How likely am I to find a 3.23 ring and pinion for a 7.25 rear end? I've been keeping an eye on my local u-pull yard but haven't seen any yet. The 2.76 gears that I currently have in the car don't cut it at the drag strip. Would I be better off getting a 8.25 rear with 3.21's?

mopar@canoemail.com

You are more likely to find a 3.23 in a manual transmission car. As far as the 8.25, the one in my 63 Valiant is out of a 75 Dart V-8/904 automatic. It has the 3.21 gearset and comes with the bigger 10x2.5 drum brakes. BTW, all the 8.25's have the larger 4.5" bolt circle.

Pete Vanderlaan

pmvdlaan@picusnet.com

Higher ratio's are harder to find for the 7 1/4".
The 8 1/4" is a direct bolt in for the 7 1/4". You get the benefit of the large 4.5" bolt pattern, and if you do drag racing you can swap the gears for a cheap set out of Dodge Trucks from 70's to 90's (yes even the Dakota uses 8 1/4"). (Most towing ratios are 3.55,3.91,and some 4.11's). 8 1/4 can be found under all A-bodies with Power Disk Brakes (mandatory option from 1973 to 1975), or some with V-8/towing option (but not regularly, my buddy drag races a 318-2v 1974 Dart with a 7 1/4"!) Also note: with the 8 1/4" you can pull cheap limited slip diff's and 3.21's from late Diplomat/Gran Fury cop cars.

Good Luck,

-DusterIdiot



res0aus2@verizon.net

callpaladin@aol.com

Actually, I own 2 (!) Feather Dusters. Glad to see one of the few,the pround, the owners of the last model dusters...
Unfortunately, I'm restoring one to be a daily driver, and the other is beyond help so it has become the 'donor' car. I'll include a pic with this post of the 'before' shot of the restorer.
I've come to understand that Mopar had a formula to follow in the mid 70's cars. Usually automatics got the 2.76/2.71 gears and $-spd-od get 2.94, with 3.23 optional. (I hear the 1976 Duster 360 got lowly 2.94's!)
My project Duster luckily came with an 8 1/4" already installed, but is a Sure-Grip with 2.94's.
I plan to pull the gears and replace them with 3.55's since I haven't found a car with 3.21's in my area yet.
Regardless of what anybody says, my parents owned a Feather Duster (bought one in 1976!) and only got 28mpg max, another owner I know in my area has owned his since 1978 and he's maxed out at 30mpg downhill with the wind. There are lot's of Feathers out there you just have to find them (saw a yellow one on traderonline going for $3200 in Arizona)....

Good luck and keep posting!

-Duster Idiot



res0aus2@verizon.net

Hey
You aren't the only on one on the planet with a Feather Duster! I have a Power Blue one I have been daily driving for about 4 years now. Mine is a 4spd od with the 2.9 gears. Bone stock it ran 18.4 at Dinwiddie drag strip last year. It gets an honest 25+ around town and I got 33 on a road trip to Petty's museum in Level Cross NC. I have converted the front end to disk brakes and I have an 8 3/4 with a 323 posi to install this year. Give me a shout.


aiton@aatd.eustis.army.mil

I know about 12 other owners of Feather Dusters and seen 2 Dart Lites (now, those are rare...)

I have
: converted the front end to disk brakes and I
: have an 8 3/4 with a 323 posi to install
: this year.

Did you convert yours to bigger disks or did it come with drums? It was my understanding that all Feather Dusters came with the late model manual disk brakes to save weight. I noticed my gas mileage wasn't as good as yours probably due to the fact I had a tired drivetrain and the heavier 8 1/4" Make sure to check all your aluminum parts, especially the area around the bolt receivers and bumper reinforcements, all cars I've looked at have shown severe stress cracks inthose areas. I have my front bumper in to get it re tigged so it doesn't fall of the car.

Thanks for your input, I'd also like to know what options your car has. My parts car is FE5 red with black interior and no extra frills. The 'resto' is unusal for an economy car: bucket seats, map light, fold down rear, Black and white interior,B5 Blue with the Rallye package.

Keep in touch,

-DusterIdiot



res0aus2@verizon.net

Just a note on 360 Dusters, bought one brand new (black on black on black) in June 1976, came with Sure-Trak 3.21 (and every other option except wheel covers and radio). Ex-wife totaled it in 1978 3 days after we got married! Should have known then.


sgw041454@aol.com

I removed the small bolt cirle drums and installed the disks from a V8 car. I could not beleive that this car had the 4 in. bolt cicle pattern. A tech at our Dodge dealer said Chrysler used the 4 in. on the 6's only right to the bitter end. I have a set of of resplined truck axles with the 4.5 in the a body 8 3/4 so I will have 4.5 all around.
I don't know what is optional on my car. It has a bench seat, carpet, no air, no PS, no PB, single outside mirror, no mouldings or vinyl roof. Radio has been changed, it did have a wasted speaker in the front so it must have had a radio from factory. No tinted glass and oddly it only has an alum hood not the trunk lid! The bumper instructions are still in place and there looks to be no rear damage so I think they had run out by the time mine was made. Speedo was broken and it showed 99K when I bought it. I think it was used by a rual route mail man or paper route as it had wood blocks on the pedals and the paint was gone on the door top. And the first time I went to use the wipers ALL the arms fell off! Why they went to those plastic keepers is beyond me. I know they saved 10 cents a car on that BETTER IDEA. Must have been a ford guy who came over to try and put Chrysler out of bussiness. They all most did.

aiton@aatd.eustis.army.mil

The set it out of a 72 /6 swinger with a 3speed manual. I think this was standard for this combo.

I just have to dig them out of the garage. If anyone wants them drop me a email at <A HREF="mailto:cralt@hackme.dhs.org">cralt@hackme.dhs.org</A> with a offer and ill try to find them.

http://hackme.dhs.org
cralt@hackme.dhs.org

170s, auto or manual came with 3.23s.

doug@autohobbydigest.com