Is an 8 1/4", 2.45:1 diff housing exclusive?

DionR said
I just spent a bunch of time reading the 8.25 axle thread linked in post #4 and I had to say there (and will add here) that I see no evidence to support two different housings.

Dr. Diff was quoted in the thread as saying he only knows of one pinion offset machined into the housings, the pictures of housings in the thread showing the "difference" look no different to me outside of camera angle, 1970-Dart specifically pointed out in the thread that he swapped 3.55 gears into his housing that came with 2.45 hears by using the correct carrier.

There is no argument with there being a different carrier based on the gear ratio, but I think the argument that the housing is different is due to the wrong carrier being used for the ring gear.

Buy a 2.45 axle and try and swap 3.55's onto the original carrier and the gears won't mesh. Buy and use the correct carrier for the 3.55's and I doubt there will be any problems.

I just finished reading all fifteen pages and referenced links.

This was my brain at the beginning of page 1;

And my brain at the end of page 15;

Someone on here must have replaced a 2.45 carrier and pinion with a 2.75 or lower rear ratio carrier and pinion. If this is true and I'm knocking around in a wanna be daily driver /6, I could pick up a one wheel drive, ring and pinion in the gear of my choice for comparatively little cash.

There is a ton of talent on this forum. Someone has to have done this. :popcorn: