Author Topic: B-body axle vs E-body?  (Read 7163 times)

Offline Fish Tale

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B-body axle vs E-body?
« on: October 21, 2010 - 02:35:30 AM »
Is the B-body axle narrower than the E-body axle?  If I wanted to install bigger rear tires on my 71 'Cuda, would swapping out the axle for a B-body the way to go?  Any modifications that I would need to do?  Also, how much bigger of a tire are we talking about if the swap was made?  Don't want to waste my time if it won't make that much of a difference in size.
71 'Cuda 383, 4spd
71 'Cuda 383, auto




Offline 71Plym

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Re: B-body axle vs E-body?
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2010 - 08:34:06 AM »
The b-body axle alone will not allow bigger/wider tires.  Still restricted by spring location.  Move the springs in 1" with a kit from Dr Diff and the b-body axle is a bolt-in. Then you can fit wider tires.
I have 295-65 on my 71 Cuda. 


Offline Moparal

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Re: B-body axle vs E-body?
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2010 - 12:42:58 PM »
Doc diff makes a spring loc kit now where you can still get a 10 inch rim under your e body rearend. You still need to move the perches , but not change the rea end. I bought this kit myself.

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: B-body axle vs E-body?
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2010 - 02:52:04 AM »
the 65-70 B body diff is narrower than the E body , ,the 71-72 diff is wider than the E body

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Offline 72bluNblu

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Re: B-body axle vs E-body?
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2010 - 03:24:56 AM »
The limitation is mostly the springs. The nice thing about the B body rear (65-70) is that with a 1" spring relocation kit you can bolt one right in. I've seen people with this relocation and rear go as wide as 305's in the back, so, it allows for quite a bit more tire. On the other hand, if you move the perches on the e-body rear you'd still get the spring clearance you'd need, you'd just have to run a rim with a little more backspace. Which might be a good thing, since most modern rims have more backspacing than the e-body's used stock.

Offline Road_Runner

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Re: B-body axle vs E-body?
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2010 - 09:41:26 PM »
The b-body axle alone will not allow bigger/wider tires.  Still restricted by spring location.  Move the springs in 1" with a kit from Dr Diff and the b-body axle is a bolt-in. Then you can fit wider tires.
I have 295-65 on my 71 Cuda. 




What size rims are you running, what's the offset?
1970 383 Roadrunner Tor Red
1973 318 Barracuda Mist Green
2014 Mustang GT/CS Convertible All Black

Offline 71Plym

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Re: B-body axle vs E-body?
« Reply #6 on: October 24, 2010 - 12:44:23 PM »
cop rims widened to 8" with 4.5" backspace, using an e-body width diff.


Offline Wollfen

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Re: B-body axle vs E-body?
« Reply #7 on: November 07, 2010 - 05:46:27 AM »
I spot a Dana 60 under that car?
1970 Dodge Challenger RT 383 4SPD

Offline Katfish

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Re: B-body axle vs E-body?
« Reply #8 on: November 07, 2010 - 07:31:31 AM »
Here's my set-up

Rims are American Racing Torq-Thrust
ARE-105MS7865B
ARE-105MS8965B

Dr Diff 1" relocation kit gives me about 1" clearance from tire to leaf spring on each side.

17x8 (4.5" BS) up frt - 17/225/50 (25.9") $95 each
18x9 (6" BS) in rear - 18/275/40 (26.7") $115 each

I looked at the larger tires for the rear but it was over $100 more per tire. I looked for common sizes to keep the cost down.  I think 305's should fit with no problems.




« Last Edit: November 07, 2010 - 07:34:43 AM by Katfish »