Spent 4 hours or so at the Pull A Part today, and scored BIG! Here's a Pic of all the stuff I got:

And to save bandwidth here, the page with all the individual pics is: http://www.decknshed.com/solar.htm

Can anybody verify if the axle in the back is an 8 1/4" and the ratio or please point me in the right direction to find out? The number cast into the housing is 2852905 and the tag on the rear inspection cover says 3.21 which I'm thinking is the ratio.

I also scored a 7 1/4" with a big bolt pattern, a complete conversion to electronic ignition, 2 Nippon Denso alternators for that conversion, a complete disc brake conversion as well as numerous bits & pieces. Total cost: $325.00 !!! I had the disc stuff including the LCAs out in just under 30 minutes.... I think I got REEEEEEAL lucky with this donor car!

Thanks, you guys have been very helpful to me and I appreciate it!

Thanks!

Mike

Sorry about the pic size... I really need to RTFM! Suffering from CRS these days

Mike

WOW! Nice parts. I see bare shiney steel, light surface rust. Don't things rust out there?

Here in Minnesota those parts would all have been covered with a thick layer of flakey rust, axle tubes would be thin from rust, etc.

That's why I don't / can't drive any good vehicles here in winter.

How many bolts hold the inspection plate on the axle. The 8 1/4 has 10 bolts and the cover is almost perfectly round.

_________________
82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

Craig.... The pics were after I got them home & pressure washed the crap out of them, but I have to say the donor car was not very dirty to begin with. Jeb, the rear does have 10 bolts..... I was pretty sure that's what it is, but not too sure that the ratio is 3.21 I'll play around with it a little more this coming weekend.


Mike

Yep, you have an 8 1/4 with a 3.21 ratio. Is there a round sure-grip tag on it also. I envy you. All our junkyards have crushed everything from 1990 back.

_________________
82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

the better way of determining the difference between a 7 1/4 and an 8 1/4 is by measuring the axle tubes. 7 1/4=2 1/2" and 8 1/4= 3".
wat are you going to put all these goodies into?

_________________

They're going into a '64 Dart 170... talk about a base model! Not even windshield washers! I'm going to sandblast, scrape, clean & paint all this stuff up over the next several weeks to get it ready to install.

First I have to pull the windshield though, because there is some rusting in the channel, and it leaks when it rains.... Will probably pull the old one & repair the channel, prime & paint that area, and have new glass installed so I can move to the interior after all this stuff is installed.

Thanks again for the help... Especially the tube diameter.... Have to get new U-Bolts too, and did I screw up by not getting the driveshaft? I have a Ball & Trunion in the Dart, and I'm thinking when I put the 8 1/4 in I should convert the driveshaft?

Thanks!

Mike

you best bet on the driveshaft is to install the rear and measure. I have never dealt with the ball and trunion. Some how I ended up with 3 driveshafts. When I installed the 8 3/4 I just measured and told them how short to make the longest spare I had.

_________________

What's a ball-and-trunion?

_________________
82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

further to that question, why was it employed in the first place?

I had an 84 Continental that used a double cardon joint from the shaft to the axle, and it used a ball and trunion to stabilise the center yoke. I have been told that replacing it with a conventional joint would destroy the trans tailshaft and the axle pinion. Surely there was a logic behind the ball and trunion? Are the output shaft and pinion shaft not parallel to each other on the early Abodies?

_________________
I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.

Not too sure about the logic, but mine seems to be in good working order. I just received the new boot for it, so I'll probably just have this shaft shortened when I install the 8 1/4" rear, and lube it up & install the new boot. If it starts to act up, I'll have to do the conversion then....

Will be doing the switch to electronic ignition & Nippon Denso alternator this weekend, and will be ordering all the new Moog parts for the Disc Brake conversion next week sometime....

Too Much Fun!


Mike

Too much junk yard ENVY!!!

God has really smiled when you!!! I have just completed my own conversion. my donor car was a dart sport 1974 with the 81/4 & 3.21 gears. you may be as fortunate as I was to have a sure grip. my original driveshaft was too long, (from my 1967 comfortable ) 74 dart was so short. I had no longer one cut and balance for $ 45. also I change the drums to disk brakes. when I get some more money I'll put new ball joints and bushings, all that good stuff. maybe it's just me. my car drives better far as breaks concerned but steering seems a bit off. the mechanic who gave me the alignment had a bit of trouble. had my car driving down the street sideways (or fishtailing) they had to get another mechanic to line it up the right way. but it just do not feel right to me especially when i am on the Freeway. when I get my money together I'll go to a certified Mopar mechanic. good luck on your conversion. I would like to think every one that help me & gave me advice. PS. how did you post your picture?

Thanks Jay! I don't think the 8 1/4 is a suregrip, but I'm happy anyway! I should be getting all the Moog parts next week, and I ordered a Lokar kickdown cable last night, so I can do the Super Six conversion too.

Noticed a river of oil flowing down the side of the engine today, so I pulled the valve cover, adjusted the valves, painted the cover & threw it all back together.... Running even better now!

This weekend:

Nippon Denso Alternator conversion
Convert to electronic ignition
Bypass the amp gauge & upgrade wiring
Dress up all underhood wiring
Replace & reroute heater hoses
Replace all belts & hoses

BTW, I uploaded the pictures to my website (I'm a general contractor) and pointed to them with the img tags....

I'll post more pictures as I get some work finished this weekend.

Thanks!

Mike