Help with what size rim to go with on rear of my 70 swb

[Chris04]

Hey guys I'm super new to these trucks and was wondering if I could get some help? I got a 70 swb fleet side I currently have it lowered 4.5/5" in rear. My next goal is a set of wheels and I want to go wide as possible on the rear wheel basically I want the biggest lip I can get without having to cut any on my wheel walls or bed. I'm going to do the 5 lug disc break conversion all the way around then purchase my wheels. Problem I'm facing is I read somewhere about you could have your rear end shortened to 60" and run a pretty decent wide wheel on back. I'm pretty sure I have the longer 63 1/2 rear end I'm not 100% sure tho and guess it don't matter if I'm going to have it shortened anyway, so if I go ahead and get my 5 lug axles in and have the rear end shortened to 60" how do I know what back spacing to go with? Have any of you done this? Hope I
Explained it we'll enough! I just don't know what's the widest wheel I can go with on a 60" rear end. Any help appreciated guys


I'm looking for a wide wheel like this

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w54/skaylad/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps83b597ce.jpg[/IMG]
I know you guys like pics so here is mine working on it slowly

[Chris04]

Anyone?

[70cst]

Here is a bump for you.

[68Stepbed]

Find out which width rearend you have now, then we can help. It's hard to give an answer without knowing the correct specs.

[mr48chev]

The progressive truckers don't like my comments on those new style wheels but I think it looks great with the ralley wheels that are on it.

[67 cst swb]

Ok let me try to give a little assistance...
The 1970 and Older 6 lug rear axle housings are narrower than the 71-72 5 lug axle housing. Also, I have heard... that 1970 model can have either width axle housing, so yours being a 70 adds another degree of unknowns.
So it is difficult to answer your question...

Also... There are a few ways to convert to a 5-lug wheel as you mentioned. You can swap in the wider 71-72 5 lug rear axle housing assembly from another truck or you can buy after-market 5 lug axle that slide into your 6 lug narrower housing, which bring me back to the unknown issue of... if 1970 does really have both different width axle housing in that year... then which do you have?
So, as you can see its not that easy of answer/reply.

[Chris04]

I understand, my issue is I can't figure it out either I tried to measure from back side of drum to other back side of drum and it's right at 60" then I measured from back side of drum to where the u bolt goes around axle and it's like 8 1/2 inches. I saw a thread where they were telling to measure certain things but I didn't understand. So does any of the measures sound familiar. I'm thinking I got the 63 1/2 rear end!

[67 cst swb]

I believe 63-1/2" would be the 70 and older measurement. If I remember correctly the 71-72 are 65" wide.