Been through this thread, read all the posts now. I think it needs to be pointed out that so far I see no evidence to support two different housings.
Dr. Diff was quoted as saying he only knows of one pinion offset machined into the housings, the pictures of housings showing the "difference" look no different to me outside of camera angle, 1970-Dart specifically pointed out that he swapped 3.55 gears into his housing that came with 2.45 hears by using the correct carrier.
There is no argument with there being a different carrier based on the gear ratio, but I think the argument that the housing is different is due to the wrong carrier being used for the ring gear.
Buy a 2.45 axle and try and swap 3.55's onto the original carrier and the gears won't mesh. Buy and use the correct carrier for the 3.55's and I doubt there will be any problems.
If there is in fact truth to the supposition that there is a 2.45 housing versus a 2.56/2.71/2.92/3.21/etc. housing, then there needs to be more detailed info presented. At least measurements or something more than just pictures saying "these are different" when they look the same to me.
Not trying to bust anyone's chops or call anyone out, but if this is supposed to be the definitive thread on 8.25's, then it should be correct. So far I don't see supporting info to call it that.
Carrier bearings, axle splines, Dana 35 vs. 8.25, etc. are all different issues and unrelated to this.
