I picked up a '70 Dart that was formerly a drag car and I'm not sure what rear end is in it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the crappy pic. The axle tubes are swaged down into the housing, but I don't have tube diameter measurements and the car isn't at my house at the moment. The bolt pattern measured 5 on 4 1/4.
Late 70's - 80's Chrysler 7 1/4 rear w/1o bolt cover and the 2 1/2" to 3" swedged axle tubes, probably out of a Diplomat or Gran Fury. Was probably just thrown under the car to make it a roller, not a very desirable rear end.
I thought 7 1/4's had 9 bolt covers? I can't find any pics of a 7 1/4 or 8 1/4 with swaged tubes. I type slow as well...
Late 7 1/4's had 10 bolt stop sign shaped covers, 8 1/4's also have 10 bolt covers but is more oval shaped, Early 7 1/4's had 9 bolt covers.
I know, could've sworn I measured 5 1/4 but that didn't sound right either. I was in a hurry and a little flustered, so maybe I'm remembering it wrong.
With the rubber plug in the filler hole, its a late model 8 1/4, and it will have a 4 1/2" bolt pattern circle. The older 7 1/4 out of the original Dart would have had a 4" bolt pattern circle, but they should have had a screw in filler plug. At any rate, if its going to see 550 hp, neither of the two axles suspected of being in there will take that kind of power, if there is any traction there. You better be looking at a 9 3/4, or pickup one of those 9" Ford rear ends and put in it. The Ford 9" rear axle assembly is going to be the cheapest rear that will stand a chance at surviving traction and 550 hp. Gene
The 4 1/4 bolt pattern was common on 60's A body Mopars. Had several back in the early 70's, really limited your wheel choices, especially if you wanted 15" rims. A body 8 3/4 rear axles were real tough to find back then, my guess custom built would be about the only way to get one now days.
That bolt pattern is 5x4", not 4 1/4". I've had numerous Valiants... Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app