So what are you doing about the prop valve with the rear disks? I would think that now you could turn up the rear line pressure to get better performance out of them.

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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.

weight of 7 1/4 axle w/ 10" drums removed from car 160 lbs
weight of similarly equipped 8.8 w/discs 185 lbs

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

I will just hook it up like it was stock. The car stopped very well before with just stock 75 Dart 4 door valving.

My rear brake lines are hosed from the master to the axle...so it all will get done anyway.

I still need some 3" U bolts and spring plates.

I still need to look at the drive shaft.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

I got a very nice set of 3" U-bolts and spring plates from Dr. Diff. He is a member on Moparts, and I think he is in California.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Sandy, the explorer rear tubes are actually 3 1/4". Stock explorer u-bolts work well. The 7 1/4" shock plates can be made to fit with elongation of the holes. Can't really see it in the pic. of my 8.8, but they are 7 1/4 shock plates.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h194/ ... G_0122.jpg

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Franklin
'61 Valiant

Thats good to know Frank. Too bad they cut the ubolts when I got the axle. I have the Explorer plates but the shock mounts are way off...even though Explorer and A body use the same shock.

I can get cheap u bolts sets at the machine shop.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Do tell! I'll have to check that out. I wonder if there's a Bilstein that will fit...

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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.

Axle centre to u joint Yoke centre is the same (at first look) on the 7 1/4 and 8.8.....meaning I can continue to use the same stock rusty Volare wagon driveshaft I hate...

I wanted a stock aluminum Aerostar Van driveshaft to work.

It also means you can replace a stock Valiant axle with an 8.8 and use the stock driveshaft. (at first look....)

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Polson, MT

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'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car

I measured about 1" difference between the center of the axle and the center of the yoke(between the 7 1/4 and 8.8 )

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Excuse me, does this smell like chloroform to you?

Well this week I got the 3rd set of wrong ubolts. Disappointing......Im tempted to make the last 3 1/2"set they sent me work anyway.....

I did take the time to order up all the little bits I need .....should be in in about a week. brake hoses, ujoints , pads....

Unfortunately I get about 4 hours off a week right now....so little progress would be made anyway.

I want my car back. ~sniff~

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

stole 3 hours ......modified the ubolts to fit ,,,,,,,mounted up everything .....I have a roller for the first time in a while. Tire clearances are perfect......found a driveshaft in the slant pile that is exactly 1"shorter than my hated Volare wagon shaft.......

Brakes are next.....

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Sometimes, you just gotta do, what you gotta do

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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

Sandy, this looks like it is going to be a real nice setup. I have yet to find a new rear and may very well go this route. I have been looking for an 8.25 or a 7.25 Ranger rear. I've not had much time for the search lately, but this with discs looks better. I was looking for a 3.21 ratio and thinking 3.55 as the max, but our Dart is pretty much a fun car now and so the buildup criteria is a bit looser. I could live with 3.73 gears.

Any thoughts about what year explorer 8.8 to look for? My wheel clearance is rather close now, do you have a total width dimension?