I have an 8-1/4 rear end housing under the bench for my Volare. I have a neighbor with an unlicensed Cherokee, that only uses it for "4 wheeling". His also has an 8-1/4. He busted his yoke. I gave him mine to get him by, and told him to "just replace it for me" when he gets a chance. I know they changed the AXLE SPLINE count between 96 and 97 (Yeah I know that Mopar was not making mainstream RWD CARS, at that time)
I also know that when I swapped an 8-1/4 into my old 90 Dakota, that my brother in law grenaded, I wound up with a 94 housing and the 94 yoke took a larger U joint than the 90 yoke. I wound up putting 1 rear end together from 2, as the only 87-90 Dak the JY had (Dodge changed to 6 lug axles in 91) the housing wound up being bent on it, so i wound up swapping axle shafts and yoke from the 90 with bent housing, to the 94 housing they had there. Not that hard.
I also did an 8-1/4 swap from an '84 B van to an '87 once, and had to swap axles and drums, because they changed the wheel bolt pattern in '85. Easy.

I also know that if i continue with my plan on putting the AX 15, Dakota 5 speed in there (or if I change my mind to a T5, or an R 154, etc) that there is a better than even shot, at having to have a driveshaft custom made, or at least cut down. I don't want a Mickey mouse-like "conversion" joint on there, and if at all possible, both F&R of the shaft taking the same U joint.
Is there a "heavy duty" version of a yoke to fit my 8-1/4?? I am thinking that I'd be better to get one with the mid 90s larger Dakota U joint, since my slip yoke will probably have to come from one as well, to fit that trans.
Lastly, its been about a month and I hope my neighbor 1) was able to utilize the yoke I gave him and 2) has not forgotten about me. I'm wondering if I oughtta get a yoke myself, and send him the bill.
Did they ever change the PINION SHAFT spline count on these rear ends, to anyone's knowledge? I want the "right" yoke on hand now, as I set up the new 3.55s and Sure Grip, to avoid a "surprise" and having to search for a different yoke down the road. Especially since yoke retainer nut torque effects the crush collar and bearing preoad.

Not sure about the other questions, but I have an 81 Dippy rear, and a 70's duster 8 1/4 and the duster yoke takes the small u-joint and the dippy rear has the large u-joint, there are a few variants out there.

good luck on your quest...

-d.Idiot

That Dippy rear, would be the same as my Volare rear end. (housing/axle length, etc) but I have never seen an F J M rear that's set up for the large joint. Even the 2 ex squads I had were small joint. That you know of could you swap yokes between those 2 rears that you have?

according to the 1976 and 1978 mopar parts manual... the 7 1/4" and 8 1/4" use the same 'yoke' or part 12 'flange', with the 7260 u-joint... I'm gonna go measure that dippy rear and check that out....

FYI,

-D.Idiot

7-1/4 and 8-1/4 same yoke??? That's interesting/good to know.