duster731
young gun
Ok so I am finishing up my swap tonight and I would like to document my swap so you guys doing it or thinking about it get more of an idea and what's needed and used for the swap..... at first i knew nothing about this swap i didnt even know what a 8 3/4 looked like but now i can answer alot of questions about it and learned all of my knowledge from this site to be able to do this swap and know what to look for at pick a part,
It probably has been documented already but at least you get more info and know what exactly was used on my swap.
Parts I collected over a couple months period was
1) 68-70 B body rear end housing and axles got from a member here (crackedback) drove an 1 1/2 away for a good deal lol - 150$
2) a overhaul rear end gaskets/green bearing kit complete shipped to my door from Dr diff -95$
3) 323 open third member 741 drove to applevalley to grab this from a member her an hr away -50$
4) 391 open third member 741- free
5) clutch type sure grip shipped from a member here thank you-260$
6) braking hardware including metal brake lines,housing breather, tee, backing plates, brake shoes,drums and the hardware- free
7) rubber brake hose for the rear end from autozone - 20$
8) new u bolts from autozone -10$ ( I had a 20$ store credit so for two they were 15 plus tax for 4 about 32$
9) shock mounts from pick a part - 10$
10) new spring perches eBay but from jegs - 15$ I think or 20$
11) 2 new rims from summit 120$ shipped
12) 2 new kyb gas a just shocks summit - 75$
13) need new leafs and will be getting some soon
14) driveshaft shortened 60$
15) install green bearings 40$
16) adjustable pinion snubber from summit 72$ shipped
I'm pretty sure thats it now for the swap....... Pretty simple first thing was cleaning the housing up sandblasting anything I can, now the b body rear spring perches need to be moved in an 1/2 on each side that would put you to a body specs 43 in center of hole to center of hole the b brig is 44 in...... I set my pinion angle to 5 degrees up which is stock location anywhere from 3 to 7 should be fine on the pinion angle
Next was primer and then 2 coats of semi gloss black it came out really good
Now my original plans was using the 323 gears but I found out that my 7 1/4 rear was already 323 and thought they were 276 so I stepped it up and found a ad on my local Craigslist.. it was a complete 8 3/4 out of a truck unknown ratio and condition so I drove over and picked it up for the braking hardware mainly..... Knowing that trucks came with bigger brakes and lower gears for towing purposes I took it apart and found out it was a 391 open 741 and had 11 inch brakes on it so I took everything off of it I paid 100$ for the rear complete and I sold just the housing for 100$ so thats how I got some parts for free if you were wondering. (note) all brake parts interchange from rear to rear as long as its lbp to lbp and sbp to sbp and the size varies of course...... i reused my emergancy brake lines they fit perfect...
I posted a help wanted add on c.l for help on installing a sure grip carrier into my third member and a half Hr later a guy emailed me and said he can do it so I git it installed and Fe did it for free......
:computer:
Next was assembling I got my axle bearings installed for 40$ at a local tire and brake shop. I installed the third member and then the axles seals, then backing plates then axles of course with the gaskets.
Now was the swap
Out the old one
In the new one
I used 2 pins to make the center hole on the spring perch mate tight with the pin on the leaf springs so there was no slack in between them
Here's the dimension of the u bolts they were the same size as the stock ones
I also ordered traction bars from summitracing just to try em out
Last but not least was rims I ordered some earo racing rims from summit they were lime 54 a price I like them and there 4 in offset so including the 1 1/2 in longer on each side they will stick out an inch or so.. I don't mind but others like it tucked in so you would need 5 in offset or more
I got my driveshaft shortened to 49 in from center of u joint to center of u joint and I still have an extra 1 3/4 of suspension play on the slip yoke....
And that ladies and gentleman is my swap tonight I'm going to pick up my drums I'm getting them turned and also need to get my rear rubber brake line.... After I finish it I will post pics of how it sits and looks, hope this helps those that struggle or looking for more info.. if you have any questions post em thanks........
It probably has been documented already but at least you get more info and know what exactly was used on my swap.
Parts I collected over a couple months period was
1) 68-70 B body rear end housing and axles got from a member here (crackedback) drove an 1 1/2 away for a good deal lol - 150$
2) a overhaul rear end gaskets/green bearing kit complete shipped to my door from Dr diff -95$
3) 323 open third member 741 drove to applevalley to grab this from a member her an hr away -50$
4) 391 open third member 741- free
5) clutch type sure grip shipped from a member here thank you-260$
6) braking hardware including metal brake lines,housing breather, tee, backing plates, brake shoes,drums and the hardware- free
7) rubber brake hose for the rear end from autozone - 20$
8) new u bolts from autozone -10$ ( I had a 20$ store credit so for two they were 15 plus tax for 4 about 32$
9) shock mounts from pick a part - 10$
10) new spring perches eBay but from jegs - 15$ I think or 20$
11) 2 new rims from summit 120$ shipped
12) 2 new kyb gas a just shocks summit - 75$
13) need new leafs and will be getting some soon
14) driveshaft shortened 60$
15) install green bearings 40$
16) adjustable pinion snubber from summit 72$ shipped
I'm pretty sure thats it now for the swap....... Pretty simple first thing was cleaning the housing up sandblasting anything I can, now the b body rear spring perches need to be moved in an 1/2 on each side that would put you to a body specs 43 in center of hole to center of hole the b brig is 44 in...... I set my pinion angle to 5 degrees up which is stock location anywhere from 3 to 7 should be fine on the pinion angle
Next was primer and then 2 coats of semi gloss black it came out really good

Now my original plans was using the 323 gears but I found out that my 7 1/4 rear was already 323 and thought they were 276 so I stepped it up and found a ad on my local Craigslist.. it was a complete 8 3/4 out of a truck unknown ratio and condition so I drove over and picked it up for the braking hardware mainly..... Knowing that trucks came with bigger brakes and lower gears for towing purposes I took it apart and found out it was a 391 open 741 and had 11 inch brakes on it so I took everything off of it I paid 100$ for the rear complete and I sold just the housing for 100$ so thats how I got some parts for free if you were wondering. (note) all brake parts interchange from rear to rear as long as its lbp to lbp and sbp to sbp and the size varies of course...... i reused my emergancy brake lines they fit perfect...
I posted a help wanted add on c.l for help on installing a sure grip carrier into my third member and a half Hr later a guy emailed me and said he can do it so I git it installed and Fe did it for free......

:computer:
Next was assembling I got my axle bearings installed for 40$ at a local tire and brake shop. I installed the third member and then the axles seals, then backing plates then axles of course with the gaskets.
Now was the swap
Out the old one

In the new one

I used 2 pins to make the center hole on the spring perch mate tight with the pin on the leaf springs so there was no slack in between them


Here's the dimension of the u bolts they were the same size as the stock ones


I also ordered traction bars from summitracing just to try em out

Last but not least was rims I ordered some earo racing rims from summit they were lime 54 a price I like them and there 4 in offset so including the 1 1/2 in longer on each side they will stick out an inch or so.. I don't mind but others like it tucked in so you would need 5 in offset or more

I got my driveshaft shortened to 49 in from center of u joint to center of u joint and I still have an extra 1 3/4 of suspension play on the slip yoke....
And that ladies and gentleman is my swap tonight I'm going to pick up my drums I'm getting them turned and also need to get my rear rubber brake line.... After I finish it I will post pics of how it sits and looks, hope this helps those that struggle or looking for more info.. if you have any questions post em thanks........