What was the stock automatic transmission and rearend for a 1969 318 Charger?

[MaximRecoil]

Mine has a 904 and an 8¼" rearend (2.71:1).

My mechanic friend says that the 318 Satellites, Coronets, etc. from the same time period that he remembers working on had a 727 and an 8¾" rearend. He said all the Chargers did too, though he only remembers working on Chargers with a 383.

I looked in my 1969 Charger/Coronet/Dart FSM and it didn't mention an 8¼" in the rearend section; it only listed the 7¼", 8¾", and the 9¾" (Dana 60).

If the 8¼" rearend wasn't available on the 1969 Charger, was it available on the 1970 Charger? My car has some 1970 Charger parts, such as the seats and interior door panels, which suggests some previous owner had access to a 1970 Charger parts car.

[Kern Dog]

Thats how my 70 was equipped. I had the same axle ratio too.

[chargerbr549]

I remember a similiar topic awhile back but I can't find the thread right now, but from what I understand was the 8 3/4 axle was pretty much standard on the b bodies up till 1968 except for the Hemi and 440 4speed cars and in 69 they started using the 8 1/4 axles behind 318 with automatics as standard equipment but the 8 3/4 was optional and came with everything else except for the Hemi and 440 4speed cars.

[Mike DC]

The 8.25 rear appeared starting in '69.  In 1968 the 318 Chargers still got 8.75 rears.

[Dino]

My 69 was a 318 car and had a 904 trans but I have no idea what axle it had since it's long gone.

[Road Dog]

mine was a 904 and 8 1/4 with 2:76 gears. Still running the same gears unopened after over 450,000 miles

[MaximRecoil]

So judging from the replies, the 8¼" rearend did indeed come stock in '69 318 Chargers. Does anyone know why the 8¼" was left out of the '69 Charger/Coronet/Dart factory service manual? That seems like a huge oversight on Chrysler's part, unless it is an oversight on my part, but I only see the 7¼", 8¾", and the 9¾" listed in the contents for the rear axle section:



There is also this Hemmings article, which suggests that 8¼" rearends were only used in passenger cars starting in 1972:

"Used extensively in passenger cars beginning in 1972, the 8 1/4-inch housing also was used in 1971 and newer Dodge B-vans and pickups."

And their list of potential 8¼" donor cars shows nothing earlier than 1972.

As a sidenote, look at their list of trucks and vans that had the 8¼":

   • 1974-'77 Ramcharger and Trailduster
   • 1981-'90 B-200, 250 and 350
   • 1971-'80 B-300
   • 1969-'77 W-100, D-100, P-200, P-300
   • 1971-'77 B-100
   • 1983-'90 W-250 and W-350
   • 1969-'78 W-300 and D-300
   • 1974-'77 W-400
   • 1981-'83 W-150
   • 1978-'90 D-150, D-250
   • 1972-'77 D-200
   • 1981-'90 D-350
   • 1987-'02 Dakota pickup
   • 1997-'02 Durango
   • 1902-'06 Jeep Liberty

There are 1-ton pickups and vans on that list ... and even a W400? An 8¼" rearend under a 1¼-ton truck? Is that list accurate? I can't imagine anything less than a Dana 70 under a 1¼-ton truck.

By the way, were there any other pre-1972 passenger cars that came stock with the 8¼" rearend, or was it just the Charger?

[Ryan.C]

My '69 318 904 has an 8 1/4 with 2:76 open gears.
I recall a Mopar Muscle article years ago that stated the 8 1/4 first appeared in late 1968 small block chargers. ill see if i can find it to verify

[66FBCharger]

My '70 Satellite (318, auto) bought from the original owner has the 8 1/4 rear in it.

[Cooter]

My brothers R/T had a 440 auto with 8 3/4rear...

[MaximRecoil]

My brothers R/T had a 440 auto with 8 3/4rear...

As far as I know, all of the 440 automatic Chargers had the 8¾" rearend by default, while the 440 4-speed cars had the Dana 60.

[flyinlow]

Buddy's '69 318 Charger had a 904 and a 8.25.  Remember them well. He liked to do neutral drops.  Had to replace both. Never broke the 318 though.

[69CoronetRT]

Mine has a 904 and an 8¼" rearend (2.71:1).

My mechanic friend says that the 318 Satellites, Coronets, etc. from the same time period that he remembers working on had a 727 and an 8¾" rearend. He said all the Chargers did too, though he only remembers working on Chargers with a 383.

I looked in my 1969 Charger/Coronet/Dart FSM and it didn't mention an 8¼" in the rearend section; it only listed the 7¼", 8¾", and the 9¾" (Dana 60).

