2000 durango rear in early a-body

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You may be better off looking for a Jeep rear end. The Durango rear may have 6 lugs. I know the one in my '99 Dakota did. Other than that, it is just a matter of welding the spring perches in the right place and bolting it in. It will be a little wider than stock but not that bad.
 
I've heard the 8&1/4 rear from under the uglier square box Cherokee is usable too.
 
ok, nobody slap me, but i helped a buddy of mine put a ford explorer rear with factory disc-brakes under a 72 Dart. I tried to talk him out of it, but when it's all you got what can ya do? any way, it fit pretty good. and stops to!!


p.s. it also had the 4.5 b.p. so you can run a mopar wheel
 
moparsegura said:
ok, nobody slap me, but i helped a buddy of mine put a ford explorer rear with factory disc-brakes under a 72 Dart.
Click to expand...



yea, I have looked into this...

-Ford 8.8" rear axle from a 1995-2001 Ford Explorer is 59.5" wide (between wheel mounting surfaces). Most came with 3.55, 3.73 or 4.10 from the factory. The bolt pattern is 5x4.5.

-65 to 72 A bodies are 55.6 from wheel mount surface to wheel mount surface.

The explorer pinion is offset to the left side by 2.25. This means that you could cut 2.25 off of the right side and then use a factory replacement axle left side axle to get an overall width of 57.25 WMS to WMS. If A-Body width is 55.6, then you are still very close, with very little work.

You would still need to do the following:
-Shorten the housing
-Cut and re-weld the spring perches
-(Maybe) cut and re-weld the shock mounts.
-Get a replacement short side axle
-(Maybe) Get new rims with appropriate offset to accommodate 1.125" wider axle per side.

All in all, you are looking at paying a competent welder to do part of this...and you are purchasing a new axle shaft. I would imagine with good "pick-a-part" skills you could do this very cheap ~$200 to $400 max (+ new rims). My Jeep buddies do this conversion all the time, and they stand up to 35+ inch tires with ARB lockers and HUGE torque.

Compare this with the following (Purely estimates, YMMV):
At the spring fling a few weeks ago, I bought a 489 case with 3.23 gears (peg leg) for $80. A guy from this group will ship you an A-body width 8 3/4 for $250 to $300. A set of factory A body 8 3/4 axle shafts can be had for between $100 and $200. Depending on the bolt pattern, brakes would be another $100 or so. So, you could have an A body 8 3/4 for about $600 (VERY cheap, I know). Then a sure grip unit would be another $450...so you are over $1000 for the 8 3/4.

Again, YMMV (Your Mileage May Very).

If you go this route, take lots of pictures, and write it all up.

Sounds like it could be an alternative for folks who do not need the ultimate strength of the 8 3/4.

Thank You!

OldMoparsRule!
 
OldVart said:
Hey Red, watch it. You're going to give my 3 Cherokees a complex. Uglier indeed!! :)
Click to expand...
LOL You'll have to admit the earlier ones wern't so attractive. Utility vehicles weren't supposed to be.
I live in Cherokee country. No tasteless, rude indian jokes from me today.
Cheers

Great info here concerning Ferd Exploder rears :)
Thanks again
 
Our '07 Liberty has factory rear disc brakes. Wondering if such a rear end would be a good candidate for an A Body swap. I'm sure perches would have to be moved to the appropriate location and total width checked. Seems at first glance it might be doable.
 
oldmoparsrule said:
yea, I have looked into this...

-Ford 8.8" rear axle from a 1995-2001 Ford Explorer is 59.5" wide (between wheel mounting surfaces). Most came with 3.55, 3.73 or 4.10 from the factory. The bolt pattern is 5x4.5.

-65 to 72 A bodies are 55.6 from wheel mount surface to wheel mount surface.

The explorer pinion is offset to the left side by 2.25. This means that you could cut 2.25 off of the right side and then use a factory replacement axle left side axle to get an overall width of 57.25 WMS to WMS. If A-Body width is 55.6, then you are still very close, with very little work.

You would still need to do the following:
-Shorten the housing
-Cut and re-weld the spring perches
-(Maybe) cut and re-weld the shock mounts.
-Get a replacement short side axle
-(Maybe) Get new rims with appropriate offset to accommodate 1.125" wider axle per side.

All in all, you are looking at paying a competent welder to do part of this...and you are purchasing a new axle shaft. I would imagine with good "pick-a-part" skills you could do this very cheap ~$200 to $400 max (+ new rims). My Jeep buddies do this conversion all the time, and they stand up to 35+ inch tires with ARB lockers and HUGE torque.

Compare this with the following (Purely estimates, YMMV):
At the spring fling a few weeks ago, I bought a 489 case with 3.23 gears (peg leg) for $80. A guy from this group will ship you an A-body width 8 3/4 for $250 to $300. A set of factory A body 8 3/4 axle shafts can be had for between $100 and $200. Depending on the bolt pattern, brakes would be another $100 or so. So, you could have an A body 8 3/4 for about $600 (VERY cheap, I know). Then a sure grip unit would be another $450...so you are over $1000 for the 8 3/4.

Again, YMMV (Your Mileage May Very).

If you go this route, take lots of pictures, and write it all up.

Sounds like it could be an alternative for folks who do not need the ultimate strength of the 8 3/4.

Thank You!

OldMoparsRule!
Click to expand...

A-bodies have the pinion offset 1-3/4" to the pass side you'd need to cut 4" off but it sounds like that might get it spot on.
 
A neighbor got a rear for his 66 Barracuda from a second generation Dakota. I believe it bolted in pretty easily, but he had to get different rims with a much bigger offset to fit.

Steve

p.s. I bought a complete 8 3/4 with 3.91 suregrip (741) for $600, $200 to ship. Also had new brakes!
 
I CALLED BUDDY BACK ABOUT THE DURANGO REAR.IT,S A 6 BOLT,SO IT,S OF NO USE TO ME..thanks for the advise..
 
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