My 66 Signet convertible is a Commando car and came with the 8 3/4”, 3:23
'65 Formula S with "factory" 727 and 8 3/4?
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Dave_J
Well-Known Member
The 8 3/4 in my sons 68 Dart came out of a 1965 Dart wagon 4 speed with the towing package. It had 3.54's Sure Grip.
Was it Factory or Dealer installed, I do not know. In about 1976 I bought it from a man in his 60's that bought the wagon new to tow a small Airstream for him and his wife. He had sold the engine and trans otherwise I'd had bought the whole car but it was a Flintstone car. Frame and body was 80% rust.
Was it Factory or Dealer installed, I do not know. In about 1976 I bought it from a man in his 60's that bought the wagon new to tow a small Airstream for him and his wife. He had sold the engine and trans otherwise I'd had bought the whole car but it was a Flintstone car. Frame and body was 80% rust.
Tims 66 Cuda
Mopar mid life crisis
I have a 65 parts car that has a 8.75. Dont know the case or ratio havent got that far yet
A 273-2 barrel with a 4 speed and a 3.55. Cool stuff!
741 case and probably 3.23 gear. 3.55 is pretty rare for a 65 as was the Sure Grip.
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Dave_J
Well-Known Member
The man said he had the 4bbl 273, 4 speed, Liberty Overdrive, coil-over shocks and this 8 3/4 rear. And Front & Rear sway bars. The O/D was divorced bolt on unit with a 'Overdrive' handle under the dash, he still had it and I'd have bought it if I had the money. I was a married E4 in the Army. It worked in all gears, even reverse.
Jim Lusk
Well-Known Member
Oct 1965 Commando four speed Barracuda still had the 7-1/4 in it when my buddy bought it in 1975. Still had it when I bought it from him, even though he busted two sets of spider gears and one axle. When I sheared the splines off the other axle I was done and put the 3.23SG 8-3/4 that we pulled out of the '67 Rallye Dart that the 273 four barrel and 904. The Barracuda had a 3.23 open when I bought it.
Dartsun
Mopar Dude
I got the 8.75 for my 65 Dart from a 66 Barracuda at the local wrecking yard 3:23 open complete 300$ about 10 years ago.
For reference here.....no A body came standard with an 8 3/4” until 1967, and that was only in big block cars. All others had to pay extra for it as an option. Of course that changed in 68 when it became standard in 340 equipped cars and big blocks.
Dave_J
Well-Known Member
I think that this part of "OPTIONAL" equipment is understood. My Aunts 4 door 1965 Dart /6, 3 on the tree came with Heater delete, Radio delete, front seat belts, vinyl flooring and Power steering. My aunts husband bought it off an Arizona dealers floor when they were on vacation and crashed their Corvair. No heater in Washington State is crazy. We installed one from the J.C. Whitney Catalog.
But that I know of, NO option for an A727 in these early A body cars. To install one would have required the factory to beat the firewall to floorboard seam flat and dimple the floor a bit. And why give the 273 a handicap of the 727's extra drag to operate? Chrysler knew the A904 used less power to operate. That is why you see the 904 in many bigger vehicles with 318's.
Give me a A999 and a A727 and I'll have the 727 for sale on Craigslist soon.
I thought the 1966 4 speeds were all 8 3/4. Factory had to deal with some many warranty repairs with earlier 7 1/4
http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1966/66_Dart0019.jpg
I have found it interesting that they don't mention the rear axle size in their descriptions and options. Even the Galen books don't mention which rear axle in the 66 models. You have to look at the exact ratios and decypher which rear end it was.
In 1970 I bought a 64 Valiant wagon with a 273 2 barrel and a 4 speed Had a 7 1/4 rear, After breaking 2 with the l 60s I ran/ I found a wrecked 69 Charger in a junk yard with a Dana. Problem solved- the wagons had rounded out wheel wells and air shocked gave me the clearance- Tires stuf out a lot- Wild with rooster tails when it rained...
Hot rodding at best! You couldn't break that Dana. LOL
Yea but I got stopped by MD state troopers 2x on interstate and got inspection tickets for spraying up water in rain. Had to take the wheels/tires of my Moms 68 Satellite and take to trooper to check on the repair correction. Luckily wasn't same guy....
Jim Lusk
Well-Known Member
Nope. See my reply about the '66 Commando four speed Barracuda that I used to own. That was then owned by LilCuda.
I have not seen an option code that specified a 8.75 rear end. I know rumors abound that back then a buyer could order a HD rear end, but I don't know what the option code was.
I currently own a 65 and 2 66's, all factory 4 speed F/S cars and all came from the factory with 7 1/4" rear ends. Both 66's had 71/4 sure grip rears.
I currently own a 65 and 2 66's, all factory 4 speed F/S cars and all came from the factory with 7 1/4" rear ends. Both 66's had 71/4 sure grip rears.
I need to dig out my build sheet and find the rear axle number.
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Paul King
MrPJK
Do you have any A/C parts from the Dart
My 66 Dart has a 8 3/4 Sure Grip. My build sheet lists the rear axle as a code 404 and the Sure Grip as a 408. No mention on the build sheet or any of the ordering information as to whether it is a 8 3/4 or not. My guess is that in late 65 and 66 the 8 3/4's were obviously used but not optioned as such but just as a HD rear axle.
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send me a PM of what you looking for
Paul King
MrPJK
PM sent
Same as mine Axle code: 404 Sure grip: 4088. The sure grip code is 408 and they just put an 8 in the box.
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