have a set of 17's with street tires. (this truck is street and drag only)

jones wrote:The slicks will have their own wheels and I'd like to have a set of 17's with street tires. (this truck is street and drag only)

Then stay away from wide 5's. Give a call to Weld wheels, I'd bet they can hook you up with whatever wheels you want that are DOT approved

kjett wrote:

jones wrote:The slicks will have their own wheels and I'd like to have a set of 17's with street tires. (this truck is street and drag only)

Then stay away from wide 5's. Give a call to Weld wheels, I'd bet they can hook you up with whatever wheels you want that are DOT approved

So you are saying you wouldn't suggest using the Wide 5 wheels with the drag slick on the race track? I don't think I will need bead locks on the race wheels. Believe it or not their is a lot of company's that build custom wheels that won't do the 5 on 5.5 (champion not Billet specialties)

Oh, I thought you were looking for wheels for the street. I know the shock loading of a wide 5 is different than the shock loading on a drag wheel. Wide 5's are really designed for oval tracks where they see more side loading vs. the straight line stress. Now with that being said, I do run wide 5's (as do many other mud guys making stupid hp) on my mud truck, so as long as the track allows for it, you could try it. Just know the risks of the damage that may come if the wheel or adapter fails.

Wide 5's are the "Bees Knees"

I figured I might could replace the outer spindles with a dana50 or dana 44 from a jeep or something.

I don't think you can swap the spindles easily, but the hubs/rotors from a newer Jeep running a D44 should fit to give you a 5x4.5 pattern