i have an 8 1/4 rear for my duster which has 2. something highway gears. id like to switch in the set up to a 3.21 suregrip like out of a diplomat. my question is, what parts exactly do i need to obtain? can i buy an entire kit from a gear manufacturer or do i need to raid the boneyard? thanks for the replies...

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"I don't like these seatbelts, they're too complicated." - my lovely girlfriend in reference to my 71 duster seatbelts

I believe you will need the suregrip carrier with the ring and pinion gear. I would get the stuff from the junkyard if possible, just for the savings. Providing the parts are in good shape.

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Excuse me, does this smell like chloroform to you?

ive made quite a few calls locally here in central ny, and just about everyone has scrapped all cars older then 96... theres a few other places i have to wander out to to walk the yards, but its not looking good. its kind of a crap shoot anyways buying a used rear set up out of a cop car or taxi... i did find that the dealer can get me a set up 2.93? suregrip for a shade under $800. is there anyone else out ther that would be less then that? anyone had luck with randy's ring and pinon as found in mopar muscle? sorry for the ignorance, thanks for the replies...

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"I don't like these seatbelts, they're too complicated." - my lovely girlfriend in reference to my 71 duster seatbelts

I would start looking abroad. Someone here or on other forums should have what you need. $800 sound like way too much. You should be able to get a 8 3/4 for an a body for less than that. Ebay is another option, but I would first check the forums. Someone here probably knows if there is a mopar wrecking yard somewhere near you.

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Excuse me, does this smell like chloroform to you?

yeah, $800 is not even an option for this rear end. i looked thru ebay this afternoon and had no luck. i searched every combo for an 8 1/4 i could think of. i "googled" suregrip 8 1/4 and found a few sites. one company had the suregrip unit/carrier brand new for 400 and change, but id still need to get a new ring and pinion. there's 3 pick and pull places up here within driving distance, but theyre covered in about 2 foot of snow right now, so i suppose ill have to wait until the snow melts. i keep searching online, but anyone else have any ideas?

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"I don't like these seatbelts, they're too complicated." - my lovely girlfriend in reference to my 71 duster seatbelts

bigblockdart.com forabodiesonly.com moparts place a wanted thread in all mopar forums.

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Excuse me, does this smell like chloroform to you?

I have had very good luck with Randy's ring and pinion that is "IF" you want to buy new. A place called DVAP in AZ has tons of mopar stuff they may have a 3.21 SG form a Duster or Dart from 73 to 76. Look up DVAP.com

the A-body 8 1/4" rear will accept the gears and carrier from any pre-1997... so if you are looking for a cheap sure grip (the gears might 'groan' in some cases, or the sure grip may need some 'refreshing')... you can pull the 2.9-3.5 gearing from any Dodge/Plymouth truck, later RWD car (Diplomats...etc...)...also certain Dakotas, late Jeep Cherokees..can also be candidates...(sadly if they used the truck to tow something, the pattern on the gear may have work to one side and go 'clunk')...

Depends on whether the yard will sell the gears and carrier and pinion, or you have to pull the whole rear...also getting muddy to inspect for the round 10 bolt cover is not fun either....

good luck on your hunt,

-D.Idiot

I got my SG unit from a member here on the Forum (THANKS, sb) and a set of new take out 3.55s from Ebay for like $35. My master install kit cost like ~$125 at Randys, that had everything youll need except outer wheel bearings and seals (really good idea to replace if youre going that far) SG units on Ebay are usually around $180-220. Just DON'T get a SG carrier from a 2.26 or 2.41 ratio as those are the only 2 ratios that will work with that unit. The one you need says in the listing that it will fit 2.71 and numerically higher ratios. There is a difference in the thickness of the ring gear on these ultra low numbered ratios so it wont work with the higher ones. You might run across someone trying to "scam" a potential buyer then youre stuck. If you get one out of an ABS brake era vehicle with the exciter ring, no fear. Its an extra pound or two but wont hurt a thing.

i did find a master rebuild kit on ebay from a company that specializes in jeep stuff for $140. comes with all the bearing and seals, im just waiting to hear back on who manufactured the bearings to make sure theyre not junk. what do you guys reccommend i use for keywords on my ebay searching? i still havent found much and i know theres got to be more out there then im finding. thanks again!

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"I don't like these seatbelts, they're too complicated." - my lovely girlfriend in reference to my 71 duster seatbelts

think i finally found something... check out ebay # 290092396573... just to be sure, i can use any ring and pinion with this set up, correct? thanks a ton for the help guys, im a little lacking in my knowledge of this subject...

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"I don't like these seatbelts, they're too complicated." - my lovely girlfriend in reference to my 71 duster seatbelts

I believe that to be a cone type of suregrip. which from what Ive read, are not rebuildable, or worth rebuilding. somone let me know if I'm wrong.

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Excuse me, does this smell like chloroform to you?

I don't know if any 8 1/4 SG's are clutch type. I think they are all cone. What was the first year for the 8 1/4 rear?

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

This is all pretty new to me, now I cant say whether or not they made a suregrip with clutches.

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Excuse me, does this smell like chloroform to you?

The early 8 3/4 and 7 1/4 SG units were the clutch type. They both changed to the cone type at the same time. Sometime before 1976 (not sure of the year). I have a 7 1/4 SG, cone type, from a 76 Duster. If the 8 1/4 did come with a clutch SG, it wasn't more then a small amout of years, early on.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225