Pretty much what the subject line says. I think someone should assemble an article about rear axle interchange. Include the easy stuff like 7.25,8.25,8.75,9.25,9.75. The widths they came in and what they can handle in terms of abuse. Also the driveshaft mods required when going from one to the other. But the real benefit of the article would be if it included the less common swaps like explorer or mustangs rears. These are mentioned from time to time but unless you know what donor you are looking for you stuck using a tape measure.

I think you've just elected yourself for a job...........

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Doug Ahern has already done a good job with an article about the 8 3/4" rear: http://www.autohobbydigest.com/8_75.html

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'68 Dodge Dart 4dr Sedan

I know the "common" information has already been made in print for in Frank Adkin's Book on 'Chrysler Performance Upgrades', it'll have the widths, diagrams, and some B&W pics...some of the rears are not really needed here (like the 9 3/4 would be a waste behind a slant), the 9.25 and 8.25 have the common "c-clip problems"... Driveshaft interchanges are a bit "lenghtly", but there are a few common rules on shortening things. We do need an updated one about using more modern rears though.

-D.Idiot

anybody measure the wheel mounting width of the new Jeep Liberty rear ends? looking at them, they are 8.25s, usually come with 3.73 gears and disc brakes. maybe i'll get out a tape measure and check on that.

sb

Just a quick measurement from flange-to-flange I got 57 1/2 on my '05. I didn't pull a wheel to check the axle protrusion but it looked to be between 2 and 3 inches on each side. The Liberty has a coil spring suspension so perches would have to be welded on.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

also you have to watch out with the liberty rear cuz in 02 they offered a dana 35 AVOID THE DANA 35 AT ALL COSTS it may sound good with the trac-lok and some of them being an aluminum case but it is trash like if you get an axle leak the parts alone cost $150 per axle and you have to cut the bearing and retaining ring off to get to the seal then press it all back together I think in the shop it is a 2hr. job per side also in 02 they offered drum and disk so if you were to use one try to get it from an 03 & newer and if you were to switch to the liberty suspension you have to consider the wear parts cuz the upper control arm is a boomerang looking thing with a ball joint in the middle and we do sell alot of them at $60. for the ball joint and most of the time the arm will not hold a new ball joint (they just fall right out, I quess thats what happens when you make an arm out of aluminum and a ball joint shell out of steel)

if I were to research a jeep rear it would be out of an xj cherokee they have leaf springs but on the down side they only came with drum breaks

At first glance the rear axle in my Liberty appears to be a corporate 8.25 like is in my Dakota. If I were to use one I would not attempt to transfer the suspension; I would have spring perches welded on and use the stock leaf spring suspension. The disk brakes would be nice but not a necessity. I haven't had a chance to compare the dimensions so I don't know if it would even work.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

as long as you go with a 03 and newer it will be an 8 1/4 with disk

According to my measurements from flange to flange it's about 5" too wide for an early A-body anyway. It would have to be narrowed.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

oh well, it was a thought. i guess it might work for a later B-body, then? the XJ cherokees are pretty close. i mocked an a body 8.25 up for one i put a 318 into. i ended up leaving the Dana 30(?) in it cuz it had a 3.54 ratio and the 8.25 i had was a 2.45 ratio.

in any case, the dana held up to the 318 ok. i suppose the earlier XJ danas would be ok, too. as someone already said, they also came with 8.25s.

sb

Have you considered a 8" or 9" ford rear. 1964-1966 mustang,1970 1977 maverick,1967-1969 cougar,1974-1978 mustangII, pinto, all are the same size. I believe they are 52" backplate to plate. The cougars had the 9" if they had a 351 or bigger.