early A-body rear end options -Jeep?

I am looking for a new rear end for the 66 Barracuda. 8 3/4 s are availible but an over kill for the car. I want rear disk for the old girl and buying a replacement rear for the 7 1/4 is a good idea since a replacement engine for the /6 is in line also. I have not verified but Iwas told there are a few Jeep rear axles from new Jeeps that will almost perfectly fit (minus small tweeking like drive shaft yoke, spring perch tweek, ext).

If this is true they are reasonable at the junk yards and great for keping it Chrysler.

Any input to confirm this rumor or dis-prove it? Has anyone actually done this?
Future engine is a possible v-6 from a new Dodge with 300hp.

Thanks,
Joe

Did this tweaking cover the change in bolt patterns? The Cuda has 5 on 4", the Jeep 5 on 4.5".

Last guy who owned my 73 dart sport put a cherokee rear diff in it. It fits, however it's a little too wide IMO.

If I was to do it, I would put in a ford explorer 8.8 rear diff. One side is longer than the other so you need to grab a spare axle shaft and have one side cut down, but all in all a better fit I think than the cherokee 8.25.

Either way you will have rim issues. The cherokee diff would work with some rims with extra backspacing. The explorer diff would need ford bolt pattern rims.

This change is good for the bolt pattern upgrade as well. I want to go to the 5 X 4.5".

I did however find out the ring and pinion only was taken from the jeep. Not the whole rear end. I miss-understood.

I thought about the 8.8 swap but if I want to go that route I won't keep it all Chrysler. I'll get a 8 3/4 rear and just bolt it in with a bolt on disk kit.

Thank for the help.
Joe

look at valiant-duster-dart rearends---a while back i found a posi 8.25 at the pickapart under i think a 72 dart....

Wasn't stock, aside from the "posi", the 72's all had the 4" bolt pattern and there were no 4" bolt pattern 8 1/4's So someone probably swapped it in.

73 and up A bodies have the 8 1/4, but around here there are none in the yards anymore.

If you need an 8.25" Joe I have one under the '75 parts Dart.

94 jeep cherokee share the A-body 43" spring perch center BUT are on the wrong side of tube for axle over spring.

BUT I used them to line up the set I weld on.

I have an A-body 8 3/4 in my 88 D100 truck to tuck 12" rims in the fenders. 12" wide 4.5 backspace with 29x15x15 M/Ts

the 94 jeep rear axle is a real close close to A-body specs.

I have used the jeep axle in the D series trucks to get 3.73 & 4.10 gears tucking the 12 in the fenders. SB seems ok/BB not so much.

I will be getting a 98 with disc brakes and will burn off the coil spring stuff and add perches on 43" center next for a 76 truck.

I only wish I found this info when I had my 68 Dart