5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

Toms differentials has a good deal on axle's. Its 225 if I remember for the two axle's from them. I went to the junkyard and found the drums and just bought the brakes for those drums. I haven't put it all together yet though.
Rear axles

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

Guys If I use brakes for a 71 Pickup Will I also need the backing plates from the 71? I just priced everything except the backing plates from autozone and its WAY cheaper then buying the kit... About $135 cheaper!!

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

Not sure, but measure your drums and compare to the '71's
you could possibly use your brake stuff with the '71 drums.
I don't think you will need to change the backing plate to use the '71 stuff,
the different years should be very similar, I don't think drum brakes have changed much through out the '60's, '70's, and '80's

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

It would be awesome if I could get away with just switching the drums and axles!!

Has anyone done this and retained there original backing plates??

Autozones site says that 63 and 71 both have 11x2 inch brakes..

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

It's been many years but I'm pretty sure I just changed the drums and redrilled the axles. You certainly don't need the bearings and seals unless you just want to change them. You might check and see if the wheel cyllinder part numbers are the same for the 63-71s.

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

I haven't done the swap but I think you should be able to use the backing plates on your '63 since the brake shoes are the same. Along about '75 or so GM went to 2 1/2" x 11" brakes on the C10's. One thing you may not be aware of is that your '63 has 17 spline axles and AFAIK all the 5 lug conversion axles are 30 spline. This means you'll have to swap your 17 spline spider gears for the 30 spline ones. That is unless the axles you are looking at come in either spline.

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

what is AFAIK?

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

As Far As I Know....

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

ok, now i see...thanks

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

This is the only kit I could find doing a quick search....it's a little spendy but it includes everything and it gives you an idea what I'm talking about.
http://www.brotherstrucks.com/prodin...number=RAC6364

Before you get too excited, I'd check and see just what is in your diff. in case someone has changed it during it's lifetime. If your backing plates are pressed onto the axle tubes it is an original '63 diff......but I'd still check the internals.

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

Just redrill what you've got, axles and drums both.

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

Good point on the need to change spyder gears... I forgot about that.

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

That's what I'm going to do. IIRC about $100 (+/-)

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

If you have a good drill press so you can get the holes straight you can do it yourself for free. Most factory steel wheels are hub-syntric meaning they fit really well around the center hub and don't depend just on the lugs for centering. Because of this, you can use a wheel as a guide for where your new holes need to be. The wheels fit plenty tight enough on the center hub to insure you are centered and true.

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

Aren't the hubs and the drums typically hardened? (At least the hubs). I'm thinking I'll need a heck of a drill press and a lot of time to drill 10 holes in those hubs (never mind filling the six holes).

Seems well worth the $100 to get it done ;)

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

Never been a problem for the ones I have done.

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

The factory wheels are hub centric but every after market wheel I've ever seen for these trucks has a 4" center bore and are lug centric. Not a problem as long as you stick with oem steel wheels.

If it was me, I'd find a rear end out of a 71-72 chevy truck and bolt the whole thing in. I've done it twice and it's easier than drilling the axles (I've done that also)

Rg

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

you could use the stock wheel to locate where to drill, then it wouldn't matter when you get after market wheels. The holes would be right.
if you have the stuff to cut and weld you can put practically any 5 on 5 junkyard axle in there cheap, if you can find the right width anyway.
scott62 is using a 9 inch F**d from a mid-late Li**oln Versailles, complete with rear disc brakes, said it cost him $150

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

Yeah, I took an axle from a '77 truck and cut the axle perches off and welded on the ones from the '64 (as well as the panhard bar mount) before. But the easiest by far is the 71-72 rearend swap (from a trailing arm truck) as the axle perches and panhard bar mountings are all there already.

Rg

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

What size drill bit do you use for the lug bolt holes?

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

Interesting, so it hasn't been your experience that these are hardened? If that's the case, it seems like a wonderful weekend project.

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

Here's the lug bolts you would use

http://www.autozone.com/R,1938929/ve...ductDetail.htm

They are 1/2-20unc vs the 7/16-20 on the 6-luggers

On Papco's website they show the same bolt and say the knurled diameter is .535". I would figure you need a bit slightly smaller to get a good press fit.

Good luck, Rg

Re: 5x5 bolt pattern rear conversion
 

I would suggest having the studs you're going to use in hand before you drill and measure them. Then use the appropriate drill to give you .003 to .005 of an interference fit. Just my .02