So it starts..... Duster mania Dartnut inspired!!!

[Dartnut]

I love it!
Too bad about the Duster though........

 

[JDMopar]

you got it ....8 1/4 .....I am fascinated with the 8 1/4.

I think they are a lot tougher than people give credit for. The wide rage of usage into the 90s speaks loud about its ability.

Seems like gears and suregrip like assemblies are affordable for the 8 1/4.

The one I have now came out of a 74 duster parts car.(wrecked) and it has 2.76 gears ....I am thinking down the road to upgrade like in the neighborhood of 3.55. I think with the OD it will need some kind of numerically bigger ratio.

I have a 68 dart with an OD behind a slant with 2.76 and it takes off very weak but once I am up to speed on the highway and in final drive it floats down the road like a dream. Granted a V8 will have a lot more power, it just seems like 2.76 take away mechanical advantage. Maybe I am just thinking about it too much.

I think they should have had the 8 1/4 sooner than they did ....really in the 60s there was the 7 1/4 and the 8 3/4, no intermediate, it was either cold or hot. The 8 1/4 did A great job an intermediate yet it is soooo under appreciated ....as late model dusters are as well. :???:

Rani....just a heads up on swapping gears in an 8 1/4 diff. You may already know, but supposedly there are 2 different housings. One for 2.45 - 2.76? and another for 2.9? - 3.91. I'm not sure where the break point is on gear sets, but I remember reading that gear sets won't swap between housings. It may just be a tale someone started, but do a little research before you invest in gears. O

 

[67GTConvert]

Rani....just a heads up on swapping gears in an 8 1/4 diff. You may already know, but supposedly there are 2 different housings. One for 2.45 - 2.76? and another for 2.9? - 3.91. I'm not sure where the break point is on gear sets, but I remember reading that gear sets won't swap between housings. It may just be a tale someone started, but do a little research before you invest in gears. O

I'm pretty sure the way it goes is the 2.45 gears use a different carrier,I think due to the ring gear on those being thinner or thicker than the other ratios.
The a-body housings are the same regardless of the ratio,just have to swap carriers if going to (or from) the oddball 2:45 ratio.

 

[Princess Valiant]

I am trying to gather parts and finances to get this thing going.

I am "mocking" up the parts in the car to verify I have all the bolts and hardware needed.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had the wrong air cleaner.

I did some research and the one I had was from a 75 440 and is the single snorkel type. Problem is that trucks and C-bodies used an air cleaner that is similar to A and E body except it lacks the "bump" on the front to clear the a/c unit.....also it is taller because C-body and trucks have more hood clearance.

I just had to get the right air cleaner to be correct in the "as if the factory had it" motif. So I picked up an A and E body 74 and early 75 air cleaner. It has the osac valve on the front and the oval snorkel. It's a 74 and early 75, mid year 75 they switched to one with slightly longer snorkel and it was then painted black.

I have this on a 75 dated TQ on top of a 74 dated cast iron intake. The intake is actually dated late 73 for a 74 but its as close as I could get now and I am not going to sweat that anyways. LOL

someone had put a 340 decal on it which is weird because it is a 74+ so it would have never been on a 340

 

[Princess Valiant]

I cant wait till the engine is built and has a nice thick coat of Chrysler Blue and the air cleaner with a fresh coat of orange ...kinda like:

I am getting excited