8 1/4 rearend in a 69 small block Charger

[keith88]

I have a 8 1/4 rear in my 69 Charger yet the service manual for it shows no such rear listed for the car did they come stock that way or do you think it was added at a later time? also if any one has any info or links on any specs on it ,it would be much appreciated.

[hatersaurusrex]

Don't think so - pretty sure even the /6 cars came with an 8.75.

When I bought my '68 someone had slid an 8.25 under it.  It had been used for racing so I'm assuming the PO had a nicely built the 8.75 and didn't want it going with the car.   Should have looked more closely when I bought the car 

[Drache]

Started in '69 they were added to the Small block Chargers. I think it was a mid year deal. The reason it's not showing in the manual was because they were printed before the 8-1/4 was introduced.

There are a couple members here with numbers matching and surviving '69 Chargers that have the 8-1/4

[Dino]

Does it show this on the fender tag?  My car was a June or July build with 318/904 but had big block goodies by the time I found it so i'm not sure what axle it originally had.

[69CoronetRT]

Does it show this on the fender tag? 

No.

[keith88]

Does it show this on the fender tag?  My car was a June or July build with 318/904 but had big block goodies by the time I found it so i'm not sure what axle it originally had.

My car did not have the fender tag by the time i got it, sure wish it had would tell me so much!

[Kern Dog]

My 70 had a 2.71 gear 8 1/4" axle originally. My car was built as a "500" model with a 318.

[keith88]

OK looks like it probably came on the car, anyone have a specs on it i cant find any online and it not listed in the service Manual. Like a oil capacity maybe gear ratio available. 

[Drache]

OK looks like it probably came on the car, anyone have a specs on it i cant find any online and it not listed in the service Manual. Like a oil capacity maybe gear ratio available.  

I remember reading something about them coming with a 2.71

[Alaskan_TA]

The page above is from a 32 page TSB. You can read the whole thing page by page at http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/1969-Dodge-TSB-Index.shtml

It is TSB No. D69-3-1 in the menu.

[fy469rtse]

Dino
thankfully previous owner did you a favour and blew that up , replacing it with a much stronger unit 

[Dino]

Dino
thankfully previous owner did you a favour and blew that up , replacing it with a much stronger unit 

Yep that was a bonus!  I was looking for a small block car with absolutely no pedgree so I could feel good giving it my personal touches, and I found just that but the 318 was gone and everything was replaced with the good bits from a 71 squad car.   

[Mike DC]

  
It's almost surely the factory setup for that car.  They started using the 8.25 rear on the smallblocks in 1969.  And it's not like the earlier 318/auto cars have a habit of blowing up their original 8.75 rears.

[keith88]

Thanks Drache that gives me more info than i had, wounder how many chargers ended up with these and when did they start? ( early or late year)

[Drache]

Thanks Drache that gives me more info than i had, wounder how many chargers ended up with these and when did they start? ( early or late year)

I believe it was mid to late year as you can still find many '69 Chargers with a 318 and a factory 8-3/4 rear, more than the 8-1/4. I think that's what created the confusion and misunderstanding that the 8-1/4 isn't stock to a '69 Charger.

[Argos_Chargers]

I blew out 2 8.25's in my '70 before I upgraded to an 8.75 and a 727.  The original owner was a family man which was just what the 318, 904, 8.25 set up was made for.  Less weight, better fuel economy and something that a "normal" driver would never have any trouble with.

[keith88]

I blew out 2 8.25's in my '70 before I upgraded to an 8.75 and a 727.  The original owner was a family man which was just what the 318, 904, 8.25 set up was made for.  Less weight, better fuel economy and something that a "normal" driver would never have any trouble with.

When you blew them up did it have the 318 and what were you doing at the time, was it being beat on or was it normal driving.

[500Jon]

OMG an 8.25 in a 69 Charger, is that possible???
And what crazy person ordered a 69 Charger with a SIXPOT too!
There's going cheap and there's LUNACY!!!
Quick get it outta there and delete thread before any one finds out LOL>

Only pulling ya leg fella.
If it goes along the road then HATS-OFF to ya!!!
5J

ps got a couple of 69 Charger 8.75's here if you wanna stump up for shipping LoL!
pps what's a NORMAL Charger driver look like???

[Argos_Chargers]

I was 21.  Normal driving was beating on it!  I'm still running the original 318 block (on its 2nd rebuild at 321,000 miles).

The first week I had it I was still running the high profile tires on the steel wheels and had it up to 115 in traffic on the freeway.  I don't think that car had ever been over 80 before that. 

I was a pretty big shock to it's system. 

we both survived my 20's (and 30's).  Things are usually a bit more mellow now.

[keith88]

Uh yes been there to, had my 70 at that time myself,but it had a 383 with an 8 3/4 but still I broke it. Now I'm 50 with a 69 and not as hard on my cars but i will have to keep that in mind that its not the top of the line equipment in this base model. Thanks for the info.