So I read SSD's post about Jeep rear axles, and it's kind of inconclusive.

I found this on eBay. It's out of the way, but if I can find one like this, it might be a viable option for my Valiant...or would it?

Anybody have any thoughts or ideas? It seems like it wouldn't be that terribly expensive to lop a few inches off this thing. Thanks, guys!

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Chuck and the Flying Valiant

Probably going to be close to 60.5" wide, without brakes. Maybe two inches too wide, if you have some deep wheels like some later model Mustang wheels. Even more if you want to run factory wheels.

Shortening the housing could be easy. It's just a tube with a plate slid on a set distance and welded on. Just cut the welds, cut the tube to length and reattach the plate for the backing plates. Only hang up there is if the inside of the tubes are machined to seat the wheel bearings. Don't know that answer, been trying to find out myself.

Axles will need to be custom, about $220 from Dutchmans, or something like $300 from Moser's.

That's about all I know.

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

From what I can tell from a 1973 FSM, the tube is stepped for the bearing to seat against.

There is a bearing you can buy that locates the rollers on a different part of the axle to be used when the axle has worn in the factory bearing location. I don't know if the OD of the bearing is smaller so you can get it farther into the tube or not. If so, might be something to use in a situation when the tube isn't stepped. Seal will probably be an issue, though.

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

Repair bearing (BCA #RP6408 BTW) wont work. Puts the rollers farther out, not in like I had assumed.

Looks like that step in the tube needs to be retained somehow.

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

I have one removed from a 97 grand cherokee with rear disk brakes that measures 60 3/4" wheel flange to wheel flange. I think wrangler rears are 1-2" narrower.Wheels with custom offset would be needed for an A-body It is a dana 44 with C-clip type axles.I,d be interested in selling it PM for details.

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V8?? We don't need no stink'n V8!!

Thanks for all the info, guys! I think I found someone with a regular ol' axle, so I guess we'll have to find out from someone else. I'll keep this in mind if it falls through though.

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Chuck and the Flying Valiant

2" narrower would be great. Did they come with an 8.25"? How does a Dana 44 compare to an 8.25?

I went down this road because I have been trying to find a rear that was about an 1.5" wider than a factory A-Body rear so I could get some OEM Mustang wheels to fit under my Valiant. I did find that an F-Body 8.25" is about 59.5" wide, brake drum to brake drum, which is about an inch wider than I want. It's under the car, and I can bounce it without noise, but I don't think it is going to work. I can't fit my fingers up between the inner wheel well and the tire and visually it looks "right there". An inch overall would put something like 1/2" of clearance both inside and outside of the tire. Not sure what direction I'm going to go yet.

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