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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 663
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Rear Axel Conversion
I want to swap a 5 bolt rear end into my '69 GMC. Right now I have a L6 engine in the truck which will remain for a while. Eventually I'd like a hot 350 or 383. Any suggestions? What will fit?
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Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said. |
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#2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Wakaw, Sask, Canada
Posts: 3,180
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Re: Rear Axel Conversion
How soon do you want to do this? Once the snow goes I will be parting a 71Chev if you want to buy a whole rear drum to drum. I know we don't live that close, but maybe we could work something out. I also have a complete disc front suspension of you don't already have a set up as well.
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"You can take the man out of PA, but you can't take PA out of the man" Last edited by HeavyD; 04-01-2006 at 02:33 AM. |
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#3 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Idaho
Posts: 4,034
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Re: Rear Axel Conversion
Why not just switch out just the spidel axels. It's not really all that difficult of a switch, however the easiest is swapping the entire axel from wheel to wheel
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"Remember, They can Kill You, but they can't eat You, That's against the law!!!!!!!!!" |
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#4 |
Out of the carpool lane.
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Clark Co, WA
Posts: 5,673
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Re: Rear Axel Conversion
Early 1970's axle's will be a direct swap for you. This changes them from 6 lug to 5 lug. About mid year in 1970 they went with the longer housing of 71 and up. They'll still fit, but will stick out farther about 3/4" on each side and I've been told the bearings will ride on a non-hardened part of the axle. Many folks have done it, but do a search and you'll find some input on this if you plan on doing it.
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1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red 1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!) 2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow! 2008 Husqvarna TE-610 1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten... |
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#5 |
Watch out for your cornhole !
![]() Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Azle, Texas
Posts: 14,162
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Re: Rear Axel Conversion
Brad, you're mistaken. 70's were all still 5 lug, both early short axles, and longer late axles, all 6 lug.
It's getting harder to find 71-72 rearends around here. Seems lots of folks have used them all up converting stuff to five lug over the years. I'm putting a 75 model rear under my truck right now. I'm having to deal with the funny coil spring axle saddles and the panhard bar mount. Once I get it done, I'll post an FAQ article with pictures outlining it all. It's doable, but much easier and cheaper to just find a 71-72 rearend if you can.
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I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin Last edited by Tx Firefighter; 04-01-2006 at 01:25 PM. |
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#6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 663
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Re: Rear Axel Conversion
Quote:
__________________
Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said. |
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#7 | |
Out of the carpool lane.
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Clark Co, WA
Posts: 5,673
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![]() Quote:
__________________
1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red 1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!) 2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow! 2008 Husqvarna TE-610 1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten... |
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#8 | |
It's a catastrophic success.
![]() Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,077
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Re: Rear Axel Conversion
Quote:
but in 70' they did have a long and short axle tubes but both were 6 lug, the later 70 is a perfect for inner swap because it was wider and doesnt cause a problem with the brake drums. |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Tacoma WA
Posts: 1,365
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Re: Rear Axel Conversion
TexFF - IIR an added bonus to using the newer axle is that larger brakes were available. Am I correct on this?
Brad - I really thought 1/2T trucks were 6 lug through 1970. With disc brakes being introduced in 1971 they went to 5 lug. 4X4 stayed 6 lug in 1/2T.
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67 C-20 LWB, tilt, speed alert, vac, 454, T400 67 C-10 SWB, factory air with more to follow |
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#10 |
Out of the carpool lane.
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Clark Co, WA
Posts: 5,673
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Re: Rear Axel Conversion
Well, maybe I've forgotten what I did regarding my axles. I know I swapped in 5-lug axles in some sort of housing with the correct length axles, lol
![]() ![]() Now I'm curious what housing I used and what I did. It's been about 5 years.
__________________
1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red 1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!) 2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow! 2008 Husqvarna TE-610 1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten... |
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#11 |
Watch out for your cornhole !
![]() Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Azle, Texas
Posts: 14,162
|
Re: Rear Axel Conversion
Bob, I do belive the later axles did all get the bigger brakes. I'll measure it when I get home next time.
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I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin |
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