B body 8 3/4 into an A

[ColeTrickle74]

I gotta get my rear end going and I was just trying to get all of my info correct. So I got a few questions if you guys don't mind. Car is a 74 dart with I think a 7 1/4.

I'm not sure which of the lengths B rear ends I have, I heard there was two different sizes?

The only thing I'd have to do to make it fit is move the perches in or use some offset shackles and rims?

Also, how much offset would you recommend for the rims? Widest tire/rim I can squeeze in there?

Last, are all the b body axles big bolt pattern?

I don't know much about rear ends just yet so I could use some advice, thanks :cheers:

 

[furz4]

The early B body rears are close but in a Dart Swinger you don't have much room to spare and may still have problems with wheel clearance. You can get away with a B rear in a Dart sport or Duster but in a regular dart a regular A body rear is the best way to go. Not sure if there is a budget way to do it or not either. The easiest way is to get a complete A rear and either re-drill the axles and drums to large bolt pattern or get aftermarket axles to get big bolt. Or you can build one out of a C body unit by narrowing the housing and re-splining the axles, thats what I am doing for my 73 dart. If you can get the complete rear cheap enough with the gears you want already in it it's not to bad. Shipping on this stuff will realy shoot up the cost as its all heavy. Check out Moser Engineerings web site under shop services and you can get some ideas on pricing. If your close you can build one up possibly cheaper then buying an original and end up with the bigger brakes.

 

[HemiPar]

Well, from what I have now is a 65 B-body 8 3/4. It will bolt up with a little help. the perch on the b bod is a little farther apart. but you can pull the springs in just a tad to get them to bolt up. Not sure how the side to side movement will be once you do that. I have not had mine on the road yet. As for wheels. I have 7" wide cop wheels with I think 4.5" back space. With the measurements I took I think I need a 5" bs. or I am hoping that I can trim the lip enough to clear the tires. Now I have 215/ 60.

 

[ColeTrickle74]

Yes, an A-body rear end ideal, but I'm having a hard time finding one close. I got 2-3 b body rear ends I can look at, so I figured I would just use those. I think I read I need to move the perches in 1/2in on each side, and use some offset rims with 4.5 backspacing. Not sure if this was info from a swinger style though.

 

[demon700]

go to bigblockdart.com and check the tech page. they have a chat that gives all the rear end dimenions for all the different body styles. you want the one thats 55" flange to flange i believe.