D Dart package ?
- Thread starter dartlove
- Start date
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About mid 65 Chrysler came out with instructions to replace under warranty 7 1/4 rear ends with the 8 3/4 on all Darts and Barracudas that came with the 273 4 barrel with the 4 speed. Toward the end of the production year they started putting the 8 3/4 as a standard option in 4 speed cars. I have a copy of the letter.
If you could please copy and paste that. There seems to be much confusion as to whether 65's had 8 3/4's or not.
Jim Lusk
Well-Known Member
But they didn't all get one. As I have stated before, my old '66 (October 1965 SPD) had a 7-1/4 until I changed it out with a '67 A-body 8-3/4.
That would be a pretty important letter. That question is often asked, and often so much misinformation about it. It sure would clear up a lot of misconceptions about the timeline!
I have personally never seen a 65 Valiant or Barracuda with a factory 8 3/4- been watching since 1965.... maybe they were out there- In '66 I bought a 65 Valiant 100 2 door sedan that had been run full time on drag strip as and F/S car- had 273 Commando - fenderwell headers- and a 4 speed. Had a 7 1/4 sure grip rear- one of reasons they sold car was due to problems with breakage of rear- spider gears and lugs if I remember correctly
Just thinking outlowd here. When was the flange axle 8 3/4 put in production? 1965 and the big cars got them first. Ma Mopar didn't think there was a need for anything stronger than the 7 1/4 until the hi po cars started tearing up the streets. I'm sure warranty records told them that they better get back to the drawing board.
Well, they are out there. Only problem is was it a factory warranty replacement or it was replaced by one or more of the previous owners. Wow the owners gave up on that 65 because of a nobrainer mod?
I’ll dig it up. I gave a copy to Dart dude a few years ago. I thought he would of put it up on his site.
In 1966 I asked the service manager at Chuck Hutton Dodge in Columbus, GA about changing out my 7.25 open diff for an 8.75 limited slip. I agreed to pay for the 8.75 if my warranty would be valid. He called me in when the district factory service rep was in town and I brought my '65 Dart GT in to speak to him. I had gone through 2 spider gears at Chrysler's expense under warranty. The factory rep told the service manager and me that changing the diff would void my warranty. True story!
ddartdude
Well-Known Member
I posted the NHRA letter in post #29 if that is the letter you are referring to. I think that was the only letter that you sent me on the 8 3/4 rear. But I could be wrong. I know they had them in 66 because all 3 of the D/Darts that I have owned had them. All D/Darts came with 4.86 gears from the factory.
Jim Lusk
Well-Known Member
All D/Darts had the 8-3/4 rear.
Maybe I didn’t send you that letter. I trying to get another copy
ddartdude
Well-Known Member
TMM ...... Just to let you know, my first D/Dart was sold again. It's currently in Columbus , Ohio.
And that is a very cool car to have...
Do you know what it sold for?
ddartdude
Well-Known Member
Not really. But I know he got a deal on it. Somewhere down the line, on of the flippers lost a lot of money on this car.
I believe a gentleman named John Clapp owned & raced a 66 D Dart in the stock classes in AHRA here in Texas back in the late 60' & into the late 70's. I met him at one of the races at the old Eastex drag strip & he rebuilt a set of 67-68 273 heads that I had in exchange for 2 sets earlier casting 66 273 heads. Unfortunately, I lost contact with him in the 80's when he retired from Yellow Cab as their service manager.
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