Dart Hunting: How can I tell the diff between 8-1/4 and 8-3/4?

[LXguy]

Hey All:

Going to look at a couple of Darts (70-71) tomorrow. Whats the best way to tell the difference between the 8-3/4 and 8-1/4 rear ends?

Thanks!

Steve

 

[AdamR]

8-1/4 will have a cover on back. 8-3/4 is a drop out center like a 9" ford.

 

[7374]

easy..... look at the back of it....

8-3/4 is completely round and smooth ... no bolt heads or nothing...
8-1/4 is oval shaped with bolts all around it. maybe 10? can't remember....
7-1/4 kinda diamond shaped with 9 bolts....

i don't think you'll see the 7-1/4 though. don't quote me but i just don't think they used them until maybe 73...

 

[340 swinger]

Hey All:

Going to look at a couple of Darts (70-71) tomorrow. Whats the best way to tell the difference between the 8-3/4 and 8-1/4 rear ends?

Thanks!

Steve

A quick heads up on mopar rear ends. There are a lot of 7 1/4s out there, mainly /6 and 318 cars. Look at the cover on the back and all 7 1/4s have 9 bolts to remove the cover. I don't think you will find any 8 1/4s in any 70-71 A bodies unless they have been swapped out from an aspen or such. Any rate, the 8 1/4 has 10 bolts on the rear cover. If any of these cars have a 8 3/4 there will be no cover at all, smooth with no bolts just as Adam said. They unbolt from the front on the pinion yolk side, very similiar to the ford 9".

 

[longarm]

http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/axle/6.html

Hope this helps.

 

[LXguy]

Thanks for the responses!

With any luck, I'll soon be the owner of my first A-body since 1987.

That was a 72 swinger auto with a 360. It cost me $375.00. Gas that summer was .64 per gallon.

Looks like I'll be spending more this time!

EDIT: According to the VIN decoder, it looks like one of these is an original 340 car!

Steve