8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

'64 Dart 273-2V 4 spd- will a 8 3/4 rear hold up? If braced? Thanks

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

i am interested in this too

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

After you do all the mods to make the 8 3/4 live you will realize you could have done a Dana. A well built Dana will be within 15 lbs of an 8 3/4 and has less parasitic loss and you will never break it.

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

But, to your original question, it will hold up just fine.

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

The Chrysler 8 3/4 is a good piece. There was a time it was found under many drag race cars, even the Don Hardy Vega conversions.

Because you are building a relatively low power package I think the 8 3/4 is the best choice. In addition, assemble it with very little pre-load on all bearings. Basically, just take the slack out. When assembled, it should be very easy to rotate.

Considering your engine choice, ANYTHING that reduces rotating drag will be of value.

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

Do I limit myself to 4.88 gears due to the taper and the harsh launch of the 4 spd?

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

Considering your engine choice, ANYTHING that reduces rotating drag will be of value

That is why a Dana is a better choice. Economics, Durability and Drag. A Dana can be built for virtually the same money, it will never break and it is worth ET. Seems like a no brainer, but that is just me.

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

I agree with Rod ......... I have never had great success with a 4 speed and
slicks with even a good 8 3/4. Now that we run two steps we are eliminating them from about everything. I have broken several 8 3/4s
before two steps even in our 318 O/SA ( Even with Pro Gears and braced
Housings ). The cost difference is not very much between the two alternatives.

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

A good hooking car with a 4-speed will kill a 8 3/4. We used the original 8 3/4 in the Road Runner(4-speed) and killed it,went with Dana 60 car ran the same. Demon had 8 3/4 and 727,broke it too,put a Dana 60 in it and never worried again on rear end stuff.

You will spend more beefing a 8 3/4 than just going to a Dana 60 in the first place. Plus like I said,one less thing to worry about.

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

I was looking at my inventory and I have several 8 3/4 on the shelf. I also have a Dana 60 from a newer Ram truck. It looks a little different from one in storage that is from an older car probably a RR. Dana is a Dana by NHRA rules? No modern 9" rear for older cars vs New Drag Packs and I know you can't use the Moser sheet metal 8 3/4. Just want to make sue before going in that direction.Although I still have second thoughts and questions about using the 8 3/4. I had one in a B/A car with clutchflite and a wedge motor and it never broke.

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

A friend of mine put an 8 and 3/4 under his F body, ran it two years, never broke it. High 10's in the quarter at 3,100 lbs. just my experience.

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

Depends on flywheel. If it's a steel 30# it will not stand up, rip the teeth off the ring gear. Something with adjustability maybe you can make it work. Good luck

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

Well, as Emily Litella used to say, "Never Mind".

I'll probably use the 8-3/4" in my Dart with the 273 but will have a 904TF to cushion the blow.

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

By the time you do all the 8 3/4 fixes you will realize you coulda had a Dana. But by all means put an 8 3/4 in it. If you want to clean out your 8 3/4 parts supply. Always enough money to do it over but never enough money to do it right.

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

Dana, set it and forget it.

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

Gotta agree on the Dana 60. I don`t race a MoPar, but I do have a low 10, high 9 second Ford bracket car that I have been racing with a 4 speed for 17 years, with a Dana 60.From 1988 thru 1999, I ran the same car with an automatic and transbrake, using a 9" with 33 spline spool & axles.
When I switched the car over to the 4 speed Jerico, I decided my existing 9 inch was not enough, and after some researching, it was actually cheaper to sell my old 9" and build a Dana 60. The Dana has beem absolutely bulletproof for 17 years of 6000 plus RPM clutch dumps.
From what I understand about 8 3/4s is that with the lower gear ratios, the teeth on the ring gear get really short, and tend to break. I know several MoPar racers that spent a lot of time and money using, breaking, and repairing their 8 3/4s, before biting the bullet and either doing a Dana 60 or a 9" Ford (when rules allow), and I can`t recall any of them that went with a Dana not saying that they wish they would have done it years earlier. If you have a bunch of 8 3/4" stuff, I would sell it and use that money towards the Dana.

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

Another vote for the Dana 60. You will not regret going with the Dana. The 8 ¾ might hold up in your application for a while, but the likelihood of breakage is probably good. Have a small block stocker with a Jerico, and have had zero issues since installing the Dana 60. Can’t tell you how many 8 ¾ gear sets I broke before the Dana (slow learner). Also, there’s another Class Racer thread about the efficiency of the Dana 60 vs. other axles due to its hypoid gear pressure angle – Mr. Greene alluded to that. Another bonus!

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

As someone who has run this combo in A and B bodies for over 2 decades I can tell you that it will eat 8 3/4 ring and pinions like a kid eating Halloween candy. A slow stick car needs to be built like an A car if you want it to be reliable and live. A Dana 60 will end the work on that part of the car. Then again I have been told I build slow cars to overkill. My U/S belvedere ate 2 ring and pinions in 3 races and that was the end of the 8 3/4.

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

Might add to above (from who I would do whatever he told me) if you ain't spinning, you're breaking. Something has to slip or flex. It's all about the launch and once you make it "soft" on the rear, you're not getting the full potential out of your car. IMO.
MIKE

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

My personal experience replacing a 8 3/4 with a standard, no tricks Dana 60 is that the car ran the same. I was not able to take out any weight. In a car that you could remove ballast in my opinion the Dana would be faster. Plus in anything but a very high horsepower car it will last forever.

Bill

Re: 8 3/4 and a 4spd
 

Mr Wann showed me that I do not have a high HP car, but my Dana was bought in 1991 and has a few runs on it. I do change oil in it every other year, it still looks very good. 1000 plus runs. Cheapest thing I ever bought.