I have a 73 dodge dart with the stock 8 1/4 rear end. The engine is just a mild 273 with headers, 4 barrel, and mild cam. A 904 backs that.

My question is, how much power could I put through a 8 1/4 before I need to start looking to the big guns 8 3/4.

This is the 1st 8 1/4 i've own, and 1st A-body for that matter. I have another old C-BODY fury!

Any help is appreciated, thanks a lot. Second day on the site, and so far it's been a HUGE help, I don't know how I did anything without it before.

I would say with a mild 273, your 8.25 is safe.

I had an 8.25 sure-grip behind a stroked 360 and it held up well on the street until I switched from a 215/75/R14 white-wall snow tire to a MT ET Street. Once the car hooked it was all over.

In all fairness, this was in a 4-speed application.

I think you will be just fine with the 273.

the 8.25 will live a LONG time if you don't get traction.

my 98 Dakota had an 8.25 peg leg, 3.21 gears from the factory. I pulled the V6 and put a big block in it. a 535 tq, 505 hp, big block with a 5 spd. and the truck weighs 4200 lbs.

kept street tires on it, and never had a problem after 3,000 miles of street duty.

during a burn out, I smoked my clutch, so the 8.25 is stronger than a hayes street/strip clutch!

but, I kept it off the track and on street tires.

I pulled the 8.25 for a 9.25 because I do want to get this to the track to see what kind of times I can get with it.