Front crossmember conversion questions.

[cameeks]

First off what years were chevy 1/2 tons 5 lug?

Second I was wondering if I find a year that was five lug if I can just get some 6 lug rotors for it. Same if I find one that is 6 lug if I can get 5 lug rotors for those.

Here is where I clear it all up. Right now I'm wanting to convert to front disc brakes but I'm 6 lug all around. When I go to convert the rear to disc, a few years from now, I want to also convert to 5 lug to run American Racing Tourque Thrust 2 rims.

[ghetto_superman]

if you do a search here on the site for stuff like disc brake conversions and such there should be lots of results. you just have to pick through the threads (some are quite long, but full of GREAT info) to find exactly what you need.
good luck!

[GREASEMONKEY72]

and goodluck

-steven

[cameeks]

Ok I did a search on both of my questions and came up with nothing. I know how to do the conversion but I need to know about the lugs.

[RicksTrucks]

Keep looking, there are a lot of threads that talk about 5 lug and disc brakes. For example, you can either replace your front axle with one from a 71-72 or 73 through I think 87 and they will fit. Not sure what axles fit the back, outside of the 71-72, but you can also get your non-disc rotors redrilled for 5 lug. And I think people have used other early GM cars rear disc setups, plus there are plenty after markets.

[cameeks]

Originally Posted by cameeks

First off what years were chevy 1/2 tons 5 lug?

Second I was wondering if I find a year that was five lug if I can just get some 6 lug rotors for it. Same if I find one that is 6 lug if I can get 5 lug rotors for those.

These are just what I'm wanting to know about. I know I can use all the way up to a 87 front end but i dont know what year it switches to 5 lugs. Also if I can fit a 6 lug rotor on a spindle of a year that had 5 lugs?

All I can find are threads for people converting one way or the other and those don't touch on that topic. For the rear in a few years when I can afford the rims I am going through moroso and having a set of axles built for 5 lugs.

Also I'm 2WD

[RicksTrucks]

5 lug starts at 71.

[68shortfleet]

Saw a thread a few days ago about installing 90's six lug rotor onto 84 five lug rotors. I dont remember the details, but it sounded possible. Keep searching.

Jason

[ghetto_superman]

and on rear axles, be aware that 71-2 axles are longer than 67-70. so the axles themselves are not a direct swap, but it is easy enough to switch the entire housing. my advice is to find any truck 71-87 and steal the drivetrain from it. crossmember and all. or just control arms and spindles.. whatever.. if you take the rearend from a 73-87 you will have to clean off the old leaf spring mounts and have some new t-arm mounting locations welded on, and keep in mind you will need a panhard bar, but thats not a big deal. also if you get a 73-87, get the power brakes setup and the power steering box (if equipped) because of the quicker ratio. hope this helps!

[cameeks]

Going through Moroso for the rear axle I just have to give them the measurments, spline count and what lug pattern. They will be custom.

[70GMCer]

I plan on doing the exact thing that you want too do. From what I have read on here, 1990 3/4T 2X4 light duty has 6 lug rotors that fit onto the 73/84 front 5 lug spindle. Now that year may be spread onto other years, like 88 thru 98. They are available thru Autozone and others. You will have too change the lugs. They are metric. I'm not sure on the bearings though, but I think I read on here that the 73/84 bearings will go in the new rotors.

[cameeks]

70GMCer

Can you try to find that again about the rotors and add the link to this thread. I keep having to dodge the boss here. So it's hard to do a search at work.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 70GMCer

I plan on doing the exact thing that you want too do. From what I have read on here, 1990 3/4T 2X4 light duty has 6 lug rotors that fit onto the 73/84 front 5 lug spindle. Now that year may be spread onto other years, like 88 thru 98. They are available thru Autozone and others. You will have too change the lugs. They are metric. I'm not sure on the bearings though, but I think I read on here that the 73/84 bearings will go in the new rotors.

The 1990 3/4T 2X4 light duty 6-lug rotors fit 88 & later spindles, not the 73-87 spindles. You have to use 67-87 3/4 ton lower a-arms w/the proper larger diameter lower BJ for this swap (according to those that have done it).

6-lug rotors are available to fit the 71-87 style spindles if that's what you need. You can get them from most of this sites vendors.

[70GMCer]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=35042

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a.../t-197826.html

[Dr. Drop]

OK guys, just remember that ANYThing that has to do with the front suspension on a 1960 to 1987 Chev or gmc 2wd truck, blazer or sub will interchange as long as you use the parts from the same year. I'll explaine, say you have a 1965 3/4 ton 2wd Chev truck and you want to convert it over to a 5 lug bolt pattern front and rear. Then let's say that you have a 1980 Chev 1/2 ton 2wd parts truck that has complete front and rear suspension intact. Strip all the 3/4 ton suspension junk off the 1965 including the brake lines, leaving just the crossmember. Now you can install all the steering componets (except the PS box) onto the 1965 truck. You will want to carefully retain the complete brake system as that will fit right on the 1965 truck also. If you have a leaf spring rear suspension then the 1980 rear end will basicaly work in the 1965 truck. (Use the u-bolt system from the 1980 truck to attach the leafs to the rear end n the 1965. If you have the coil spring rear suspension the the easiest way to get 5 lug in the rear is obtain a complete rear end out of a 1971 or 72 c-10 it will bolt right in. I definetly have not covered every last little thing, but if you can bolt and unbolt you can do this.

[PanelDeland]

Some of the BB vendors carry conversion kits for this swap.Most can get just rotors also.I would contact one of them and see if the spindles are the same from the disc to drum.If so then you can go either way,since the rotors come in both 5 and 6 lug.I doubt there's any difference but you never can tell.GM kept most stuff interchangable for years.