Quote:
: My 7.25" rear is loosing a bearing or
: something. It keeps terrible noise starting
: about 40 MPH. I have been hunting a
: replacement axle and now find one. It is
: from '69 Valiant and my car is '66 Dart. Are
: those 2 equal in length? Is it a bolt on
: swap?
:
: What kind of gear ratio can I estimate to find
: from '69 Valiant with /6 & manual? My
: original gears are 1:3.55 (170/manual) and I
: feel them a little bit too low for my super
: six'd 225/904.
You may want to check the axle bearings, that is a common cause for 7 1/4 noise.
The axle assy from the 69 will bolt right in, e-brake cables being the only big difference. See the "fast & easy" 7 1/4 swap tips below.
If you do swap to another ratio, please keep the 3.55 ring and pinion gears, (Don't turn them in as a "core") those lower 7 1/4 ratios are getting hard to find.
DD
Here is my "tried & true" 45 minute 7 1/4 swap procedure:
1) Jack-up and support car on chassis in-front of leaf springs. (get it up high)
2) Remove wheels, brake drums, drive shaft and axle shafts. (stay with me here)
3) Remove "U"-bolts. (wire brush or "chase" them with a threading die and lube with oil before starting to unscrew the nuts)
4) Now pry open the clips that hold-down the brake Hardlines, un-screw the "vent bolt" that holds down the brass junction block to the top of the drivers side axle "leg".
Pull the backing-plates off the axle leg's end studs and "slip" the axle assy. out from under the car, leaving the brake system "hanging there". (backing plates, e-brake cables, flex line & hardlines)
Slip the replacement axle assy. into place and re-install all the pieces. When done correctly, you will not have to bleed the brakes! I have done this job in under 30 minutes. (with air tools) and "roadside" in about an hour. (see the posts below on how I got so good at changing 7 1/4's fast! Search for "breaking suregrips")
DD
7 1/4s Go Boom!