CHEAP rear axle options for a 73 Dart Sport ?

Soon I'm going to fix up a 73 Dart Sport 340 to sell. The 73 model is supposed to have an 8 1/4" unit with 3,21 or 3.55 gears. Currently the car has a B body 8 3/4" axle. I'd rather keep the B axle for another project. These cars are really thinning out at our wrecking yards so I'm looking outside of a factory A body axle for this car.
I'm thinking of using another model of 8 1/4" axle. I thought I read somewher that Jeep Cherokees and Dakotas used these and the widths are close. Anyone here ever tried these? I'm aware that I will need to weld spring perches on.
Thanks, Greg

corret. a 94 jeep cherokee has the 43" perch centers..you will have to move them to the bottom of axle tube.

IIRC, it is same as A-body axle width or very close.

you can find the 8 1/4 or a dana 30/35 in the jeeps.

the DAK rear axle are B-body size IIRC..or they use B-body 8 3/4 under them..

durango 8 1/4 or 9 1/4 may be a option..they look to have a 43" perch center but I have not been around one to measure yet.

I have the A-body 8 3/4 in my 88-440 truck tucking 12" wide rims in the fenders. when I measured up the 94 jeep axle it got me the same measurements. drum to drum and spring perch (just wrong side of tube...used the top perches to line up the lower perches with the u-bolts)

the ferd exploder 8.8 is another one ez to stick under A-body disc brakes 3.73/4.10 gears.

the early 64-65 mustangs have the 9" or 8" rear axle that will fit under the A-body.. not sure if it bolts right in but supposed to be correct drum to drum.

good luck junk yarding

I would think another 8.25 from a Dart or Duster would be the easiest option, usually people are giving them away and its a drop in. I had a good one here in CT I could not give away for $150

I'm not so sure about that. People seem to be getting stupid money for A-body parts over on FABO.

Besides the width and spring perch locations, take into consideration the pinion offset when shopping for an alternate rear end.

last guy put a cherokee 8.25 into my 73 dart sport. if I was to do it I would do the ford 8.8.

The 8-1/4 is strong enough for a typical street car. The weak link are the axles. They taper near the differential.

Dutchman builds some nice axles without the taper and at a good price. Kirk stuck them in his 75 Dart with a 3.55 limited slip out of a Dakota.

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drum to drum and spring perch (just wrong side of tube...used the top perches to line up the lower perches with the u-bolts)

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Michael I am in that same position with perches. did you just locate the new perches underneath (vertical plumb) from the OE top ones via the ubolts to locate the axle side to side? and then tilted the housing down to get the right nose down angle you wanted & then welded em?