Started this a bit ago with some research.
My car started life with 2.45 'Econo' gears in an open carrier.
That would not do.
After much research I realized I could not afford an 8.25 SG that was ready to go so I went to the local Junk Yard. Nob Hill Auto Wrecking in Yakima.
Found an 8.25 SG with 3.55's in an '87 Dodge Dakota.
Came back and started asking if it would fit my '75 Dart.
Verified part number on the carrier, checked the wear on the Ring and Pinion.
Dr. Diff, 69Mope and others assured me it would fit so I went back and bought it.
$100, no refunds if it did not. Sorry son, you own it either way.
Got online and found the parts I would need.
Carrier Bearings, pinion seal, wheel seals, wheel bearings, cover gasket, 3 qts gear lube, 1 SG additive.
$65 total for that stop.
I did not need pinion bearings as one of our great FABO members had sent me a brand new pair that he had 'laying around'. (Thanks 69Mope).
Then headed to Home Depot to find something that would fit the slack adjusters on the carrier bearings. Found a 1"x1/2" bushing reducer in the plumbing dept that fit great.
When I got home, welded it to a junk socket.
Here is a handy tip, When you get ready to adjust, tape the socket onto your extension. Pain in the A$$ when it falls off. Only takes once to learn.
Pulled my car into the garage Saturday Morning at 10.
All apart by 4 that afternoon.
Started dry fitting and found the bearings that Rock Auto says fit the car do not.
As it turns out, there is a break in JAN '75. Prior to that, you need Set A47, not the A36 I was sent. Luckily, Autozone had the correct ones in stock. ($19.99 ea)
Next was the slack adjusters. I tried to keep all of the parts from the Dakota together and use them but the slack adjusters are not the same. Found out when I installed them. tightened the top bolts of the bearing caps to 10 ft/lbs and the adjusters were bound up. Pulled them apart and tried again starting from zero. Still bound. Pulled them out and compared them to the originals from my 8.25 and they are smaller and the leading edge does not have threads for 1/16".
Installed the adjusters from the original 8.25 and it worked like a champ.
Many times back and forth adjusting and torqueing left, then right, left then right...
Finally got them set, checked the wear pattern. It was great. Dead Center!:cheers:
Finished putting it together at 6 Sunday night. (had to get things like mowing, shopping, completed in between)
Took it for a slow speed tour of the neighborhood and found no bad sounds!:cheers:
Gave it some medium throttle launches, still no bad sounds!:cheers:
Gave it some full throttle launches, still no bad sounds! :cheers:, both wheels spinning!!!
Finally, drove it for about 15 minutes, some high load, some compression load, light load, and hard acceleration from cruise. It likes to light the tires every time it down shifts with cold tires on the street blacktop. Will have to work the traction issue next.
I will run it for a few miles then put it back in the air and recheck the backlash but for now, it seems to be a successful swap!
Thanks to all that had good info for me
rayer:.My first MOPAR rear end!
