8 3/4 chunk math - sticker shock

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

I dont know , maybe I am just too particular, but I have been searching bascically since I bought the car two years ago for what I want.

True, I have been more or less ignoring 741 chunks....but I dont recall ever seeing a 741 with the clutch sure grip and 3.55s for sale that wasnt either a) broken or b) priced way high

The facts of the matter is:

- I have nothing (not much) to "barter" with at this point...anyone want to trade a clutch suregrip and 3.55 gears for my autozone oem style master cylinder? LOL

- I dont have local friends with caches of mopar parts I can fenagle from them, and I have been watching the "for sale" sections here and elsewhere all along.....just cant get all the stars to align. Maybe I am just not resourceful enough.

- People selling USED clutch suregrips seem to want damn near what a new one runs, at least at the swap meets I have been to...and theirs would still need rebuilt. The fact that the NEW clutch type suregrips are nationally out of stock right now tells you that they are hot items.

- USED chunks...whether 742 or 489...seem to be very pricey....again, at the swap meets I go to. And they will need rebuilt and the correct gears put in, or a sure grip put in, or both etc. I wont rebuild it on my own...would have a local shop do it, so there is a cost there. And by the time that math is done, its approaching the cost of buying a "new" one outright.

As far as the 741/742/489 debate......some say it matters, some say not.

I don't doubt those here who say they have abused their 741 cases behind high HP engines and had no issues.

But I also cant discount the stories I have seen from people saying the opposite.

Would the 741 "work" for my current setup?

Perhaps. It has so far.....

But the math STILL comes into play.

If I am going to sink money into a suregrip and gears for a 741, might as well spend an extra $100 and get the case that seems to be (at least from a technical standpoint) heavier duty.

The case REALLY isnt the issue here...it is finding what I want USED and CHEAP.

I have been searching craigslist and ebay, and have been going to car parts swap meets all this time.....I held out til carlisle last summer and found NOTHING that made sense for my needs.

Resale isnt a big worry of mine either.....but judging by what I have seen used chunks selling for, the combo I am buying will sell quick and get more $$ than a built 741 will.

I plan on keeping the 741/open/2.76 and shaft I have now for a while so I can swap out for long highway trips if I need to....

In the meantime, I am pulling the trigger on the setup by Dr. Diff......the sting of the spend should go away once I get it installed and tromp on the go pedal....LOL.....and there is no doubt that it will be strong enough for anything I will end up throwing at it and whatever abuse I give it.