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8 3/4 rearend question
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=53348
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Author:  '67 Dart 270 [ Wed Sep 18, 2013 2:43 pm ]
Post subject:  thanks for the info, keep it coming...

Wow, I wasn't aware that the 7 1/4 was that weak, but I'm glad I got the larger unit - my work is 50 miles from home.... I don't think my drive shaft has rubber, I've been under there a few times, but don't recall seeing any rubber...I'll have to climb under there this weekend to be sure.

Slantzilla, I think you mean measure twice before cutting, isn't that the rule...for me it's like 6 times...unless I write it down...

Author:  Romeo Furio [ Wed Sep 18, 2013 4:24 pm ]
Post subject: 

Maybe that's where "Aggressive" came from.................... :wink: :wink: :lol: Ted.

Author:  Aggressive Ted [ Wed Sep 18, 2013 5:09 pm ]
Post subject: 

Good one! :D :D :D you got it.....

You wouldn't think that a potent SL6 could tear up a 7.25" rear but I went through the stock 2.76 a 2.94 a 3.23 and a 3.5. I guess driving on the twisty foothill mountain roads is too hard on the rear. I had Randy's Ring and Pinion build the 742 case around the 2002 time frame and the gears are just starting to whine this year.

Author:  '67 Dart 270 [ Wed Sep 18, 2013 7:45 pm ]
Post subject:  whine....

come to think of it, I had my 7 1/4 ring and pinion replaced less than two years ago, and it's whining a little bit already...the slant does have some torque, mine would chirp the tire when my A-904 hit second pretty regularly.

Author:  '67 Dart 270 [ Thu Sep 19, 2013 9:01 pm ]
Post subject:  drive shaft with rubber...

Ugh, I crawled under there and indeed my drive shaft has the rubber between the yolk and the shaft....

So, what is the most expeditious route to procuring a shorter drive shaft that fits the 8 3/4 rearend and A-904 3 speed automatic (1967 dart 270)? should I just start with a new tube? What tube should I use? Do I take a drive shaft from another car that had 8 3/4 with A-904 and call it a day (will that already be the right length)? Are these easy to come by or hard?

thanks all,

Brian

Author:  Charrlie_S [ Fri Sep 20, 2013 4:10 am ]
Post subject: 

I was lucky when I replaced the 7 1/4 rear in my 66 Valiant with the 8 3/4. We have a old Mopar only salvage yard not too far from me. Went there and got a shaft from a later 340 powered "A" with an 8 3/4 for around $100

Finding one depends on your area, but it might be easier/best to have a shop make a new one. As I posted earlier, it is usually easier/cheaper, to have the shop use a new tube. Take your old shaft, put the front yoke into the trans, all the way. Then pull the yoke back out about 1 inch, and measure from the center of the front u-joint to the center of the rear u-joint seat in the 8 3/4 yoke. That is the length the new shaft needs to be. Have the weight of the vehicle on the suspension when taking the measurement.

Author:  Sam Powell [ Fri Sep 20, 2013 5:01 am ]
Post subject: 

Find a local large truck service place. They will have a drive shaft servicing depatment that will consider this a piece of cake. I watched mine being made and he did everything to the shaft in the lathe. That included cutting, welding, cleaning with a rotary sander while spinning, balancing, and then painting. It took maybe 20 minutes, and cost maybe $150 which included a new front yoke. A new tube would not have added much to the cost. While you are at this you might consider asking about aluminum tubing. It will save a bit of weight.

I had an amateur shorten a drive shaft for my old Pontiac back in 1964, and it always vibrated. This really is not a DYI project.

Sam

Author:  slantzilla [ Fri Sep 20, 2013 6:58 am ]
Post subject: 

A buddy and I shortened a couple shafts in his garage years ago. They both turned out fine, but I have to believe it was luck. For the pain in the azz it was, taking it to a shop would have been cheaper.

Author:  '67 Dart 270 [ Fri Sep 20, 2013 10:47 am ]
Post subject:  thanks!

Thanks everyone, especially Charlie for the measurement method, very helpful.

So, is the front yolk that slips onto the splined shaft of the tranny the same for A-904 and 727 or are they different? That is, if I get a shaft from a car that had a different tranny but an 8 3/4 rearend, do I need to switch the front yolk to my current one? Do all 8 3/4 rearends have the same rear yolk, or do I need to find one specifically with the same case 741 or 742?

Brian

Author:  '67 Dart 270 [ Fri Sep 20, 2013 10:58 am ]
Post subject:  front yolk...

is the A-904 a 25 spline yolk or a 29 spline yolk...

Author:  Sam Powell [ Sat Sep 21, 2013 9:04 am ]
Post subject: 

On my '69 904 the front yoke was smaller than the 727 behind my 360 Dart. However, the 833 manual tranny I later installed used the same yoke as the 727. Current yoke is a Ford piece.

