Rear end upgrade for 59 Dodge CRL Questions

redjim

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I've been told to look for a 65-69 C body rear with 46" spring perches, my questions are, can you get a highway gear, something like a 2.90 in a sure grip? If not, in what ratios did the sure grip begin? If such an animal does exist, how would one find it? Casting part numbers? Identifying tags? What exact parts cars could these be found? If I can't find the highway gear in a sure grip, are there reasonable options to get there without just going with a completely different rear, such as the Ferd 8.8??
 
Gear ratio and SureGrip were two separate situations, then as now. 2.76s were on 2bbl cars, 3.23s were generally 4bbl cars, but it also could be swapped if the customer wanted something different. 2.93s were on Imperials. 3.31s were usually in the later 1950s-earlier 1960s and such, as I recall.

More SureGrips in the northern USA areas, generally, due to the heavier winter snow issues. Might be similar in the Rocky Mountain areas, too?

Last I saw, a USED 8 3/4 rear acle center section (pumpkin) was over $600.00 for a good one. If you find a good 2.76 8 3/4 AXLE, not sure. To a non-SG axle, add a SureGrip differential to that and find somebody to install it. Plug re-building the rear brake items on ANY used rear axle! Not to mention puttle all new bearings and seals in the used axle too, for good measure.

Will the SG be needed for winter traction, drag racing, or similar? Just curious.

CBODY67
 
Thanks, that helps, follow up question not answered there: was the sure grip available for ALL of those gear ratios? Are there castings that are more likely to have the sure grip than others? I would guess later castings with lower gears would be more likely to contain the sure grip as the muscle car scene gained traction .....

The car in question is getting a 493 stroker built for torque not horsepower with a beefed '62 727 pushbutton. I like highway gears but i want to break the white walls loose when I feel like it.
 
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The SG option has NO specific casting numbers on the outside of the axle. Same for GM or Ford, too.

If it is a SG axle, it took a special grease (normal grease with a fluid friction modifier), as did anybody's limited slip axle back then. A TAG is under one of the nuts holding the pumpkin to the axle, near the diff grease drain plug. IF the plug is gone, have to pull the pumpkin for visual verification (which might be good to do anyway) of the SG "guts" in the differential assy.

Another way is to turn one rear wheel and see if the other one turns too, forward and backward. Do that several times to ensure the spider gears inside a normal non-SG axle fully release, such that one side spins freely as the other one is still.

CBODY67
 
So I'd like to find the 65-69 C body housing with the 46" spring perches and a drum to drum length of 61.75, is this every C body car not including the Imperial and the wagons in those years? any other exceptions?
 
Body line Track Perches Notes
A-body, 65-72 55.6 43.0 4″ lug bolt circle
B-body, 62-70 59.2 44.0
B-body, 71-72 62.0 47.3
B-body station wagon, 71-72 63.4 47.3
C-body, 64-72 63.4 47.3
D-body, 64-72 63.4 47.3
E-body, 70-74 60.7 46.0
 
Chart has an error, in that 65-69 C is 61" with 46" spring perch, as previously mentioned.
As always, I have several, but too far away and shipping would be a problem.
Unless you have a trucking co. in your back pocket.
 
Going to look at a 489 tomorrow, supposed to be from an E body, 3.23, sure grip.
fingers crossed
 
Made a deal on the E body rear, guy was honest, everything he said it was, usually you can't trust a Camaro guy but he was legitimate
It turns but very tight, been just sitting out in his yard for years. I felt $700 wasn't terrible after looking around a little.
What should a guy expect to pay to have a shop go through it and get it all set up internally?
 
Ford supplement works best for me
narrower drum to drum makes wider wheels easier
u joint yokes vary
somehow I think very tall ratios may take a different pumpkin (the pinion offset is different) but I may be wrong so check may be a brand x see the link above and study
 
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