So I bought an 8.75" B body housing, axles and perches for $200...

[Professor Fate]

I seem to recall that only C body Axles could be narrowed
as only they had splines cut into axle rather than raised.

As my elderly mind seems to recall from 40 years ago before I
bought aftermarket Axles.

And I have also used some of the truck axles.

 

[Professor Fate]

Years ago, a tool & die friend of mine made up a correct broach for me to have axles resplined. I still have it sitting around somewhere. The problem nowadays is finding a machine shop that actually still has a broaching machine (and someone who knows how to use it)...

 

[MechNerd]

Well, here is the stuff I bought. Does it look like it'll work together, or do I have to approach this differently? BTW, I have a 741 case with a 2.76 open in the garage that I'm gonna use to mock it up for the new driveshaft.

 

[72bluNblu]

Well, here is the stuff I bought. Does it look like it'll work together, or do I have to approach this differently? BTW, I have a 741 case with a 2.76 open in the garage that I'm gonna use to mock it up for the new driveshaft.

View attachment 1716339647

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You can look at all the measurements here

An accurate 8 3/4" rear axle width list

But it looks like you have a ‘65-67 B body rear axle based on that 54” and change flange to flange measurement. If that’s the case, you can probably just use that as is if you get wheels with a bit more backspace than standard. Not sure what your plans are for wheels and tires but it’s definitely doable.

 

[MechNerd]

You can look at all the measurements here

An accurate 8 3/4" rear axle width list

But it looks like you have a ‘65-67 B body rear axle based on that 54” and change flange to flange measurement. If that’s the case, you can probably just use that as is if you get wheels with a bit more backspace than standard. Not sure what your plans are for wheels and tires but it’s definitely doable.

Best news this week! I was kinda dreading all the cutting, straightening, squaring up, welding, etc. Now all I have to do is find someone that's already figured out the backspace thing for 15" wheels.

 

[72bluNblu]

Best news this week! I was kinda dreading all the cutting, straightening, squaring up, welding, etc. Now all I have to do is find someone that's already figured out the backspace thing for 15" wheels.

Not that hard to figure out. A SBP A-body 8 3/4 is 57 1/8” with the brakes, a 65-67 body 8 3/4 is 59.5”. So compared to someone with a small bolt pattern A-body 8 3/4 you need an extra 1 3/16” of backspace to put the wheel in the same place.

If you compare to someone with an A-body housing running BBP axles it will be a bit less than an extra 7/8” of backspace per side.

 

[Professor Fate]

Best news this week! I was kinda dreading all the cutting, straightening, squaring up, welding, etc. Now all I have to do is find someone that's already figured out the backspace thing for 15" wheels.

The good news is you shouldn't need to narrow it, but I would still make sure it's straight. Combine an unknown history with the 8.75's knack for getting out of square, and add in the fact that it's sixty years old makes it cheap insurance to just have it squared up.

 

[cosgig]

Most B/E body axles can't be shortened to A-body length. Which is not to say they can't be shortened, but the location on the B/E axle you need to make it A-body length isn't large enough in diameter. You can make most of them shorter than A-body length because they step back up in diameter.

To shorten a stock axle shaft to A-body axle length the axles pretty much have to be C-body or truck axles.



Yeah but then you'd be stuck tracking down a complete set of small bolt pattern rear brakes, because not all the parts you need are reproduced. And unlike the large bolt pattern rear drum brakes that were used all the way up into the 90's, your donor list is real short.

I have 3 complete sets of small bolt brakes for 8 3/4”, and the axles to go with them. I also live in Michigan and so does he. I’m going to reach out to him in case he wants small bolt, seems he posted in the early A body section so it may be his desire.

 

[72bluNblu]

I have 3 complete sets of small bolt brakes for 8 3/4”, and the axles to go with them. I also live in Michigan and so does he. I’m going to reach out to him in case he wants small bolt, seems he posted in the early A body section so it may be his desire.

Your guess is as good as mine, but he bought BBP axles and seemed excited about not shortening the housing which would preclude using any SBP stuff.

 

[MechNerd]

OK, new twist-
I found this rear end for a pretty good price, and was thinking about using the backing plates, drums, etc. Except these axles look different. Supposed to be a 64 B body rear. Can I use a combination of these 2 rear ends and come out with one complete to put under this Barracuda?

 

[Big.J.007]

No.. Pre 65 8 3/4's used tapered axles, 65 and later used flanged axles.

 

[Professor Fate]

OK, new twist-
I found this rear end for a pretty good price, and was thinking about using the backing plates, drums, etc. Except these axles look different. Supposed to be a 64 B body rear. Can I use a combination of these 2 rear ends and come out with one complete to put under this Barracuda?

View attachment 1716341227

I don't believe those early tapered axle drums will work on later flanged axles, although I could be wrong... wouldn't be the first time.

 

[72bluNblu]

I don't believe those early tapered axle drums will work on later flanged axles, although I could be wrong... wouldn't be the first time.

Yeah most (if not all) of the tapered axle brakes are the Lockheed style, not the later Bendix style so I don’t believe any of the brake parts interchange.

I believe the swap over to the Bendix style brakes corresponded to the changeover from the tapered axles but I’m not 100% on that, it looks like all the part numbers changeover at the same time.