1969 Super Bee brake Questions:

On the Super Bee's shouldn't they have 11 inch brakes front and back? Also it seems someone swapped a 741 light duty or small block rear end (chunk) into my car. Shouldn't the brake drums in the back be the finned drums? I believe this rear end is a light duty rear end. is it any good for the car, or should I be swapping it out for a What is on the back are not finned drums? Does it really matter? Should I be replacing it with a 489 rear end? I have yet to take any of this part, but I am wanting to rebuild my drum brakes for this car for some around town driving for now. For now, I jut want the car to run around town in until i can total restore it. Opinions? TY in advance, Folks.

If I go with another rear end is the housing of the 741 the same as a 489? If so, I could use the housing from the 741 and all the guts out of a 489 rear end. I have a complete 489 rear end, but the housing was bent.

Should they be 2 1/2 inch shoes up front and 3 inch shoes in the back????

On a Super Bee you should have 11” drums in the back unless it had discs. 741’s usually showed up earlier in the 60’s. Likely somewhere in the last 50 years someone either blew up or simply took the original rear. It was replaced with the one you have from a lower perf car.

Housing should be fine if it fits well. 741 is ok if the ratio is what you want. If not go for a 742 or 489 I’d prefer the 742. Shouldn’t be too pricey, I found a 742 sure grip 3.23 last summer for $325 on Facebook. They are around. 11” brakes are a bit tougher to find. Use the ones you have until you find them.

I've had a 741 in the *** end of my Bee since '78. We pulled it out of a '66 Charger to swap in as I blew a bearing retainer in the OE and in those days the junk yard traded us weight for weight and it cost nothing but time to just "fetch" another one. Haven't managed to blow it yet.. in the 42 years since! 2.5's in the back and 3" up front.

dadsbee said:

I've had a 741 in the *** end of my Bee since '78. We pulled it out of a '66 Charger to swap in as I blew a bearing retainer in the OE and in those days the junk yard traded us weight for weight and it cost nothing but time to just "fetch" another one. Haven't managed to blow it yet.. in the 42 years since! 2.5's in the back and 3" up front.

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Yep. 11x3 front, 11x2.5 rear, standard, as with most all of the performance b-bodies
unless discs were opted for up front.
No, the 741 would not have been installed at the factory in a real Super Bee. Is the OP positive he has
an original Bee?

Yes, its an original bee. I have owned it like 25 years or so. Its got a rough body, but I do body work for a living so........ I'm sure along the way someone robbed the rear end that was originally in it. So, can i use everything in my 1970 489 Bee rear end in the housing that now has the 741, or the housings different?

you cannot use the guts from a 489 center section in a 741 if that's what you're asking. The sure grip is transferable among the center sections but the ring and pinion, bearings and such are different.

Yes, that's what I was wondering. TY for replying. I'll use the 741 rear for now.

I agree with furious70 but would like to clarify. You can use the center gear section and brakes from the “489” complete rear end assembly with the housing and axles currently in the “741” axle assembly. You can’t take the ring and pinion out of the 489 center section and out them in the 741 center section.