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63 Dodge 440 Tapered Axel Swap

dodge413

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I’m swapping out the 8 3/4 tapered axel rear end out of my 63 Dodge Polara. I’ve got a rear end out of a 1968 Roar Runner. Problem is it didn’t come with backing plates. Can I re use the backing plates off the 63 dodge diff? If so, what drums should I get? Thanks a lot guys!!
 
I think you would have punch out the plates to allow the bearing to pass through on the 68 shafts. Not sure it will seal properly though.
 
You need a rear end out of a 65 through 67 vehicle that 68 roadrunner 8 and 3/4 it's too long.
 
I knew that you guys would steer me in the right direction. Thanks for the help!!
 
You need a rear end out of a 65 through 67 vehicle that 68 roadrunner 8 and 3/4 it's too long.
Mopar12372 is correct. Your original axle housing is 53-1/4", flange to flange, and the '68 RR is 54-15/16" wide. The spring perch width should be the same, but you may run into tire clearance trouble, and need to go to a different wheel offset. The '65-'67 will be closer to original, as it comes in at 54-1/4" width. As far as the backing plates and drums, you probably have 10" if original. The backing plates may work, with some "customizing", so you would need 10"x width of shoes you're running. You may want to look for a 11" set-up for the back if upgrading the system...
 
You need a rear end out of a 65 through 67 vehicle that 68 roadrunner 8 and 3/4 it's too long.

I bolted a complete 8 3/4 rear from a 1968 GTX in my 64 Ragtop and it's not to long. It fits perfect. Maybe with stock rims it might be an issue but I have my offset to the inside.
1964 Polara.JPG
 
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I bolted a complete 8 3/4 rear from a 1968 GTX in my 64 Ragtop and it's not to long. It fits perfect. Maybe with stock rims it might be an issue but I have my offset to the inside.
Just for information, the '64 rear axle housing, flange to flange, specs at 55-5/8", wider than the '62-'63, '65-'67, & '68-'70...
 
Just for information, the '64 rear axle housing, flange to flange, specs at 55-5/8", wider than the '62-'63, '65-'67, & '68-'70...

Mopar12372 is correct. Your original axle housing is 53-1/4", flange to flange, and the '68 RR is 54-15/16" wide. The spring perch width should be the same, but you may run into tire clearance trouble, and need to go to a different wheel offset. The '65-'67 will be closer to original, as it comes in at 54-1/4" width. As far as the backing plates and drums, you probably have 10" if original. The backing plates may work, with some "customizing", so you would need 10"x width of shoes you're running. You may want to look for a 11" set-up for the back if upgrading the system...

Just curious..Which one is it? You say it's 53 1/4 flange to flange then 55 5/8 Flange to Flange. IMO A 68 rear looks nice under 64's and has a nice offset with aftermarket 15 X 8 rims.
 
Just curious..Which one is it? You say it's 53 1/4 flange to flange then 55 5/8 Flange to Flange. IMO A 68 rear looks nice under 64's and has a nice offset with aftermarket 15 X 8 rims.
The'62-'63 axles are 53-1/4" width, the '64 is 55-5/8" width. Those are just the factory specs, off a data sheet, taken off a post, on this website. No idea why Chrysler changed all the widths during that period, and the '64 was a 1 year only, so I'm just relaying those specs. The RR axle in your '64 probably worked great, as it was a bit narrower than stock, so running a wider tire in there worked well. I just ordered a new rear axle assembly for my '63, and used these specs, so hoping it works for me ?
 
The'62-'63 axles are 53-1/4" width, the '64 is 55-5/8" width. Those are just the factory specs, off a data sheet, taken off a post, on this website. No idea why Chrysler changed all the widths during that period, and the '64 was a 1 year only, so I'm just relaying those specs. The RR axle in your '64 probably worked great, as it was a bit narrower than stock, so running a wider tire in there worked well. I just ordered a new rear axle assembly for my '63, and used these specs, so hoping it works for me ?

Ok Thanks for clearing that up. Yes hopefully it works out. I believe they share the same wheel houses so who knows maybe for Nascar having a wider track... Back when I did this in the late 80's these things were plentiful. I parted a numbers matching 68 gtx blue with blue interior and it had a painted white top cause the rear rails/trunk floor were rotted out. That what the rear came from. Cars like that were parts cars NOW it could have been restored....
 
