I would measure flange to flange.
Will an 8 3/4 rear end fit in a 73 dart sport?
- Thread starter ratty dart 340
- Start date
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ratty dart 340
Well-Known Member
Ok so what exactly is flange to flange. The pictures online don’t help much. Cant tell if it’s the backing plate for the axel or what.
63SplitWindow
Well-Known Member
Is that true? I thought all the 340 cars (A,B and E) bodies got the 8 3/4 diff......no?
33IMP
Well-Known Member
I believe you are correct, sir. Later 360 a-bodies got 8 1/4.
If ratty's car came with a 318, who knows what it got originally......?
33IMP
Well-Known Member
There is a sticky in yellow at the top of this forum that gives accurate rearend widths, both flange to flange, and drum to drum. And spring pad widths.
ratty dart 340
Well-Known Member
As it turns out, the 9 inch has 3.70 gears. The shop said the ring and pinion were warn and some metal shavings were evident. We are going to put 3.55's in it for a little less rpm's at higher speeds. The way the leaf springs were mounted was very very poor. The spacers the previous owners put between the springs, and the dif mounting pad(to compensate for the difference in mounting location height) were not equal and made one side sit higher than the other. I can't help but wonder if the dif, combined with poorly fabricated shackle mounts/ angles are all contributing to the problem. The dif will be ready in a week or so and we will order a stock set of springs. I think if we did what they did before us, but much much better, it might work.
ratty dart 340
Well-Known Member
Have the 9 inch back with 3.55 gears. Also have hotchkis rear leafs. Ran into a snag when I went to mount the springs for mocking purposes. First off, decided we will have to use the factory spring mounting locations because the new leafs are not long enough, which creates a very poor rear mounting angle. I have the brackets that connect the front of the leaf springs to to the frame, but I’m having an issue. The mounting holes to attach the bracket to the frame, will not line up when a bolt is put through the main hole on the bracket. Very tricky to explain, so I will provide pictures. I believe the only way it will work, is if I mount the front of the springs to the bracket, then install the bracket to the frame. This will allow for enough room for the bolt or nut to fit between the frame and the bracket.
Another issue I ran into, is how the hell do I mount the rear springs to the frame. I am missing the rear mounting bracket , and hardware, and I can’t seem to find what I need online. I have the 3 inch adjustable rear hanger but nothing to attach it to. And yes I’m aware that the exhaust mount isn’t factory. We are doing side exhaust.
Thank you
Another issue I ran into, is how the hell do I mount the rear springs to the frame. I am missing the rear mounting bracket , and hardware, and I can’t seem to find what I need online. I have the 3 inch adjustable rear hanger but nothing to attach it to. And yes I’m aware that the exhaust mount isn’t factory. We are doing side exhaust.
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