Dakota or Cherokee rear sizes for Duster ?

[392Mopar]

Hello everyone, new guy here. Not new to Mopars but to the forum. I'll put a little background later.

I just got a 72 Duster with a 318, 4 speed, and 8 1/4 with open 2.91's (I think from an F body 59 1/2" from drum to drum). I see a lot of talk about swaping in an 8 1/4 from a Cherokee or 92-down Dakota into older Mopars. Does anyone know what the width of a rear from a Dakota, 4x4 and 4x2, or a Jeep Cherokee is drum to drum so I know what to look for?

I want a cheep upgrade for my rear with at least 3.55's and hopefully a sure grip, and it sounds like a good option seeing as good A body rears are getting expensive. I know Iwould need to relocate the spring mounts but the cars has the spings moved in 3 inches anyway so I'd have to do that with any rear.

So Is there anyone that has done this swap? Any cons? If I can find a nice A-body rear with good gears that doesnt cost a fortune nearby, I'll go with that but I want to keep my options open. Thanks

Butch

 

[dgc333]

If you already have an 8 1/4 the cheapest thing to do would be to swap the gears.

 

[392Mopar]

I figure, by the time I buy the gears, the sure grip unit, and the tools to do it or have it done, it will probably be cheaper to just find a new rear. Plus I'd like to find something a little narrower than the 59 1/2" drum to drum thats in there now.

Butch

 

[fishy68]

My 93 Dakota rearend was 63-1/2" drum to drum so their way too wide for an A-body.