Wanted to confirm some information on the 8 1/4 rear end (carrier swap)!

townsend said

Lets ignore the discussion about the 2.45 carrier. We'll just cover the 2.71,3.21, etc. ratios. Try to picture the bare housing with only the carrier caps bolted to the housing. The bore size between the housing and cap is larger in 1976 and latter differentials. Doesn't that mean the housings must be different comparing early and late.

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I totally see what you're saying. The bores for the carrier bearings are a different outside diameter. So although you can use a later carrier in an earlier housing, you need to use the appropriate bearings/races to marry the two, so I think we are in agreement there regarding the bearing O.D. change.

But the major confusion that im trying to address is that there is a "standard" and an "offset" housing. The The 8 1/4 thread argues that there is a special "offset" housing with the pinion located in a different arrangement made specifically for the 2.45 and higher gears and that you cannot swap gears into at all.