Author Topic: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?  (Read 4541 times)

Offline dave73chally

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anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« on: December 29, 2016 - 03:05:03 PM »
Has anyone shortened their e-body 8 3/4 axle to fit a wider tire? I have a stroker 440 but it's only going to see street use. I don't have 2k at this time to throw around for a new dr. diff dana 60 combo. Thinking about having the stock axle shortened so I can run a 10" wide rim with a spring relo kit for relatively cheap for the time being. Thoughts?
73 Challenger
512 / 4spd / Hotchkis & QA1 Suspension




Offline crash340

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2016 - 03:34:48 PM »
Try and find a B Body 8.75 with axles, a lot less pain
Greg

73 Cuda
Brisbane, Australia

Offline dave73chally

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2016 - 03:54:52 PM »
Been trying...anyone have any leads on one in the New Jersey area?
73 Challenger
512 / 4spd / Hotchkis & QA1 Suspension

Offline dodj

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2016 - 05:54:42 PM »
Use the spring relocation kit and buy rims with backspace to get the job done. I have a stock width ebody rear axle with 315's.
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

Offline dave73chally

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2016 - 06:50:03 PM »
Use the spring relocation kit and buy rims with backspace to get the job done. I have a stock width ebody rear axle with 315's.

What spring relo kit do you have? Dr diff only has the 1" in stock. What size wheel, backspace and tire are you running?
73 Challenger
512 / 4spd / Hotchkis & QA1 Suspension

Offline dodj

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2016 - 08:23:02 AM »
I used Cass's 1.5" spring relocation kit, which has the same front hanger as the 1" just a bigger offset rear shackle set. The rims I'm using have, I think, about a 6 5/8" backspace. I can take it off and measure for you if you decide to go that route.
« Last Edit: December 30, 2016 - 05:56:36 PM by dodj »
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

Offline soundcontrol

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #6 on: December 30, 2016 - 10:05:08 AM »
Use the spring relocation kit and buy rims with backspace to get the job done. I have a stock width ebody rear axle with 315's.


Interesting, any pictures of that?
/ Ken
Restoration thread: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=102525.0
topic=108917.new#new

Offline dodj

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #7 on: December 30, 2016 - 05:55:58 PM »

Interesting, any pictures of that?
I could take some. What would you like?
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

Offline KillerBee

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2016 - 09:41:23 PM »
Just installed a 1967 B body rear in the wife's R/T Challenger last fall with Dr. Diff's 1" offset bolt in kit.

Here's some info:

All B body leaf spring perches are 44" apart

The 1966-67 B body rear is the narrowest that will be a direct bolt in but are difficult to find.
The housing is 54 1/4" flange to flange

1968-70 B body rear ends are much more common and will also work great but is just a wee bit wider at 54 15/16" flange to flange.
FYI your current E body rear is 56 31/64" flange to flange and the perches are 46" apart.

-B body 8 3/4 housings show up often on E-bay.
-Keep checking your local Craigslist, B body 8 3/4 rear ends show up often around my area.
-A local Mopar swap meet might have some too.
*Take a tape measure and make sure whatever rear end your looking at is correct.

If buying off the internet I would just try to find and buy a bare B body housing as it would be cheaper to ship.
I suggest you buy brand new(stronger) axles with pressed on bearings from Dr. Diff.
You can re-use your Challenger's current rear brake setup.

The rear end install on my wife's R/T was a super easy bolt in deal.
She wanted to keep the car's old school 15x10 rear Centerlines (that have a terrible 3 5/16" back spacing) because that is what her late father put on the car when he restored it in the late 80's.
Tires are 275/60-15.
In the top picture you can see just how far the tires stick out with the stock E-body rear end.
Second and third pictures are with the B body rear end installed with the same rims and tires completely tucked under the car.








« Last Edit: December 30, 2016 - 11:16:53 PM by KillerBee »

Offline soundcontrol

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #9 on: December 31, 2016 - 07:01:36 AM »
I could take some. What would you like?


Maybe some from the rear that shows how much space you have inside, and how close the tires are to the quarterpanel?
/ Ken
Restoration thread: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=102525.0
topic=108917.new#new

Offline dodj

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #10 on: December 31, 2016 - 01:27:29 PM »

Maybe some from the rear that shows how much space you have inside, and how close the tires are to the quarterpanel?
OK
I didn't mention it but I of course had to grind off the original perches and weld on new ones in the moved in position.
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

Offline dodj

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #11 on: January 01, 2017 - 07:47:54 AM »
...
« Last Edit: January 01, 2017 - 07:52:36 AM by dodj »
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

Offline soundcontrol

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #12 on: January 01, 2017 - 02:17:21 PM »
Thanks Scott! That looks great, nice and fat. Plenty of room on either side also. On my list now for future upgrades.
/ Ken
Restoration thread: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=102525.0
topic=108917.new#new

Offline Road_Runner

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #13 on: January 01, 2017 - 04:28:39 PM »
OK
I didn't mention it but I of course had to grind off the original perches and weld on new ones in the moved in position.

Wheels & tires look great, can you share the exact type of wheels (look like Torq Thrust M's?), their sizes, backspacing along with the tire sizes front & back?  Also, any clearance issues you have including any cutting of braces, etc. for the offset kit? 

Thanks, Jim
1970 383 Roadrunner Tor Red
1973 318 Barracuda Mist Green
2014 Mustang GT/CS Convertible All Black

Offline soundcontrol

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Re: anyone shorten an ebody 8 3/4 axle?
« Reply #14 on: January 01, 2017 - 05:57:12 PM »
Forgot, I guess a stock type swaybar will be an issue?
/ Ken
Restoration thread: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=102525.0
topic=108917.new#new