Talking about the older 50's 44's ( though I guess they are the same still ) and mopar 8 3/4 rears ( since they were out in 57 ) Which rear is stronger and why ?
Mopar 8 3/4" rears have larger axle splines and bigger bearings on the pinion. The old Dana 44's will have course spline axles, not available thru Dana anymore. The ring and pinions are the generic type like mid '70's Dodge & Chevy 4wd front gears. The axle gears are long ago discontinued thru Dana if they're not the more current 30 spline stuff. I'd go Mopar if those are the two choices.
Does anyone know of any changes to the housings from 57-72,,?? I know there were differences in the guts
There's a ton of stuff out there for the 8 3/4. Basically, decide what width you are looking for and go hunting from there. The '64 and earlier axles had tapered axles which are a bit of a pain to take the drums off of but no real biggie. You're best bet is to find something post '65. '64-'70 A-bodies had a smaller bolt pattern than the B/C/E bodies. The three main center sections are the 741, 742, and 489. Some say the 489 is the best but I have yet to break any of them. There are two types of Sure-Grips (posi's). A clutch and cone style. I prefer the clutch style. Stan
YES, they had different widths for A body cars(Dart, Duster, etc),B body cars(Coronet Belvedere, Charger, etc), C body cars(big Chryslers and Fury III, Monaco, etc.) And I think the E body Cuda and Challengers may have a different one yet. Big Bad Dad
When I look for parts availability, I always use the three digit casting number from the chunk. Bearing differences, pinion size and spline differences. Then I look up and see some of the same stuff I typed in. Late again.
my bad ,,I know there are different sizes ,,I ment any change to the housing structure>> like would a 57 look any different outside than a 64 ?? Also with the tapered axle things can you put the newer axles in the same housing?
I have 8-3/4 from 63 w/tapered axles up to 73 van. They all look the same outside. I have run into some (very infrequently) differences in the bearings in the pumpkin (489 case). Otherwise I believe that everything swaps (in the same chassis group). Watch out for brakes though. Mopar used a lot of different stuff, even in the same model/year chassis.
Not sure if there was a 5x5.5"bp, I think a one-off Newport or something had a 5x5"bp, other than that most are all 5x4.5"bp, with exception of the A-Body 8.75 from 68-72 that was 5x4"
57 Imperial,, That was my other choice over the Ford,,,so why I wanted to get info..and why I needed to know about the housings,,If any year housing is the same I figured that makes things easier and onlt hard part would be axles
Ford 31 spline 9" axles and Mopar 31 spline axles have the same spline. You could have a custom housing using Ford axles and easier to find Ford wheel bearings to a Chrysler housing. I don't think Chrysler used 5 on 5 1/2" on any car or truck axles in the time frame of the 8 3/4. OK, you typed in the application while I was typing.
I just went out and measured one of my 8 3/4 "B" body axles, and there isn't enough meat to do a 5 1/2" pattern. I bet that Dutchman, Moser, Mark Williams, Strange, or any of those guys could do axles with enough diameter to do the larger pattern though. the problem beyond that I see is having enough room inside the brake drum for the hub. Dutchman built my axles for my 8 3/4" about 3 years ago, and I was very impressed with they're service and quality.
I think those bearings are referred to as "Green Bearings", in Mopar speak............My old Dodge still has the adjuster mechanism ones....
The Imperials had a 5-on-5" bolt pattern through 1974. ALL other B-C-E and most pre-'86 pickups were 5-on-4-1/2". The A-body cars were 4' up through 1972, and '72 is a goofy year in that a drum car A-body would have 4" all around, where a front disc car would have 4-1/2" all around. A-body 1973 - 1976 had the 4-1/2" BP.
Screwing around with it, or if they hook good, they shear the Woodruff Key at the hub / axle union............. Just a pain in the butt, on the side of the road sometime............
Having owned a dozen old Imperials over the years- Imperially speaking, '74 and newer Imperials used 4 1/2" on 5 bolt pattern wheels like most Mopars and Fords, some even have disc brakes. '67 to '73 Imperials used 5" on 5 bolt pattern wheels similar to big GM cars. '66 and older Imperials used 5 1/2" on 5 bolt pattern wheels, similar to 1/2 ton Ford truck and Jeep wheels. '63 and newer Imperial axles have parking brakes. '64 and older Imperial axles have tapered axle/key way hubs.
What are you putting the axle under? I used a 1980 Scout D-44 under my Dads 50 Chrysler IIRC it was within 1/2" WMS to WMS. The reason we went with the Scout is the 5 on 5 1/2" Bolt pattern.
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