Hello i am Mike.

I am toying with the idea of swapping out the 7 1/4 rear in my 80 Volare for the stronger 8 1/4 or 8 3/4 version, i happened upon a 77 Cordoba with the 400 cu v8 and so i figure it should have one of the two rear ends i am after(could not id the rear on the doba since it was sitting to low to the ground).

The question is can i swap the Cordoba rear into my f-body with out any modifications ? or will i have to shorten the drive shaft and move spring perches e.t.c. ?



Thanks for reading, been lurking for a few years and i must give praise to all who make this treasure trove of slant info and resources possible!

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79 sportsman window van 318 4bbl

It will not have an 8-3/4" rear, at least not from the factory. 8-1/4" or possibly 9-1/4", but the spring perch width and overall widtg will be different that your F-body's rear axle dimensions:

http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/axle/17.html

There should be plenty of 8-1/4" F-body (and M-body) rearends available. Where are you located?

Hey thanks for the link man, that sure cleared up a few things for me, I am in Edmonton Alberta, an m-body rear would fit though eh ? however most of the m-body cars i find around here have the 7 1/4's with the flared axle tubes.

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79 sportsman window van 318 4bbl

In my 80 J Body the PO installed an 8 & 3/4 out of a 70 B Body. He said it was an easy install.

Hey Dartman, by easy install did he mean that it bolted right in ? or were there some mods to the spring perches e.t.c.

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79 sportsman window van 318 4bbl

I don't know. I expect to be parting it out shortly (unless this J Body guy from the Nationals gets back to me on buying it). When I get to the point of removing the rear end, I'll know more for sure.

I have a 77 Volare Road Runner. It's an F body. In 1979, I pulled the 8 1/4 rear end out and put in a 69 B Body 8 3/4 housing out of a Satellite. Fits perfect. Actually, there's only a 1/4" difference on either side, but, it's still in the car... and I just looked at it 10 minutes ago. B body is what you want. No mods required.

Greg

Thanks Greg, if i can get back to that Cordoba i'll check what rear it is and hopefully it will have some decent gears in it.

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79 sportsman window van 318 4bbl

Be warned however. If you look at the rear end from the rear of the car and see bolts on the housing, it's not an 8 3/4. Also, if you're so inclined, if you get the whole drivetrain out of the big block Cordoba, the 400 motor mounts will allow you to drop it into your f-body with minimal hassle if you have a V8 k-frame. I know... I've done it.

Greg

Cool thanks for all the help guys and Greg i got a peak of the rears bolted on cover but couldn't count all the bolts, also the link that InThePink posted cleared up a few things as well so its probably an 8 1/4 unless the 9/14 has the same cover.

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79 sportsman window van 318 4bbl

"B body is what you want"; not quite true as a blanket statement; Waht you need is a '66-70 B body rear as the 71+ version is wider!

awesome ! seems the 8 3/4 is what i am after due to its removable carrier (right) and according to the link earlier in the thread the 8 3/4 is about 55" and that should be about right for the f body.

Looks like i am going to keep my eyes open for an early b body 8 3/4 or a 8 1/4 from an m body.

Thanks guys.

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79 sportsman window van 318 4bbl

Any F-body wagon will have the 8-1/4" rearend from the factory, too.

Cool thats also good to know, meh the 7 1/4 i have doesn't seem to be going south yet but better safe then sorry eh? plus these 2.76 gears and tall tires are kind of a drag, so i'll be keeping my eyes open at the local boneyards.

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79 sportsman window van 318 4bbl

HOLD ON A MINUTE: They used the 8-3/4 in B bodys up til 73 or 74. So just because its an 8-1/4 that came from a B body don't mean it'll work for you! Actually you could go all the way from like '62 or '63, til 70 B body, but the '65 down ones had the stupid a$$ed 2 piece axles on them; the housing would work alright; but if you got one that old, you'd need to replace the axles. (more $$$$) A 71+ B body 8-3/4 would fit fine, in that Cordoba you mentioned, but would not fit correctly in your F body.So remember; '66-70 B body.