Hi, Has anybody put a diff out of a Dakota into a Plymouth Caravelle(same as a Volare.)
I just swaped a 904 out for a 4 speed.
The car has 2.76 gears and it don't like it at all.
I have this 3.91 posi and I think it would be a great gear.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,Barry

Is this a 7 1/4 rear end?

I switched from 2.76s to 3.21s (7 1/4 to an 8 1/4) with a 3-speed manual and it was much better from a stop without being too loud or wound out on the highway. I'd hate to drive much over 50 MPH for very long with 3.91s.

Also, which 4-speed? The 2.66 1st gear is going to be significantly worse off the line that the 3.09 1st gear used in the A833OD and the old six cylinder boxes.

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Joshua

What 4-speed is it?
Close ratio, wide ratio or OD?
DD

The trans is from a 1973 dart V8 car. I presume it's a wide ratio 883

Hey Doc, a little off subject but have you heard of a guy named Don Dulmage? I just heard of him this weekend. He is building a ? six dragster with six snowmobile carbs.
I'm hoping to meet him as he lives about an hour from me. I'm in Cornwall Ontario Canada. One hr. from Montreal.
Barry

Joshie,The 276 is a 71/4 The 4speed from a dart V8. I've also heard of guys taking the 355 gear set from a dakota and putting them into the 81/4 housing. They change the carrier brgs and new mopar crush sleeve .
Sounds almost to easy!!!!!!

No, I do not recall talking to Don... I would have remembered the six carb deal.

If it is really a 1973 833 4-speed, it would have a 1 to 1 final (4th) gear.
You really should find-out if it is the close or the wide ratio box, (2.66 vs 3.09 1st gear) because that will impact your rear-end gear selection.

A manual shift SL6 needs about 10 to 1 reduction to come-off a standng start well. That is why the factory used 3.23 with the wide ratio 833. (3.09 x 3.23 = 9.98 )
This is also why 3.91 were common with the close ratio box. (2.66 x 3.91 = 10.40)

If I had a close ratio 4-speed combined with a SL6, I would likely be using the 3.73 rear gear (9.92 ) or a 3.55 (9.44) and put-up with a slower start-off for better high speed driving "manners".
DD

The 4-speeds from the V8 cars are generally the close-ratio (2.66 first) boxes.

Are you thinking of swapping the entire rear axle assembly from a Dakota? That'll be a lot of work. Spring perches, overall track width (tire/body clearance), wrong wheel bolt pattern (most Dakotas had a 6-lug pattern), etc.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Hi folks, sorry I haven't replied back.
My idea was to swap the dakota diff as one unit. It has the 5 bolt pattern and fits std wheels.
I spoke with a .
local fellow last night and what he did was take the carrier out of the dakota(3:55) and put it into an 81/4.
He had to change the bearings on the carrier and ajust the shims on the pinion.
The brgs were around $50 and he had the pinion set at a cost of $100.
No bad in Canadian funds.
I happen to have all the parts from a dakota (3:55 and a 3:91 Posi) so I'm going to give it a go!!!!!!.
My only dilemma is I want to get rid of the rubber insulator on the axle.
I think I'll need the shock mount from adifferent car! Any suggestions

I spoke With Don Delmitch? He has the dragster up and running again after a bent push rod problem.
He was very helpful and knowlegable on the slant. A new friend indeed.
Thanks for the input and help.
Dan, I'll call you for some lights for the 56.

Barry

As they did in the old A bodies they used both 7-1/4s and 8-1/4s in Dakotas; and 5 lug til 1990; 5 on 4-1/2" pattern;
but from what I read here I HOPE that the plan isnt to try and swap carriers between 7-1/4 and 8-1/4 housings; now THAT won't work.

I seem to remember our 89 Dalota with 5 lug wheels being 5x 4.25 or some such. It was like the Volvo size.

There is no way our 89 Dakotoa 7.25 is a smart swap into anything. Nothing crosses over to A bodies.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

He's got a Volare, but I think the Dakota rear end will still be too wide. My 5-lug Dakota was 5 on 4.5". I had cop car wheels on the back for a while.

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Joshua

Yup; I ran squad car wheels on mine too. Mine was a 90, swapped a 8-1/4 in it in place of a 7-1/4, after my brother in law bought the truck from me and grenaded the rear end.

The plan is to swap a dakota 81/4 355 gear set into an 8/14 diff from a fifth ave.