6-lug wheel hub diameter too large for rally wheels?

[badpeanut]

On both my '70 1/2-ton and '71 K5, later model wheels ('73-'87ish Chevy 1/2-ton) don't quite fit over the center hub of the axles. On some junk 15x6 steel wheels from an '80s Chevy truck I ground the centers larger so they'd clear. However I want to put a set of freshly blasted and painted rally wheels on my Blazer and I don't want to grind these. I was thinking of taking the axles to a machine shop and having them turned down 1/16"-1/32" on the diameter except where the brake drum sits (or have this done to a new set of axles because mine have tired bearing surfaces).

Anybody else have these issues? Anybody have a better idea? Any chance I could buy new axles that wouldn't require this?

[Blazer1970]

I am not sure what your problem is, but the wheels should fit without grinding.

[Palf70Step]

The late 80's (88 and on) 1/2 ton wheels are all that way. They had too small of a center hole to fit our trucks without boring. They also typically have a lot more back space than what will fit or look good on our years. 73-87 models should interchange just fine though.

[ChevLoRay]

If the clearance is as you say it is, it could be nothing more than multiple coats of paint on the hubs, too.

[jerry moss]

i ran the 73 up ralley wheels on my 69 and 72 when they were 1/2 ton with no clearance issue.

[badpeanut]

No '88-up wheels involved. My axle hubs have no paint, just 37 years of rust. On both sets of axles the wheels are too tight to seat against the brake drums even using the studs to pull them in. This holds for both sets of wheels also (15x6 steel wheels from an early '80s Chevy truck and rally wheels from a late '70s Chevy truck).

[Sammy]

I ran into the same problem before. It bolted up fine but removing them took a sledge hammer. I took a little off the inside of the wheel center hub covers it although you can't tell unless you are looking for it anyway.

[Blazer1970]

disregard this

[special-K]

The factory 4wd steel rallye wheels will bolt right on the drum brake 2wd trucks and `72-earlier 4wds.There must be rust build-up if it isn`t paint.There is no difference in thecenter hole size between all these wheels.