7.25 sure grip

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grr8_65

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Which vehicles came with a 7.25 SG? Were 5 on 4.5 axles available? I'm confused, nothing new for a fellow my age.
 
I assume you are talking about a bodies here!
Almost all slant 6 cars came with a 7 1/4'' rear end, and sure grip was an option. They are not common, i have yet to see one and i've owned/seen a lot of these cars with the 7 1/4.
Yes, they did in fact have the 5 on 4.5 big bolt pattern axles in them starting in '73. It must come in a car that had disc brakes from the factory.
As a rule of thumb, all a bodies had small bolt pattern '72 and older.
'73 and up, you got big bolt pattern discs and rear end if you ordered power brakes or a v8. All 340 and 360 cars came with disc brakes and a 8 1/4'' rear. The slant sixes and 318's could have had a bbp 7 1/4 or a bbp 8 1/4.
So....if you ordered power brakes on a slant 6 car, it automatically came with the bbp disc brakes and a bbp rear end, more than likely a 7 1/4.
If you ordered a slant 6 car without power brakes, you got small bolt pattern everything and 9'' drum brakes from '73 to '76.
If you ordered a 318 car, it automatically came with the bbp disc brakes and rear end power or not, and could have came with a 7 1/4 or a 8 1/4.
Sure grip was optional on all cars, and they are most commonly found in performance cars like the 340 and 360 cars, high option cars, heavy duty and fleet vehicles, or northern cars that see a lot of winter.
I hope this helps you.
 
I'll confirm this later after I finish dismantling the truck, but early (87-90 or so) Dakota 4x4s use a 7-1/4 front diff and I believe it is a sure grip unit, after I get to pulling one out of the truck I'm tearing apart I'll see if it's a sure grip unit and check if it's spline'd to accept solid axles as 4x4 Dakotas had CV's. After that it'll likely make it's way to the classifieds here lol!
 
sobiecam said:
I'll confirm this later after I finish dismantling the truck, but early (87-90 or so) Dakota 4x4s use a 7-1/4 front diff and I believe it is a sure grip unit, after I get to pulling one out of the truck I'm tearing apart I'll see if it's a sure grip unit and check if it's spline'd to accept solid axles as 4x4 Dakotas had CV's. After that it'll likely make it's way to the classifieds here lol!
Click to expand...


Okay, went out to check this out, the diff in this particular truck is open, BUT this truck also had an open 8-1/4 rear, so maybe there's an off chance that a Dakota that had the Limited Slip/SureGrip option would have both differentials with sure grip units, but I'd have to hunt down such an optioned truck, as neither of my trucks are fortunate enough to have SureGrip differentials. I have another 7-1/4 equipped Dakota that I'll check for a SureGrip later but it's highly doubtful that it has one (original 4cyl/5spd truck)

Also to the OP, though I'm sure it's cheaper to find bbp A body axles, you could always have a Dakota's cut down and resplined. 4cyl Dakotas (again talking 87-90 here, my general area of Dakota-expert-ness) had 7-1/4 solid axle units, and no 4cyl was built as a 4x4. 4x4 Dakotas, which are all v6 powered trucks, had 7-1/4 fronts with 8-1/4 rears and there was a "Limited Slip" option, though I can't verify that the option applied to both axles.

I'll check later to see if a Dakota front differential will accept solid axles so you and other FABO'ers can keep an eye out for them in the junkyard
 
Hey guys for all the information.
The early 70's is where I got confused. I'm redoing a /6 65 cuda and if I run out of money before I can get a bbp rear end I was looking for options. A friend said that the 7.25 came in bbp and sure grip and that I might be able to use something like that if the money runs short and I want to get it on the road. Goal is to get it going no later than summer of 2014.

You guys are awesome!!!
 
Might be easier, and cheaper to use a Ford 8 inch from an early mustang/comet/ and I think Granada. These have a 5 on 4 1/2 bolt pattern, and will bolt right in to a "A" body, with just a u-joint mod. 7 1/4 mopar rears did have SG's available. However they are few and far between. If you are lucky enough to find a BBP 7 1/4 with a SG it will be a cone type (not a clutch type) and only have two spider gears instead of 4 like the early 7 1/4's. A FYI the BBP axles from a 7 1/4 cannot be installed in the housing that had the SPB axles. For BBP you have to change the complete housing.

PS: I am not trashing the 7 1/4 as I run one in my race car, but it is a weaker rear, and parts are getting hard to find. If you had one, I would say use it, but I would not go out of my way and spend a lot of money to get one.
 
The bone yard picking in western KY is mighty slim when it comes to Mopar. I read that early to mid 90 ford explorer diffs would work with some mods to one side axle housing. What year mustang/comet/granada(?) are you referrring to? I might have a chance with one of those.

Thanks again guys
 
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