Rear Axle ID

[64 Gladiator]

Im trying to sort out my drivetrain on this 64 gladiator. The axles on the truck are not the original, but are supposedly from a 1963 fullsize jeep of some kind.

Here's what i'm looking at:
Front Axle:
@2 oclock "44-1F" or "-IF"
@4 oclock "US PAT 2018188"
@8 oclock didnt record
@10 oclock "031019"
Tag: 930761 4.27 47-11
Axle Tube Stamp: 2184B5 2553

Rear Axle
Diff Ear Stamp:
@2 oclock "63"
@4 oclock "US PAT 2 018 188"
@8 oclock "US PAT 1988 612"
@10 oclock "18698"
Tag: 914537 4.27 47-11
Axle Tube Stamp 214 4B1 2285

Transmission Stamp: T18-1B WG DV

Transfer Case
Tailshaft housing: C18-19-44
Tag: 300535 ??? 545108 (three characters are hard to read, 187?)

Specifically interesting is the rear differential ear tag "63". Im sure i'll get a few people saying it must be a dana 53 but take a close look at the pic of the cast #, it sure looks like a 6 and not a 5.

So im looking to find out what the rear end actually is, and I would also like to know what books or manuals i can locate that will have this stuff and other details/parts listed for this truck. Thanks!

[64 Gladiator]

i triple posted! i kept getting an error so i kept retrying, hopefully a moderator can remove the previous posts?

[Stuka]

Front will be a closed knuckle, 19 spline Dana 44. The rear is definitely a Dana 53 going by the photo of your rear cover, and that the Dana 53 was commonly used in that era. You will be hard pressed to find parts for it.

Also, I cleaned up the other posts.

[64 Gladiator]

Thanks for the response! That being a dana 53 is strange because the cast # looks so much like a 6, not a 5. But chances are you're correct and its just a bad cast # job since google doesnt pull up anything on a dana 63

Couple more questions:
-which of the #s on these early 60s axles is the Bill of Materials? Ive run my numbers on a few websites and none them work, seems early 70s is as far back as the BOM #s are recorded
-Do you know where i can get detailed info on these early axles? Manuals?
-What about the dana 53 makes it hard to find parts for?

[Cecil14]

On my axles, the BOM has been a number stamped into the axle tube to the right (looking at the diff cover) of the diff. Dana's official BOM site:

https://www.expert.dana.com/expertforms/deabill.aspx


aa

[64 Gladiator]

ive looked at that site, none of the #s ive found on the truck pull up anything. The #s off the tubes are 214 4B1 2285 and 2184B5 2553, perhaps theres another set of #s on the tubes i missed

[Cecil14]

I have found a few numbers that aren't in their database, especially older ones. The oldest Jeep entry they have in there by model is 1977, so I would be surprised if they pulled up anything by BOM older than that.


aa

[Stuka]

Thanks for the response! That being a dana 53 is strange because the cast # looks so much like a 6, not a 5. But chances are you're correct and its just a bad cast # job since google doesnt pull up anything on a dana 63

Couple more questions:
-which of the #s on these early 60s axles is the Bill of Materials? Ive run my numbers on a few websites and none them work, seems early 70s is as far back as the BOM #s are recorded
-Do you know where i can get detailed info on these early axles? Manuals?
-What about the dana 53 makes it hard to find parts for?

That ‘63 could be year of manufacture.

[Phils67]

47.11 is 4.27 gears
Bom is on the right tube, good luck looking it up for the 53.
Most parts for a 53 are available on ebay regularly, either NOS or used. Hardest part to find is a powr-lok unit.
Seach as both spicer 53 and dana 53. Technically it was never a dana, it was before the merger, and spicer couldnt tell me much about it. It was found in willys trucks and fc's also so you could search for parts under those models as well. Sometimes packard and lincolns also since it was found in those also. Hubs and keyways can be found new, crown makes the hubs.
You can download and print a 44 manual from spicers site. The 53 internals setup is like any other diff, for torque specs, go by hardware size on that.
Gears, carriers, bearing kits, and shafts turn up on ebay often. I believe i got my bearing kit/seal kit new from ECGS if I recall.
Everyone knocks the 53. Yes, parts can be kinda hard to find but internally it is a pretty tough old unit for its time. The ring gear is 9.25"

[64 Gladiator]

Good info phil, ive taken your advice on a power lok and found something on craigslist. Turns out to be a roller chassis, bad shape, but identical axles front and rear and the dana 53 had a limited slip setup. Picked it up, had a few parts i can salvage on it. Its 4.09 ratio, the limited slip piece should swap straight over to the 4.27 diff ie same carrier group?

[Phils67]

3.54/3.73 is the carrier break so you can swap the whole carrier over and add your gears. The carrier with a powr lok is different than an open carrier. The entire carrier needs to be swapped to use it but the gears can be transferred over since the break is the same. And use gear oil with friction modifier! In stock form or a mild lift the 53 will hold up well for everyday use. If you plan to jack the truck to the moon and beat the death out of it offroad I recommend a stronger axle, but it will be fine up to a 33" tire. I currently have 35s and my 53 has welded spiders and it has held up but hasn't seen much offroad and the little it has seen has been very mild, but I am really pushing it to its limits. The fact I haven't broken it after all these years is baffling me. Mine is coming out soon for an 8 lug dana 60 upgrade. Oh, it also has the exact same 11x2 brakes as your front end so if you can find front brakes easy you'll be able to find them for the rear also. If you plan on keeping it a 53 rear I suggest keeping the other rear end around after you remove the carrier. Become a hoarder of 53 parts. Just because you can find them today doesn't mean they will be available in a year. They are becoming very rare nowadays. At one point I had 3 of them sitting around stripped down just for parts but ended up getting rid of them during a massive clean up around the shop. I got tired of tripping over stuff. I will probably part or sell the ones I have after I swap my new ones in

[64 Gladiator]

The truck is on 33's/no lift which is fine for now, i probably wont go bigger than 35 if i get new tires but i dont want to run into clearance issues/less torque so that brings me back to being ok with 33's. Definitely plan on holding onto these axles, im ok with the stock stuff and a mild 4x4 on this truck which is less hassle for me short term and hopefully in the long run too should anything break. The power lok was a must for me, its not a decent 4x4 without at least some kind of limited slip or locker in the rear!

[Phils67]

Open diffs suck for anything but pavement and even then I am not a fan. A friend of mine has a 53 with a PowrLok and it does really well in most conditions. Many many moons ago you could get a locker for one but they are virtually unobtainable now even in non-working condition. PowrLok or welded are the only two options, and I advise against welding it. Congrats on finding that, I looked for years for one with no luck

[64 Gladiator]

Bringin this thread back to note a front locker, looking at putting in a Powertrax locker 2413-LR.

[Stuka]

Bringin this thread back to note a front locker, looking at putting in a Powertrax locker 2413-LR.

Honestly, I am not sure if I would spend the money to put a locker in a 19 spline D44. They are pretty weak as is, I think you would just be asking to break it.