Moparts

Narrow the rear or get another housing?

Posted By: DrCharles

Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/26/12 10:20 PM

My '72 Dart has had the leaf springs moved into the frame rails, and minitubbed. It came with a B-body rear (60-1/8" drum to drum) with new spring perches already in place, and old stock-sized tires and wheels for rolling it around. I plan on either 295-60R15 or even 325-50R15 if they'll fit in there. 451, 4-speed, mostly street use.

I got a great deal on Moparts for a pair of steel wheels widened to 10" with 8" backspacing, figuring on the sleeper look and that would be enough backspacing to use the B-body rear as is. Unfortunately it's not.
The outer edges of the rims, even with that maximum possible backspacing, is just about even with the unrolled inner fender lip. And there's miles of room between the inside of the rim and the frame rail (actually more like 4" but I haven't measured it yet).

So it looks like I either have to narrow the rear about 1.5 - 2" per side, which means new axles before I can even roll the body around, or get an A-body rear and run it stock for a while. I'm on a budget here so a Strange 60 is not really an option
Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/26/12 10:54 PM

how long are the axles you have from flange to spline end?

over 30" ?

Posted By: RobX4406

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/26/12 10:56 PM

Narrow it. Probably cost the same as buying an A body housing.

An A body rear isn't going to have BBP axles unless you find one already converted.
Posted By: DrCharles

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/26/12 11:12 PM

Don't know about the axle lengths, haven't pulled them. Why do you ask - axles long enough to be cut down without resplining?

Quote:


An A body rear isn't going to have BBP axles unless you find one already converted.



Thanks for the reminder, I forgot about that! Now to find a shop in southern MO or northern AR that has the proper jigs for an 8-3/4...
Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/26/12 11:13 PM

if he could find another stock housing a little narrower than what he has and a set of stock axles for it.

it could work out better than a cutdown/respline/after market or A-body thats converted to BBP.

I have a housing and a set of axles that are thick 30" long BBP.

my moser A-body axles are 28" long.

this is why i was asking how long are the axles he has are.
Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/26/12 11:17 PM

Dr Diff is out your way. check with Cass he is a great member for axle work.
Posted By: DrCharles

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/26/12 11:24 PM

"He" is me Thanks for the input.

But "a little" narrower takes me right back to the 57" A-body housing width doesn't it? I need about 3-4" less than my 60"... and I already have BBP rims
Posted By: dogdays

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/26/12 11:34 PM

The A-body brake spacing is peculiar to A-bodies and doesn't interchange with all other Mopar rear brakes.

If you could find a big bolt pattern A-body rear that was complete, it'd work and probably be cheap, because it's probably going to be an 8.25. If you bite the bullet and get your axle narrowed, it'll cost but it'll be done.

Often times I spend more trying to cheap something together than it would cost just to buy what I need.

R.
Posted By: RobX4406

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/26/12 11:46 PM

It's going to be $500ish to shorten and get new axles.

You can't shorten the stock B body axles, unless you go very short.

Get your wheel and tire combo, put it under the car and get a total width measurement. Any good axle guy can get you the right width housing and axles to center the tires/wheels in your tubs.

An A body rear with BBP axles in it will move the rim in about 1" per side,total width about 57.9". If you have tons of room to the inside, that may not be enough.
Posted By: DrCharles

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 12:55 AM

Narrowing it is...

Quote:

Dr Diff is out your way. check with Cass he is a great member for axle work.



I have seen plenty of good things about Dr. Diff but the website says he's in Montana... and I'm in Missouri. Not exactly next door
Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 07:42 AM

See if you can buy, trade, steal or swap for a 1965 B body rear end, not from a station wagon though The 1965 B bodys are the narrowest B body housing with the standard 5x4.5 bolt patterns I think there right at one to one and a half inches narrower than the 1967 and later B bodys, not sure about 1966 B bodys, sorry
Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 01:28 PM

Quote:

Narrowing it is...

Quote:

Dr Diff is out your way. check with Cass he is a great member for axle work.



