Yes sir. The first one we lifted into the truck, popped my back out. So, there won't be any rear grabbing tonightBetter be careful grabbing rear ends. Grab the wrong one and you could be in trouble. Sorry,,,,,,,,I HAD to.![]()
And to add an update, Gator pulled the stuck brake drums and (Drum roll Please) the 70 rear is a SURE GRIP 741 with 2.94 gears. Iwant to keep it and go find an F body to stick it in. My logical responsible side says sell it for 600Great job slant6Billy!
For others to know, the FMJ 8¼” will be a direct bolt in for any FMJ car built between ’76 to ’89 – with exception of propeller shaft length (slightly shorter (1.6”) than 7¼” shafts are).
The dimensions are:
Perch center to perch center is 44.460”
Backing plate to backing plate (measured at axle housing) 54.340”
Drum to drum distance (where wheel bolts to) 58.500”
Axle shaft centerline to rear most U-joint centerline (for propeller shaft length difference) 11.69”
Note: these dimensions are the same with the FMJ 7¼” axle except for above distance is 10.09” – so one will need to shorten the propeller shaft 1.6” if installing an 8¼” in place of a 7¼”.
The ’70 B-body 8¾” assembly dimensions are:
Perch center to perch center is 44.00” (0.23” shorter per side)
Backing plate to backing plate (measured at axle housing) 54.906” (54-29/32”)
Drum to drum distance (where wheel bolts to) 60.13” (about 0.8” wider per side)
Axle shaft centerline to rear most U-joint centerline (for propeller shaft length difference) 12.35”
Other than differential width (0.8” wider per side) and spring perch difference (0.23” narrower per side – which is almost mute) – this is almost a direct bolt in.
The ’73 B-body 8¾” assembly dimensions are:
Perch center to perch center is 47.30” (a lot wider – will need new perches)
Backing plate to backing plate (measured at axle housing) 54.906” (57-47/64”)
Drum to drum distance (where wheel bolts to) 63.00”
Axle shaft centerline to rear most U-joint centerline (for propeller shaft length difference) 12.35”
This differential might need to be cut down to make workable.
Slant6billy – this unit may be worth its weight in gold to someone with a ’71-73 B-body – for this might be one of the hardest of ALL Chrysler differential housings to find. I would highly suggest advertising this on FBBO (and a bit more than $400).
BudW
I'm right over the Commodore Barry Bridge , off Route 322 / Route 45. I think the 70 is staying with me for now, unless I get persuaded. the 73 may be available, we can get a 2nd from the other 73where about are the rears located ? I may be interested if not too far from north west nj
The ’73 B-body 8¾” assembly dimensions are:
Perch center to perch center is 47.30” (a lot wider – will need new perches)
Backing plate to backing plate (measured at axle housing) 54.906” (57-47/64”)
Drum to drum distance (where wheel bolts to) 63.00”
Axle shaft centerline to rear most U-joint centerline (for propeller shaft length difference) 12.35”
This differential might need to be cut down to make workable.
Slant6billy – this unit may be worth its weight in gold to someone with a ’71-73 B-body – for this might be one of the hardest of ALL Chrysler differential housings to find. I would highly suggest advertising this on FBBO (and a bit more than $400).
BudW
Looking nice!
Too bad they are not a FMJ bolt in (at least not without mods).
BudW
My thinking is custom axle shafts are needed when making extreme power and running fat traction tires. ( I'm really not looking to break anymore axles). 30 years ago (About, anyway), my dad who was a skilled pipe fitter/ steamfitter and most important - welder got sick of my axle breaking nonsense. We went from 7 1/4s to 8 1/4s to a 8 3/4 with a bearing issue. We went and got two Ford 9 inch rears out of a local yard for 50 bucks each. I think they came out of some big car or van, but still 5 by 41/2 bolt pattern. Both were 4:11 ratio and limited slip. These were with an offset center, so one axle was much shorter than the other. My dad removed the longer side shaft and cut the tube down to where the 2nd short shaft would be used. He made a jig to hold the axle housing straight, but it allowed the flange end to slide in towards the center. I don't remember how much he cut down, but he had measurements from the center of the carrier and had some test fits before the welding. Where that rear is today? Who knows?You may be able to get wheels with 1.5" greater back spacing and make up most of the difference there. It would probably cost a lot, unless you were willing to run different wheels on the front and on the back; a lot of "front wheel drive" type wheels would proabably fit and work, but you run into the different wheel styles issue. I suppose one way would be to put front drive wheels on all 4 corners, and run 1.5" wheel spacers on the front wheels only.
I am asking this because I don't know: How hard is it to narrow a rear end? I know the housing would need to be cut and re-welded, and shorter axle shafts would be required. What I am aking about is how diffiicult is it to do this at a shop and have everything come out properly aligned? I knkow that some people do this when they narrow rear ends to put really big tires in the rear, usually in conjuction with rear wheel tubs.