The car shown below has had a stock 904, an 833 OD, and now a t-5 five speed. I have had three different rears and 4 different drive shafts in it, three of them made custom. Don't be afraid of the custom drive shaft thing.

Sam

Author:  '67 Dart 270 [ Sat Sep 21, 2013 8:13 pm ]
Post subject:  maybe I'm in good shape...

So, the guy that sold me the totally rebuilt 8 3/4 rearend had a bunch of A-body driveshafts laying around and he gave me one. I hadn't taken any measurements of mine yet, but I knew I needed one about 1.75-2.25 inches shorter than mine... When I got home, I measured my driveshaft from universal joint center to universal joint center and it was exactly 2 inches longer than the one he gave me. What are the odds? I think the one he gave me will exactly fit when I put the 8 3/4 rearend in...NOTE: the one he gave me was from a Demon or Duster of '73-74 vintage.

I may not have to get it shortened. I'll certainly try it and see. Anyhow, I found a local shop that specializes in custom drive shaft work so, no matter, I'm in good shape. thanks everyone.

BG

Author:  '67 Dart 270 [ Sat Sep 21, 2013 8:21 pm ]
Post subject:  many tranny's...

Sam,

Special note to you regarding your feedback...I have all the carpet and most of the interior torn out for eventual replacement.

I have to say, when I saw that circular flat area on the sheet metal over the transmission...I had this fantasy of putting a four speed in my Dart..

Maybe after I've put in the new rearend and driven it for a bit to see how I like it. I really like my automatic, but I'm intrigued to see how a slant six responds in first gear with a four speed...I've only ever driven a three on the tree with a slant before...

My new rearend has 3.55 gears in it; does anyone know if there are limits to how fast I can drive on the highway with these gears and an A-904? Is it OK to drive 65-75 mph over long distances with these gears?

BG

Author:  wjajr [ Sun Sep 22, 2013 5:42 am ]
Post subject: 

I have 3.55 rear with 205/70 R 14 tires and 904. One point to keep in mind is unless you have an overdrive transmission or aftermarket overdrive device all transmissions will have 1:1 top gear. In third my car turns 2000 rpm @40 mph, 3000 rpm @ 60 mph, and 4000 rpm @ 80 mph which happens to be the rpm that a stock 904 would up shift when in drive at WOT. 3000 rpm is rather busy to one’s ear particularly after jumping into one of these old cars from a modern low revving at cruise speed drivetrain.

Will a slant run all day at 3000 rpm, yup, 3750 rpm (75mph) probably, will you have a good dose of road buzz after a few hours of driving at those engine speeds, you bet. Do I like that gear, not particularly it is a trade-off between performance, and highway cruising performing neither task very well in my book. I would go to a taller gear, except the cam currently installed is torque-less under 2500 rpm, engine is high revving liking 4000 rpm and up which as you can see 3.55 is always off the sweet-spot at highway speed. I generally cruise at 3000 to 3250 rpm.

Taller rear tires will knock down the rpm a bit, but there is not much room under a 67 Dart for that to make a big difference. If you want to run at 75 mph all day long, I would be looking for a taller rear gear in high 2.xx:1 range as long as your engine has a torque curve that would be compatible, or cruise at a lower speed.

Author:  Sam Powell [ Sun Sep 22, 2013 5:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: many tranny's...

Quote:
Sam,

Special note to you regarding your feedback...I have all the carpet and most of the interior torn out for eventual replacement.

I have to say, when I saw that circular flat area on the sheet metal over the transmission...I had this fantasy of putting a four speed in my Dart..

Maybe after I've put in the new rearend and driven it for a bit to see how I like it. I really like my automatic, but I'm intrigued to see how a slant six responds in first gear with a four speed...I've only ever driven a three on the tree with a slant before...

My new rearend has 3.55 gears in it; does anyone know if there are limits to how fast I can drive on the highway with these gears and an A-904? Is it OK to drive 65-75 mph over long distances with these gears?

BG
To put a four speed in you will need the hump for that tranny. These are now being produced new. Good news on the drive shaft. I do think 355 gears are going to be a little high reving for the highway. You might consider an overdrive auto from Mopar such as Lou Dart270 has done. I think they called that a 518. I also recall it needed a special adapter for a slant/v8 bellhousing. You need to shift in and out of lockup manually but aside from that I think Lou has been happy with it. Some guys are working on getting a newer GM tranny behind a slant, but this takes an expensive adapter. I actually think the GM idea is a winner. It is widly supported and efficient. The cost might be worth it in the end.

Good luck on your project. Can you show us some photos?

Sam

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