Convert 8 3/4 Open to 8 3/4 Suregrip?

[Charger21]

So we have a number of 8 3/4 open rearends sitting around. I have a 73 Charger with a 400 4 barrel w/dual exhaust. Looking to put together a 451 stroker, but before that I want to make sure my drivetrain will handle it. Currently have an 8 1/4 suregrip w/2.71 gears in it. Great on highway, less than great off the line :icon_winkle:

Question is: can you make an existing 8 3/4 into a suregrip unit without switching out the entire 3rd member or even the ring and pinion gears? Basically can you take the open unit and just add the suregrip pieces to it?

Thanks!

 

[chargehard]

yes,you just need to find a sure grip carrier and swap your existing ring gear to the sure grip and set the backlash and bearing preload. also richmond makes an automatic positive locker that replaces the side gears and spider gears in your existing open carrier, part # 1240 LR for the 8 3/4. i just bought one off ebay and they're easy to install, the only drawback is they want you to use a harder than stock centerpin for the warranty and i couldn't find one anywhere so i had a machinist friend check mine and he said it rockwelled at 50, which is pretty hard and it would cost over 100.00 to make me a pin any harder and hardening my pin could warp it. so i guess i'll just chance it with my slightly cammed 383. i'm not sure i have a warranty anyway buying it from an individual. whatever,good luck

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

This question gets asked very often, in fact last time was just a few days ago. Here is a recent thread with many responses (post 7 spells it out well) -

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?66586-8-3-4-rearend-question