5 bolt vrs. 6 bolt homework DONE !

[albertarose]

I have a Short box step big block truck (69) it has the origional power drum 6 bolt set up ..I thought about going 6 bolt disc but after looking for wheels with normal offset I realized why people like 5 bolt better ..you have a limitless selection of wheel possibilitys ! during this wheel hunt I found a guy a few hours away from with a 72 parts truck that is not too picked over (yet)..just the engine and front fenders ..his price seems fair and with a little luck I will be able to sell whats left over.. ..I havnt seen it yet but I am going there prepared to drag it home next wk end. Although my shorty is a real CST 396 truck ..its not numbers matching anyway and I think its a fair trade to be running 5 bolt disc ..any tips or advice on my plan ? it should be fairly straight forward.. KEEP ON TRUCKIN!

[Longhorn Man]

rotors are dirt cheap and avalible anywhere in the nation when you run 5 lug too.

[GREASEMONKEY72]

5 bolt is alot easier to find wheels for and incase you dont know yet the bolt pattern is 5 on 5 for the 5lug

[BarryB]

the only thing I see that might be a con, factor. weren't the 72's leaf spring rearends?? The axle swap won't work either because there to wide. You might have to find a 71 rearend which I believe are coilsprung. Or have your old ones drilled for the 5 on 5 lug pattern.

[albertarose]

thanks man never concidered that ! ...will scope it out when I go to see the truck..

[GREASEMONKEY72]

72s are coil rears i know because mine is, leafspring i believe was an option so coilspring is standard

[albertarose]

ok now Im confused ..is yours a gmc greasemonkey ?

[msgross]

Originally Posted by BarryB

the only thing I see that might be a con, factor. weren't the 72's leaf spring rearends?? The axle swap won't work either because there to wide. You might have to find a 71 rearend which I believe are coilsprung. Or have your old ones drilled for the 5 on 5 lug pattern.

Is the width of a coil vs leaf axle different?

[1969k10stepside]

Yes the 5 lug rears are different than the 67-70s with 6 lug.No,most were coil springs on Chevys and most GMCs were leaf spring rear ends.Some chevys had leafs and some GMCs had coils.72s didnt just have leafs,they had coil spring rear ends also,it could be either.73 is when they all went leaf in the back

[GREASEMONKEY72]

thats what i was thinking of, chevy=coil, gmc=leaf with a few exeptions

[albertarose]

Originally Posted by GREASEMONKEY72

thats what i was thinking of, chevy=coil, gmc=leaf with a few exeptions

ok that makes sense ..didnt even ask him if its a chev or gmc thought they must be same Im learning here! thanks!! its not going to be a big prob if thats the case.Just have to track down some axles then...

[albertarose]

yeah I might get lucky and find coils under my parts truck..dont remember finding any leaf set ups on 67 to 72 trucks gmc or chev here in canada at the bone yards but Im not going to be suprised now if I do !

[CG]

Some of the board vendors sell the correct size five lug axels to swap into your six lug housing

[albertarose]

thanks CG !!thats always an option too ...cute kid picture by the way!

[gmc1969custom]

My 69 GMC Custom must be an exception since It's got rear coil springs.

[grayw0lf]

Are the 6 lug wheels really that hard to find? I was really wanting to go 6-lug w/ a setup from a later model truck w/ the 1.25" rotors.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by grayw0lf

Are the 6 lug wheels really that hard to find? I was really wanting to go 6-lug w/ a setup from a later model truck w/ the 1.25" rotors.

6 lug wheels are everywhere. Just not as everywhere as 5 lug wheels.

[turner15]

my 71 GMC is coils and 5 lug, it was made in Oshawa Ontario

[msgross]

you can do the economical impala/camaro rear disc conversion for 5 lug too. If you run into a leaf rear end then I can send you the trailing arms pad mounts (or whatever the part welded onto the axle is for the axle to convert, you pay shipping and they are yours...