I have a 74 8.25 out of a Duster with a 2.45 ratio r/p set. I saw a guy has a new replacement set for sale with a 3.55 ratio. Here is how he describes it.

PART NUMBER 4856540-FITS MANY LATE MODEL TRUCKS AND JEEPS. 97-99 DAKOTA;97-98 B VAN;00 DURANGO;94 CHEROKEE

Could I use this in my 74 housing? How about sure grip?

I think it's "up to 1994 or 1996" that has the appropriate spline count for our 8 1/4" rears. With the 2.45:1 you have to toss the gears and the carrier as the carrier won't take any other ratio than 2.45 or 2.24....
If I remember right you might also have to get the bearing races for te late model 'anti-spin' carrier also to fit right into your housing.

-D.Idiot

At some point, they put a trigger wheel on the carrier for ABS, didn't they?
Might affect housing clearance into older rears.
This is pure speculation on my part, though.
BTW, I see 80's 1/2 ton vans and P/Us all the time with 8 1/4 3.55, cheap too.

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Yes they did, but mopar Performance sells sure Grips out of their catalog which are 'truck' carriers with the exciter ring machined into it. nothing to get excited about, they fit, but if you can get an earlier model out of a truck it's one less odd thing to look at....

-D.Idiot