what rear end would work the best

[siegenthaler.16]

73 duster /6 904 with future plans to go v8(318)

what would need to be done to a dakotas rear end to get it to swap out with my 7.25 rear would i need to find/make a new drive shaft different mounts

is the dakota 8.25 the same rear as the 8.25 in the 73 plus darts and dusters

 

[72BlueSwinger]

Dakotas came out with two different rearends. the 7 1/4 and the 8 1/4. I *think* the pre '90 dakotas had the 5 x 4.5 bolt pattern. I say think, because I'm not sure which years they changed, either 90 or 92.. I can't remember. The one out of the 93 I have is a 6 lug, don't know if it could be redrilled. They're a little bit wider, as far as I know. Mine has a great set of 3.55 gears in it, but no posi.( I'm keeping them. :-D ) If you're going to source out an 8 1/4 posi complete axle assembly, I'd look around for 89 or older dakota v6 4x4s. Its probably still a toss-up as to the posi unit, but I would think a 4x4 would have it. Some Jeep Cherokees also had the 8 1/4 rears as well, and they are the 5x4.5 bp.