More fun with my '82 D150; I have now conclusively proven that I don't know my rearend from a hole in the ground.

While doing a rear brake job, I noticed that the axle seal was leaking (significantly worse than it used to), and decided I should bite the bullet and change it since I have time now. (Oil on the shoes is never a good thing, right?)

I /thought/ I had an 8-1/4" rear, but upon closer examination, I'm confused. Mine does have 10 bolts on the cover, but it has c-clip style axles and I thought the 8-1/4" used a retainer plate system. According to the book at the parts store, it's an 8-3/8", which is something I hadn't heard of before.

The seals and bearings they sold me fit w/o a problem, so I'm not terribly concerned at the moment, but I'm looking at a gear swap/sure-grip in the future and was curious what exactly I'm dealing with here.

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Used to own:
'82 Dodge D150
Erson 270 Cam, O/S valves, mild port work, ~9.5:1 compression

Currently fighting with an '85 VW Cabriolet

My other passion

An 8 1/4 is a C-clip rear. The 7 1/4 and 8 3/4 aren't.

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Just as an FYI...Mopar Truck 8 1/4" rears are referred to as 8 3/8" rears...so they don't get confused with the car rear end for some reason (look guys! An 8 3/8" is more HD than 8 1/4" RIGHT?!?!?), the ring/pinion/carrier etc... are swapable...

Oddly mopar did the same thing in the late 50's/early 60's if I remember right that there is an 8 3/8" removable carrier rear that is like the 8 3/4" and also appeared in trucks...

-D.Idiot

My 1980 D-150 also has a 8 3/8" rearend (3.55 gears). How is it different from a 8 1/4"? Do all seals, bearings and gears interchange?

Actually when I saw the 8 3/8" on the build sheet, I thought it was a misprint, 'cause I had never heard of such a thing.

Are they better?

bwhitejr

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'72 Duster (Performance 360)
'83 Ramcharger (Performance 318)
'80 TrailDuster (360)
'80 D-150 Truck (See Below)
CompCams 252S, Holley 390cfm, Offy manifold
Ported, Polished and Gasket Matched
P4286813 Springs,0.040 Overbore,
0.090 Shaved Head

Nearly everything but the diff. bearings, adjusters will interchange in the 8 1/4" rear and the pre-96 8 1/4" / 8 3/8" rear...

-D.Idiot