What rear end was offered in a 73 Satellite?

[64plymouth]

I have a 73 satellite with a 400 2bl engine. How do I know which rearend I have. I’m pretty sure it would be the 8-1/4. The tag says 271 gear. I would like to change it to a 323 or 355.

 

[496 polara]

If it has a bolt on cover it should be an 8.25

 

[64plymouth]

Yes it does. Just wasn’t sure if they used the 9-1/4 or where they just used in C-Bodies and trucks?

 

[RemCharger]

The 9 1/4 was used in some 74 b bodies , not sure about 73s

 

[64plymouth]

Is there an easy way to tell the difference between the two or is it pretty obvious?

 

[RemCharger]

The 8 1/4 is fairly uniform and oval. The 9 1/4 is more stop sign ish

 

[toolmanmike]

 

[64plymouth]

The 8 1/4 is fairly uniform and oval. The 9 1/4 is more stop sign ish

Thanks!

 

[Vaanth]

I have a 73 satellite with a 400 2bl engine. How do I know which rearend I have. I’m pretty sure it would be the 8-1/4. The tag says 271 gear. I would like to change it to a 323 or 355.

The 1973 Satellite, with a 400 two barrel engine, standard rear axle was the 8-1/4" axle, unless ordered with the trailer tow package which included the 8-3/4" axle with 3.23:1 gear ratio.

The 2.71 tag under one of the cover bolts indicates a 8-1/4" axle in this application. Optional gear ratios for the 8-1/4" axle that year were 2.94:1, 3.21:1, and 3.55:1.

The available two original axles for a 1973 Satellite sedan or coupe were the 8-1/4" axle and the 8-3/4" axle. The 9-1/4" axle was introduced in late 1973 in B-body station wagons only.

In 1974, the 9-1/4" axle became available on all C-body and D-body cars, and B-body station wagons. The axle became available in B-body cars and Dodge light trucks, instead of the 8-3/4 axle applications, later in the 1974 model year.

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[joe m]

I have a 1973 satellite Sebring plus with 8 3/4. Gear ratio 3:23 was open now posi-trac factory 318 car.

 

[Kern Dog]

View attachment 2063009

That depiction shows the 8 1/4" axle diff cover in a bit more elongated shape than the ones that I have owned.
This is an A body 8 1/4" axle with the cover removed.

It is not perfectly round but also not quite as oval as the drawing depicts it. It is close enough though to help identify them.

 

[64plymouth]

So I went to scrap yard yesterday and asked about 8.25 rears with 3.55 gears. He said no problem. I’m going to look around one of these Saturdays. Didn’t they come with some sort of suregrip?