8.25 was a running change during the year. http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/TSBs/1969/D69-3-1%20page_3.jpg
FSM could have been printed before the axle was released.

[MaximRecoil]

8.25 was a running change during the year. http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/TSBs/1969/D69-3-1%20page_3.jpg
FSM could have been printed before the axle was released.

Awesome link; thanks.

Anyone have any thoughts about the Hemmings article which claims that the 8¼" was used in some ¾-, 1-, and even 1¼-ton trucks and vans? I'm having a hard time believing that. My mechanic friend has several ½-ton pickups, vans, and Ramchargers in his junkyard with 8¼" rearends, so that part of the list is certainly true. All of his Mopar ¾- and 1-ton stuff has 9¼" or Dana 60 rearends though.

[69CoronetRT]

Anyone have a white book handy to confirm the rear axle codes?

Looks like the switch from the 572 axle assembly (assume the 8.75 behind a 318 automatic) to the 640 (assume the 8.25) was in November at Lynch Road.

[A383Wing]

I got the books, but I ain't smarter than a 5th grader to figure it out....sorry

Bryan

[Kern Dog]

Anyone have any thoughts about the Hemmings article which claims that the 8¼" was used in some ¾-, 1-, and even 1¼-ton trucks and vans? I'm having a hard time believing that. My mechanic friend has several ½-ton pickups, vans, and Ramchargers in his junkyard with 8¼" rearends, so that part of the list is certainly true. All of his Mopar ¾- and 1-ton stuff has 9¼" or Dana 60 rearends though.

Thoughts? Sure... They are wrong. The 8.25 axle was never used in a 3/4 ton or heavier truck. There were some 3/4 trucks that had the 9.25 HD axle. Not all 3/4 ton trucks got the Dana 60. The 60 was standard on the 1 ton.

[garner7555]

My 69 came with 318 and 8 3/4" with 2.76 gears.  Not sure about the transmission, it was already swapped.

[Kern Dog]

I think some of you may be confused. I don't think the 8 1/4 was ever offered with a 2.76 ratio. The closest was a 2.71. Not a huge difference, but the 8 1/4 had a few oddball ratios.

[MaximRecoil]

Thoughts? Sure... They are wrong. The 8.25 axle was never used in a 3/4 ton or heavier truck.

That's what I figured. It is a strange error to make though, given that it is so specific. Someone had to sit down and type out all those years, makes, and models ... did he just pull them out of a hat? It is bizarre.

There were some 3/4 trucks that had the 9.25 HD axle. Not all 3/4 ton trucks got the Dana 60.

Yes, I know. There are some ¾-tons in my mechanic friend's junkyard with the 9¼" rearend. There is also a 1978 ¾-ton Dodge 4WD pickup with a 440 and a Dana 60 rearend up there, in pretty decent shape and running no less. Do you know if the Dana 60 in that truck is usable in a B-body car as-is, or is the width and/or spring perch locations different? 

The 60 was standard on the 1 ton.

There is a mid-1990s to early 2000s 1-ton Dodge van (3500) in my mechanic friend's yard right now (a customer's vehicle) with a 9¼" rearend.

[MaximRecoil]

mine was a 904 and 8 1/4 with 2:76 gears. Still running the same gears unopened after over 450,000 miles

Wow. How long have you owned your car, and have you ever had to replace or rebuild the engine or transmission?

[Kern Dog]

The truck Dana 60 axles that I know of are too wide for any car and their wierd floating axles are not desireable to use in cars either. Plenty of guys take the truck housing and have car-type axle ends welded on to the width they need to fit the car. If you do the measuring and parts scrounging, you can get a truck Dana and have it converted to use in a car for about half of what they sell for new. The only downside I know of is that the truck housings have no mount for a pinion snubber.

[Brock Lee]

I have owned several 1968 and 1969 Chargers that were factory 318 cars. All had a 8 3/4 rear end and 904 transmission.

[cowboy4x4n]

My 69 is all # matching 318 904 and 8 1/4 rear.  So yes they did come that way

[moparfan53]

 The dealer data book lists the standard ratio for a 318 as 2.76. There is no 2.71 shown, however that may have been printed before the 8.25/2.71 was introduced, same story as the FSM.

My own '69 318 Charger I bought in 1975 had the 8.75/3.23 axle. A friend's 318 had the 8.25/2.71. His had manual steering and brakes, mine had power steering and power disc brakes. Maybe the options affected the axle installed?

[moparfan53]

 The 8.25 axle in listed in the 1969 parts book even though not in the FSM or dealer data book. I think the parts book has it because they are often updated.