Been a while since I've been into a Dana 44, but if memory serves, they don't have a carrier where you can pull the ring and pinion out as an assembly. All the gears come out through the front cover opening. The gears and locker may fit the open axle but I expect you will have to re-set the pinion depth / gear lash. Somewhere around here I've got a book covering dana 44 axles. I'll see if I can find it.

Joe McNeel

http://mcneelnet.com/~jmcneel/59.html