redrilling 6 lug axels for 5 lug

[CG]

is this a job any machine shop can do? what sort of money would you expect to be charged for this?

[72armyswbtruck]

Could get pretty expensive, I say just buy new 5 bolt axels

[Deuce]

I think early classics makes a set of conversion axles for the 67-70 diff.

[Tx Firefighter]

Dennis Brooks did this. Search under his name and you should turn up his posts. He always has good tech reading.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=163480


try this???

[Tx Firefighter]

That's the thread I was remembering. The guy is a rock star.

[PICKMUP]

Buy new axles with straight flanges, straight shafts, clean smooth bearing surfaces and avoid the possible trouble with welding, grinding, welding, drilling and used axles.

[BowTieMan]

When I worked at a drive shaft shop I asked the machinist that did some work for us about doing this and he said he wouldn't recammend it because welding hardened metal will weaken it and it is just as easy to get a set of 5 lug axles.

[CG]

i saw you could get em from a bunch of the parts people i just wasnt sure what was involved in redrilling. it looks like you can save money if you are able to do alot of the work yourself...which i cant =( thanks for the thoughts and the thread. eye opening read.

[69face]

what type of rear end do you have? If you have a ten bolt, I think you should just get another rear end. I see guys saying that it cost them a minimum of $260 to complete the job. You may be able to find a complete rear end with 5 lugs for that price or a little more if it has posi, gears, etc., but you want posi, gears, etc. anyways. I was thinking about drilling mine also, but after reading Dennis's article I think i'll just try and find another rear end. Good Luck!

[Tx Firefighter]

It's easy to put a 5 lug rearend out of a leaf spring 73-87 into an earlier coil spring truck. I just went through that yesterday. As long as you buy the new saddles, it's easy. I was buying a new track bar anyway.

[dennislbrooks]

After doing 2 pair I would not weld up the old holes with the exception of the one that interferes and make only one interfere. If you were closer, I have a jig on my drill press but you are not. The flanges do need turned down for the 5 lug drums or rotors. Expect about $25-$30 per axle. The 5 lug are usually 1/2 studs instead of the 6 lug 7/16". You probably have to get new studs either way. Go with the aftermarket if you need something else to break before an axle. A 73-87 that already has a limited slip can save hundreds for the total package --- like TX says above.