axel interchange

[short step]

will a 5 lug axel fit a 6 lug rear both12 bolt
Bob

[onelow69c10]

I wouldliketo know as well I searched but couldnt find a difinitive answer.

[michael bustamante]

Ive heard the 5 lug axle is just a little shorter than the 6 lug axles there fore the axles will not interchange, youd have to swap the whole rear end to convert to 5 lug

[john]

During the 1970 model year GM changed to the wider housing w/ longer axles. So if you have a 1970 housing chances are the five lug axles will fit.

[Skirkpat]

1971/72 5 lugs rears are a different width tha 70 and older. Just replace the whole rear end.

[chev-obsession]

no, they are deffinatly different. the 5 lug axles are for sure, 100% positive shorter than the 6 lug axles. swapping out the whole rear end would be ok though.

[Kansas Tinner]

I swapped 6 lug to 5 lug axles in my '68. The 5 lug axles are from '72, not sure what year 6 lug rearend was. Its not the original. When i swapped out the axles, i used the '72 5 lug axles and backing plates. It worked for me. It was going to be a little more work for me to swap rearends. MY '68 gmc is leaf and the '72 was coil.

[short step]

I guess my question should have been , could you use a newer ring & pinion that had 6 lug axles and use my 5 lug axles in the 71 housing? or use the whole center section?
bob