7 1/4 to 8 1/4

When I did my 7 to 8 swap, I shortend the drive shaft just like dgc says he did. 1.5 inchs. On the plates, I grabed new plates. From Just suspension or MP parts, you can get them new. The Smaller tube size of the 7 is the reason you'll ethier slot the plates or grab new ones. I'd do new U bolts, there cheap enuff.

My plates were thin from rust and the U bolts snapped. All 4 of them Rusted bad.

The rear I picked up had no backing plates. And that was real good for me since I had 11 inch gear from parts cars just for this rear swap project. Once the backing plates were on, basicly I grabed all new gear to put on the plates except the drums themselfs which were in good shape.
(The 11 inch brakes were from a '78 Cordoba and were a direct bolt on, no, zero, zilch in swap problems.)