I have a 73 Dart Swinger (I got it "broken" and have never driven it). I ordered a front end kit and leaf springs from ESPO. the lady asked what size sway bar and rear end I have (for u-bolts). Since I hadn't really looked closely at that yet, I said I would get back to her.

I just assumed the 73 came stock with a sway bar, but I didn't see one. Was this common? So, I guess I will order a 1 1/8" from PST or Performance Suspension (any preferences?).

The Rear end I figured would be a 7 1/4, figuring the 8 3/4 were mostly for V8's. But it seems I have an 8 1/4. I didn't know these existed until I saw them in the FSM. Is the 8 1/4 an oddball? They don't even have it listed in the cheesy manual (is a Haynes or a Chiltons, I got this until I realized I would need the FSM).

My 70, 73, and 74 didn't come with sway bars, and my 70 is an original V8 car, so it must have been an option.

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70 Dart, 360, 727

The 8 3/4 was phased out in 72 or 73. The 8 1/4 replaced it, these are good rears. What gears does yours have in it?

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

Sway bar was an optional item on all A-bodies, you find them mostly on the high-end, police, and HD cars...

The 8 1/4" replaced the 8 3/4" as the heavy duty rear end for the 1973 model year (in cars)...these are standard equipment for the 340/360 cars...but, I've seen them also optioned as standard in some 1973-1974 Dusters that got the disc brake and 3 spd manual on the floor option (probably HD for towing....)

-D.Idiot

The FS manual says the ratio is on a metal tag, on one of the cover nuts. I didn't see a metal tag, so I don't know. There is a lot of gunk under the car right now, so maybe I just don't see it. Is there another way to tell?

By the way, I figured it is the 8 1/4 because of the 10 cover bolts and the fill/drain spout is on the front right side of the rear end. Is this correct?

One other thing, with the rear wheels jacked up, I turned one rear tire and the other one turned in the opposite direction. This would mean i have the regular rearend instead of the suregrip rearend. Correct? or is there another method to determine suregrip vs regular?

10 bolts=8 1/4

Yes, it sounds like you have an open rearend instead of suregrip. If you want to be extra sure you can pull the cover of the rear and do visual check.

I'm pretty sure you know what a suregip unit looks like don't you?

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

On 1980+FMJ body cars with the 7 1/4" the plate went from 9 to 10 bolts...

So A-body with round rear plate and 10 bolts = 8 1/4"....if somebody else asks... keep the oddball 7 1/4" in mind..

-D.Idiot

I rented a hot water pressure washer today to get rid of 30 years of gunk, grime and dirt. The tag on my rearend magically appeared, and it is a 3.21, and it's (mostly) red. From what I have read, the 3.21 is a decent compromise between power and mileage.

Renting that was the best thing. I can now see everything, and it only took about 45 minutes. Best thing, the machine crapped out right about when I was done, so the rental company didn't charge me.

Excellent, I wish my car had 3.21 gears in it.

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