Something different, drum brake swaps

[qksilver]

I am trying to figure out a rear drum swap, seen kits for it but I have I think the right parts.

I have a bunch of 1/2 84-87 axles from stripping trucks. they all have the "heavy duty" brakes, 2 1/2 inch wide shoes.

I have two 67-72 trucks i am working on. They have 2 inch rear shoes. One is a 6 lug the other is 5 lug. Can I use the later model heavyduty backing plates and the wider shoes, hardware etc and the later model 5 lug drums on one and then some later model 6 lug 1/2 4x4 drums on the other.

It looks like it would work but i don't want to deal with pulling the axles and the gear fluid mess and smell if they won't work.

Anybody do this or have any advice or idea's? It would seem like a cheap mans way of improving the rear brakes with out the cost of a disc swap.

Thanks,
Steve