I have seen plenty of good things about Dr. Diff but the website says he's in Montana... and I'm in Missouri. Not exactly next door



from here in Florida,Montana & Missouri are out that way. no?

Posted By: Dodgem

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 02:30 PM

Is it just me or does 60 inches sound like a big C body rear thought A bodies were around 53"???
Posted By: savoy64

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 02:48 PM

dont cut up the B body axle---you just cant readily find them--cut up a c-body or truck/van axle-and use the c-body brakes and backing plates too-----bob
Posted By: babarracuda

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 03:03 PM

My 67 Barracuda has axels shortened 2", mini tubbed. I have a friend who does everything hot rod (his business), springs under the frame rails. Moser shortened the axels. It was done around 2003. I found that a short cut ( geting it done cheaply )is the quickest way to a place you don't want to go. You will forget the cost in a while but, you will never forget lousy work.

Attached picture 7396637-P1010002.jpg
Posted By: GomangoCuda

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 03:05 PM

Quote:

Is it just me or does 60 inches sound like a big C body rear thought A bodies were around 53"???




from the archives:

8 3/4" rear end widths, drum-to-drum:
A BODY
'66-'72= 57 1/8"

B BODY
'62-'63= 58 1/2" (And '64 Max Wedge)
'64 = 60 7/8" (Exc.Max Wedge)
'65-'67= 59 1/2"
'68-'70= 60 1/8"
'71-'74= 63"
'71-'73 wagon= 64 3/8"

C BODY

'65-'69= 61.75"
'70-'71= 63.0" (Chrysler & Fury)
'70-'73= 64 3/8" (and '69 wagon)

IMPERIAL
'65-'66= 61 15/16"
'67-'69= 62 5/16"
'70-'71= 59 3/4"
'72-'73= 64 9/16"

E BODY
'70-'74= 61 5/8"
Posted By: TC@HP2

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 03:42 PM

Call me silly, but wouldn't it be cheaper to simply get different wheels than to cut down or replace a housing and axles?

But, you are now making a '72 look more like an '02 with the extreme positive offset. Maybe getting anarrowed rear is the correct answer to maintaining a period look and the wheel width you want.

So, perhaps the interim answer is use a 8" cop car wheel until you get the bones to make a new axle set up.
Posted By: DrCharles

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 04:26 PM

No, you're not being silly, but the problem is that no usable tires will fit until I get it narrowed or get another rear... and the 8" backspacing on my 10" rims is the maximum possible. I suppose I could use a dually wheel but now I'm being silly

(Even with the stock skinnies on 5" rims, the sidewalls are only 1/2" from the inner fender lips)

Besides, I prefer the sleeper look of steel rims without that "deep-dish" Pro Street vibe. From the side, just how big the tires are will not be immediately obvious, and from behind... well, I'm already in front!
Posted By: RobX4406

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 05:02 PM

A 65-67 rear likely won't be short enough. It's only 5/8" total shorter than what you currently have.

Minitubbed/relocated spring you can put a 325/50/15 under a dart without much issue.

You can also figure out what length you need bolting them to your current rear and using some math.

Good luck
Posted By: 446acuda

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 05:16 PM

At the point you are at you might as well build a cheap Dana 60 using a truck housing and easy to find ebay /junkyard pieces like a power lok or even the easier to find trac lok and 8-3/4 housing ends or better yet big ford housing ends. It takes some planning a scrounging but it can be done cheaply.
Posted By: SNK-EYZ

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 05:18 PM

Here's a place just west of St.Louis off I-44 that could do what you need. http://bdfab.com/

From their website.
Quote:


B & D Fabrication • 106 Jamie Court • Villa Ridge, MO 63089 • 636-742-2929

B & D FABRICATIONS IS A MIDWEST LEADER IN REBUILDING REAR ENDS!
Locally owned and operated since 1995, B & D Fabrications specializes in axle resplining, narrowed housings, differential set-up, installing posi units, bolt pattern changes, and we stock new and used parts. We've also partnered up with ARB Air Locker, Motive Gear, Trail Gear, and offer high quality disc brakes to provide you with some of the best gear for your ride!!
B & D Fabrications also has a full machine shop and can help you customize parts that will keep on or off road!

