dodge truck rear gears!

[Mr. 6pak2go]

i got a 87 dodge ram 2wd for parts its got a 8 1/4 rear does any one know what gear ratios where used in these trucks or where i maybe able to find out?? on my truck it says it on the sticker under the hood but i cant find one on this truck the whole drivetrain is going under the dart im gonna have to replace the axels couse the rear is gonna have to be narrowed i thought about going ahead and getting so 391s or 323s if the rear is not already installed with such. also is there anthing else i need to look for or watch out on when i start narrowing the rear im gonna start a new thread when i start so you can keep an eye on the progress right now im just getting all my facts straight before i start thanks for your help!

[Mr. 6pak2go]

ok i found it its got 291 gears how well do you think them gears would pull a dart with a stockish 318?? the 318 will not be moded much just headers a 4 bll and maybe a little cam eventually one day i plan to completely re do it with the build on hotrod.com but for now it will be stock

[Bullitt-]

Seems like a lot of trouble & expense needing to be narrowed... What's in the car now?
 2:91s would be good for fuel economy, any chance it's a posi?

[Chryco Psycho]

I have to agree narrow a 8  1/4
 probably would cost much more to narrow a 3.5 dana out of a truck

[Mr. 6pak2go]

the car has a 7 1/4 now its really not that expensive! i need to take off 3 inchs on each side (as seen in mopar muscle) they did it for there b3 bomber project then but new a body axles! weld in new hangers not that bad im gonna call my uncle he runs a machine shop im gonna see if he can respline the axels if so i will cut them to 28 inchs and respline them (27 spline on 8.25)

[Mr. 6pak2go]

it was a dana that mm done my bad heres the artical
http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/techarticles/drivetrain/mopp_0704_dana_60_rear_end_build/index.html

[71chally416]

I'd just find a B-body rear and relocate the spring pads if necessary. If you can't find one you're not looking very hard. Even old 4 door taxi cabs had them.

[Mr. 6pak2go]

yea that would be an idea but iv already got this one!! besides even a b body would have to be narrowed!! its goning in an abody

[Mr. 6pak2go]

ok just found this http://www.carcraft.com/howto/ccrp_0801_rear_axle_modifications/cutting_axle.html
its an artical from car craft they did the exact same thing im trying to do they are building a 81/4 from a dodge van for a dodge dart with a 440! mine is a dodge dart with a 318! i think it will work out just fine! if it will hold up to a 440 i know it will hold up to a stock 318! thanks for your help guys! 

[tactransman]

They are saying 8 1/4 but it is a typo,they mean 8 3/4. This is not an 8 1/4 axle housing,it is an 8 3/4,definitely strong enough for what they are doing. 

[71chally416]

yea that would be an idea but iv already got this one!! besides even a b body would have to be narrowed!! its goning in an abody

My bad. Your avatar pic threw me off....

[Mr. 6pak2go]

They are saying 8 1/4 but it is a typo,they mean 8 3/4. This is not an 8 1/4 axle housing,it is an 8 3/4,definitely strong enough for what they are doing. 

its still the same pricipal though it will work!

[Mr. 6pak2go]

My bad. Your avatar pic threw me off....

no problem!! dont worry bout it!!

[tactransman]

they did the exact same thing im trying to do they are building a 81/4 from a dodge van for a dodge dart with a 440! mine is a dodge dart with a 318! i think it will work out just fine! if it will hold up to a 440 i know it will hold up to a stock 318!

its still the same pricipal though it will work!

This is what I was talking about. You are saying that they are putting an 8 1/4 rearend behind a 440 and they are not ,it is an 8 3/4 .. much stronger. I am not knocking your 8 1/4 ...like you said, you already have it and it will be fine with your 318,if you never go to a bigger engine. .

[Mr. 6pak2go]

ok yea that is most definaly a 83/4 in the pics but they keep saying 8 1/4 over and over in text they must not have a good editor! lol how do you think a 71/4 would hold up to a 318??? its gonna be a street cruizer no racing minimal burnouts  ! if it hold il just hold out and get a 83/4 later! i have a 360 that im gonna get built the 318 is a temporay motor so i can drive the car a year or two untill the 360 is done!! thanks for your help