Axle swap???

[patrick66]

Can you swap 1966-later axles and complete rear brake assemblies (including backing plates and all) onto a 1965-older 8-3/4" axle housing? If so, is this a practical swap-out?

 

[57fury440]

I'm pretty sure that will not work. The earlier system uses the tapered axels. I swapped the complete housing into my 57. I had the spring mounts relocated to fit. It was easy enough.

 

[gyknot]

pretty sure 1964 was the last year for tapered axles.

 

[CBODY67]

I would hazzard to suspect that a '66 Newport 8 3/4 assy would go into a '65 Newport as a bolt-in situation. 1964 and prior would not work, I suspect, as that's a different body series with different spring location (as in leaf spring mount width on the axle tubes) architecture. But I would highly suspect that the axles might swap in the 1965-1968 (maybe 1969 or up till 1973, provided that the appropriate TorsionQuiet ride attachments are used past 1969?), although the wider rear track of the 1970+ C-body cars might not clear the quarter panels of the slabs.

Are there any differences in the rear u-joint between the 1965 and 1966 C-body cars?

Just some suspicions . . .
CBODY67

 

[69PHOENIX]

O.K.
Now a Comment AND I'm NOT trying to Offend BUT Your Request is Not Completely Clear.
Is it a 65 Model you are Trying to Work on or Something Older?
Because 65 to my Knowledge is when Everything Changed.
As gyknot stated 64 was the last of the Tapered Axles.
To My knowledge about the only thing that interchanges between a 64 Key Way Axle Diff & a 65 Slip Drum Model is the Centres.
Can't Speak for the States But here in the Mystical Land of OZ where we Ran 65 - 72 Plymouths as Re-badged Dodge Phoenix's the Following is Fairly Accurate.
65 - 66 Diffs were Identical, (Around 60-60.5 Inches Wheel Track ) 67 - 68 Diffs were Identical to Each other but Approx 1.5 Inches wider in the Track than the 65-66, 69-72 Diffs were Again Identical to each other But Again Approx 1.5 Inches Wider in the Track than the 67-68.
Obviously the Axles, being longer, can't be Interchanged, But from Memory Centres & Brake Assemblies can be. Keeping in Mind that the Later BB Cars had 2.5 inch Drums & Shoes so the Whole Assembly must be used as Backing Plates are Deeper.
The Spring Saddles I Think, (And here the Memory grows Shaky) are all the same Spacing between the 65-72 (Double Check That)
I Slipped a 66 Charger Assembly Under my 59 Custom Royal and was Delighted to Find that the 11 Inch Brake Drum Assemblies Bolted up where the 10 Inch Assemblies had been.
Had to have the Spring Saddles moved to suit the Custom Royal of course.
Hand Brake Cables had to be made Etc., but no Great Drama.
As I Remember the Difference in U-Joints in 65 was they did away with the Front Trunnion Joint & went with a "modern" Uni.
So I can't see there being a Problem there.
I'm planning to run a 67-68 Housing under my 69 Sedan as this gives me 1.5 Inches Extra Clearance for my 10 x 15 Rims.
Now this may all be a load of Waffle or it Might actually be Helpful, I Sincerely Hope it Proves to be the Latter.
Kind Regards, Tony.M
P.S. I have a Vague Memory of Larger & Smaller Yokes & Uni's But I think that might be more to do with later BB Vehicles. (I might be Wrong, I remember the Last Time I was Wrong, it was July of 1954.........................LOL)

 

[patrick66]

I found a '64 D100 with the tapered axles and has cracked/damaged drums (the owner tried everything wrong to remove them). I also have a '68 D100 8-3/4" axle housing that is cracked., but is complete, otherwise. The axles and all appear to be good. Take all from the cracked axle housing and move to the earlier axle housing. Current plan.

 

[57fury440]

The ends on the housings are different. I'm pretty sure that will not work.

 

[John Kirby]

O.K.
Now a Comment AND I'm NOT trying to Offend BUT Your Request is Not Completely Clear.
Is it a 65 Model you are Trying to Work on or Something Older?
Because 65 to my Knowledge is when Everything Changed.
As gyknot stated 64 was the last of the Tapered Axles.
To My knowledge about the only thing that interchanges between a 64 Key Way Axle Diff & a 65 Slip Drum Model is the Centres.
Can't Speak for the States But here in the Mystical Land of OZ where we Ran 65 - 72 Plymouths as Re-badged Dodge Phoenix's the Following is Fairly Accurate.
65 - 66 Diffs were Identical, (Around 60-60.5 Inches Wheel Track ) 67 - 68 Diffs were Identical to Each other but Approx 1.5 Inches wider in the Track than the 65-66, 69-72 Diffs were Again Identical to each other But Again Approx 1.5 Inches Wider in the Track than the 67-68.
Obviously the Axles, being longer, can't be Interchanged, But from Memory Centres & Brake Assemblies can be. Keeping in Mind that the Later BB Cars had 2.5 inch Drums & Shoes so the Whole Assembly must be used as Backing Plates are Deeper.
The Spring Saddles I Think, (And here the Memory grows Shaky) are all the same Spacing between the 65-72 (Double Check That)
I Slipped a 66 Charger Assembly Under my 59 Custom Royal and was Delighted to Find that the 11 Inch Brake Drum Assemblies Bolted up where the 10 Inch Assemblies had been.
Had to have the Spring Saddles moved to suit the Custom Royal of course.
Hand Brake Cables had to be made Etc., but no Great Drama.
As I Remember the Difference in U-Joints in 65 was they did away with the Front Trunnion Joint & went with a "modern" Uni.
So I can't see there being a Problem there.
I'm planning to run a 67-68 Housing under my 69 Sedan as this gives me 1.5 Inches Extra Clearance for my 10 x 15 Rims.
Now this may all be a load of Waffle or it Might actually be Helpful, I Sincerely Hope it Proves to be the Latter.
Kind Regards, Tony.M
P.S. I have a Vague Memory of Larger & Smaller Yokes & Uni's But I think that might be more to do with later BB Vehicles. (I might be Wrong, I remember the Last Time I was Wrong, it was July of 1954.........................LOL)

I changed my rims and tires to a much wider size. I don't think using an axle 1.5" shorter will buy you much. All that will do is move the tire closer to the springs. There is a web site that discusses rim width and offset. Goes over how to measure and correctly figure out max rim width and the correct offset. A straight edge, tape measure and calculator is all you need. Most aftermarket rims come in various offsets.

 

[patrick66]

The axle brake backing plates are indeed different. Probably wont be worth the effort