When did Mopar start putting them in their cars?

http://www.wwgauctions.com/sd09.cfm?page=4&pagend=10

So what would be under this 56 Chrysler wagon.

Page 4, all the way to the bottom, click on details and it will bring up a picture of the rear end. Click on the picture to enlarge.

IIRC most makes and brands had this style rear end or Drop out pumpkin. My father and I found out last year that my 53 Ford wagon had a spicer style rearend and not the dropout pumpkin style that his 53 2dr sedan had. My 49 Plymouth has a dropout pumpkin rear diff too! I thought sweet an 8 3/4 but was told it wasnt so I probably cant get gears for it

From what I was able to tell when I was dealing with the rear in my 56, the "early" rear looks very similar to the 8¾ but is not as strong, has a different bolt pattern from pig to housing, and different axle flanges/bearings. After taking it apart, I can also tell you that it is much lighter duty.

That said, the E-body rear is near perfect width for the 56 Dodge/Plymouths, and I believe the 66-70 B-body rear is enough narrower that it'll allow for some extra tire. The perches would need to be moved inwards on either rear.

Hope that helps.

The '56 and earlier rear end with a dropout is the 8 1/4", not to be confused with the later 8 1/4" that fit into an 8 3/4" housing or the later yet 8 1/4" non-dropout. It dates back to 1937 or so.

The pre-'57 8 1/4" carrier has 11 bolts attaching it to the housing, the 8 3/4" has 10.