If the front is still to wide the. I will tackle that issue after I get the rear sorted out. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
What's the overall width on the rear axle now? I'd take a hard look at an Explorer 8.8" rear axle in a posi, at 3.73 or 4.10 ratio. They're all over the wrecking yards here, and $200 at Pick N Pull. They are about 58" wide, but have an offset differential in an Explorer. If you find one from a Mustang or a Ranger 2wd they are centered. The ones with the offset are nice if you want to narrow them to 55", as it only requires the long side tube to be narrowed 3", and a short side axle installed. I had one narrowed locally and it cost me $50 to have the tube done, and bought an axle from the wrecking yard for $40. Cheap! They also come in disc or drum, dpending on what you need. Pre '94 are drum, and '94 up are disc.
Man thanks for all the great info there I will take a measurement when I get home. I'm not sure who narrows them around here anymore. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
It's the goofy ass tires on the rears I'm not even sure what the hell they are other than some sort of mickey thompsons. The rims are some copies from e-bay. It's all wrong wheel and tire wise.. I'm just not sure if I like them sticking out passed the quarters or not. I know it was how it was done at one poinT in history, but not sure if I'm the one that needs to repeat it. On some cars it looks ok, just not sure if it does on this one.... Maybe if it had the right tire it might look ok... Not sure.
I'm trying hard NOT to make my '63 into a big ass project. Check out, I'm gonna say it....S-10 rear ends, pretty damn narrow for a factory axle. Come with 4 3/4 bp but the Darts are a bastard for wheels anyway.
how narrow Is a ranger or explorer 8.8...? guessing with a s10 on a A body , your thinking 3" back 8"wheels..? (tricks)
Sorry man. Grew up in the San Fernando Valley in the late '60's and "Dodge Dart Driver" was a euphemism that had the same general stigma as Volvo's with Baby - On - Board stickers and Subaru Forresters in Portlandia. like the coupe in the avatar though . .
I get about 65" to the outside edges of the wheels(8" or 8.5" not sure) on my S-10 axle pictured on the Corvair above.
First off, Cool dart. If your going to swap rear ends, make sure it will take the abuse your 383 will throw at it. There was a guy selling an A body 8.75 rear housing on the HAMB classified yesterday. That would be plenty strong and a bolt in. I wouldn't use an S-10 rear behind anything that I plan to drive hard, especially behind a big block. The 8.8 may be strong and plentiful, but are far from a bolt in.
I don't know off the top of my head, but when I was looking for a narrow rear end, the S-10 came in narrower than most anything available. And yeah, trick 8s, pretty sure would fit. I have the rear end and may install it one day, but I'm really trying to not spend much time with this car, 'least for now. Pickup first.
Then drag out yer shitbox chebbie and I'll kick your bowtie ass around the planet. I am so sick and tired of the big fuss being made over this "Identity Crisis" sled with its 383 chevy. 12.53? Man, my tow rig runs that fast. 030 over 360 Chrysler, untouched J's and a .557 Lunati goes 11.30's on av gas.
Early A-Bodies are always cool...find the right wheels/tire for your '63 and your set. Here is my '65 Valiant with 354 inches of Chrysler HEMI, I just got the polished Torq Thrusts for the rear!
Since I was friends with the late Dick Ott who held the F/S national record in 1966-67 with a 1965 273 Dart with a 2 barrel carb that ran high 13's in the 1/4 mile, I'd have to argue any comparison to a Volvo or Subaru! Tell me how many cars with a small block engine, and 2 brl. carb you know of that can get under 15 sec. in the 1/4, let alone that quick?
During hi school in 1966, I worked for the local Richfield station as a gas jockey. One of the owners of the station had a pretty new black '65 Dart that had a 273 in it. He always tried to get it quicker, and kept searching for more power. He finally bought an old full sized Dodge ex police car with a 413 wedge and a 727 torqueflite, and we shoe horned it into the Dart. No room for headers, so we built up a pair of fenderwell headers. Then the suspension wouldn't hold it with the torsion bars adjusted all the way up, so we dropped a Dodge van axle in the front! Boy was that a fun and scary ride! He got to be pretty well known around the cruise scene quickly, and word got out not to mess with the black Dart with a straight axle!
Got the rear-end dropped out , gonna order tires tomorrow and figured I would go ahead and start with cleaning up the leaf spring tub. And fixing things I don't like.
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