Our motto is "Our responsibility to you, our customer, really begins after the sale. Your continued satisfaction is part of our obligation and that means SERVICE. Only with thorough, efficient and on-time service can we earn your continued patronage."



Dan Smith, The guy that built my Hemi also builds rear ends and narrows housings.
I can give you his number too in a pm if you want.
Posted By: DrCharles

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 05:37 PM

Quote:

Here's a place just west of St.Louis off I-44 that could do what you need. http://bdfab.com/



Getting warmer, that's only 170 miles from my house and I do travel to St. Louis regularly...

Quote:

Dan Smith, The guy that built my Hemi also builds rear ends and narrows housings.
I can give you his number too in a pm if you want.



Where's he located? thanks.
Posted By: DrCharles

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 06:21 PM

I'm getting tired of calling shops that are either out of business, don't do narrowing, don't have the jig for 8-3/4, or worse yet "bring it by and we'll take a look at it".

I'm probably going to end up shipping the empty housing somewhere. Hopefully not that expensive on my FedEx (Ground) account. One of the disadvantages of living in a rural area...

Anyone know what an empty 8-3/4 housing weighs?
Posted By: RobX4406

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 06:55 PM

Quote:

I'm getting tired of calling shops that are either out of business, don't do narrowing, don't have the jig for 8-3/4, or worse yet "bring it by and we'll take a look at it".

I'm probably going to end up shipping the empty housing somewhere. Hopefully not that expensive on my FedEx (Ground) account. One of the disadvantages of living in a rural area...

Anyone know what an empty 8-3/4 housing weighs?



Send it to Cass or Moser.
Posted By: Fat_Mike

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 07:18 PM

I shipped one (A-Body housing) via the USPS about 7 years ago, and it was surprisingly inexpensive. Plug some guestimated numbers here: http://postcalc.usps.com/ Just to give you an idea, I plugged in 62"X12"X12" and 70 LBS, put in zip codes from Florida to California, and it came up under $100. For packaging, I cleaned it real well, put a couple layers of cardboard over the center section studs, and wrapped it in brown shipping paper. That's it...hope it helps.
Posted By: SNK-EYZ

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 07:29 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Here's a place just west of St.Louis off I-44 that could do what you need. http://bdfab.com/



Getting warmer, that's only 170 miles from my house and I do travel to St. Louis regularly...

Quote:

Dan Smith, The guy that built my Hemi also builds rear ends and narrows housings.
I can give you his number too in a pm if you want.



Where's he located? thanks.



Dan is in south county, Bayless about 1/2 mile from I-55 and the Bayless exit.
Posted By: RobX4406

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 07:37 PM

If a bare housing weighs 30#, I'd be surprised.

WP, MO to Indiana 60x12x10 at 30# is under $20 according to the USPS site via Parcel Post
Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 07:53 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I'm getting tired of calling shops that are either out of business, don't do narrowing, don't have the jig for 8-3/4, or worse yet "bring it by and we'll take a look at it".

I'm probably going to end up shipping the empty housing somewhere. Hopefully not that expensive on my FedEx (Ground) account. One of the disadvantages of living in a rural area...

Anyone know what an empty 8-3/4 housing weighs?



Send it to Cass or Moser.





best bang for the buck even with shipping.
Posted By: rbstroker

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 09/27/12 11:24 PM

I have all my work done by Moser Engineering. They're not too far out of Indy.
Posted By: toplescuda

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 10/02/12 02:46 AM

If was me id yank the rear out put your wheels exactly where you want them to set in the wheel tub measure from back of rim to back of rim
send housing and axels off to either moser or strange (strange is in il. Moser is in indiana)
Have them back in a week be done with it
Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Narrow the rear or get another housing? - 10/02/12 03:43 AM

Quote:

If was me id yanke the rear out put your wheels exactly where you want them to set in the wheel tub measure from back of rim to back of rim. Have them back in a week be done with it

& double check your measurements/get em dead on
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