I've never had a 64 car that I have removed the rear from to be able to get dimensions...
The typical 65 B Body rear measures 54 5 /16" and I had one from a 63 Dodge 330 that measures 53 5/16.
With Cass being able to do virtually anything you need to do with axles I figured I'd keep the 63 rear around just in case I needed something a little shorter in the future...It's only 1/2" on each side but sometimes every little bit helps...
When you plan on running newer wheels where you can get just about any backspace using the wider housings isn't a problem...Trying to use old school slots you need a shorter housing as about all of them are dished out and not in...

65 B Body.jpg 63 Polara.jpg
 
Just curious..Which one is it? You say it's 53 1/4 flange to flange then 55 5/8 Flange to Flange. IMO A 68 rear looks nice under 64's and has a nice offset with aftermarket 15 X 8 rims.
When I was looking to replace the tapered axle in my 63 Plymouth fury I found on another website a list of axles and Axle widths and the closest one in the years printed were 65 to 67 8 and 3/4 the reason I said this is because you don't have to measure 4 weird wheel offsets and you don't have any problems with bigger tires. While removing them from the car because of the longer axle most of the spring perches will fit under the car because they are at the same measurement
 
I believe I found complete rear end housing specs on moparts website and other specs for these cars 2. Just an FYI
 
When I was looking to replace the tapered axle in my 63 Plymouth fury I found on another website a list of axles and Axle widths and the closest one in the years printed were 65 to 67 8 and 3/4 the reason I said this is because you don't have to measure 4 weird wheel offsets and you don't have any problems with bigger tires. While removing them from the car because of the longer axle most of the spring perches will fit under the car because they are at the same measurement

With a 68 Rear I did not find there was a weird offset. I have a 15x8 Weld wheel that have 265 60's on them and another set had 28 by 10.5 slicks. Both have plenty of room and rub no where. It has been years but I think the offset is 4 1/2 to the inside. A 65 to 7 might be easy with stock 64 rims if that is what your going with but with todays wide world of wheels I would not limit myself using only that housing....
 
QuickBpBp is right. I had a 66 Charger 8.75 housing in my 63 Polara 500. I was buying new wheels for the restoration and knowing I'd eventually swap in a Dana 60 from a 69 Charger. And, the 64 housing is wider from backing plate flange to backing plate flange than 62-63. I learned that personally by ordering aftermarket axles for a 63 and getting exactly what I ordered then trying to get them to work in a 64 housing.

Don't throw those 62-64 axle assemblies in the scrap heap. With a set of 65 and later backing plates, hardware and drums, one can buy a set of custom length aftermarket flange-style axles for a 62-64 housing and leave the original housing mounted on the springs. A decent set from Strange, Moser, etc. for $300-$400.
 
Don't throw those 62-64 axle assemblies in the scrap heap. With a set of 65 and later backing plates, hardware and drums, one can buy a set of custom length aftermarket flange-style axles for a 62-64 housing and leave the original housing mounted on the springs. A decent set from Strange, Moser, etc. for $300-$400.

Use 65 backing plates and drums...keep the 62-64 housings...Cass has all of the axles to change over using green bearings and walk away for I think $295.00 a set...It's hard to beat Dr. Diff...
 
I just picked up one of these tapered Axle rears on the weekend for cheap to use in my hot rod build. Naively I didn't even realise there was a different axle type for the 8 3/4! Not too stressed as it probably makes the rear even more period with the build I'm going for.

I have a complete rear and another in pieces except for the centre, and I've noticed the bare housing appears to have 5 evenly spaced studs for the backing plate, where the later one in my 68 has the flat bottom with two studs offset. same with a few of the images on here.

Is this another type again? or are my eyes deceiving me? Can they be interchanged? or will I need to change the end flange to later model flat bottom ones?

Appreciate any insights!
 
I just picked up one of these tapered Axle rears on the weekend for cheap to use in my hot rod build. Naively I didn't even realise there was a different axle type for the 8 3/4! Not too stressed as it probably makes the rear even more period with the build I'm going for.

I have a complete rear and another in pieces except for the centre, and I've noticed the bare housing appears to have 5 evenly spaced studs for the backing plate, where the later one in my 68 has the flat bottom with two studs offset. same with a few of the images on here.

Is this another type again? or are my eyes deceiving me? Can they be interchanged? or will I need to change the end flange to later model flat bottom ones?

Appreciate any insights!

This is my original 1962 taypered axel housing. I used 1970 backing plates when doing the newer flanged axel swap.
20170809_164515.jpg
 
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