Rear Axle Swap 6 To 5 Lug - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Deryl · 11-04-2006, 12:39 AM

I getting ready to convert the 63 to front disc and I will be going from six lug to five so the rear axles have to be changed also. The rear end in it now is a 12 bolt. All of the parts will be coming from a 73 1/2 ton (free doner truck

). I have been told that I have to swap the backing plates in order to use the five lug axles. Is this right and why? If so do I also have to swap drums, brakes etc.? I appreciate any help.

Demmit_Hemmit's 65 · 11-04-2006, 09:47 AM

What I did was just change out the whole rear end..............Mine came out of a 71 GMC and was an easy swap................the only difference was the width..........It was just a little wider and not enough to notice..........trade yours for one............JMO........Hemmit

**Chevy Fleetside** · 11-04-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demmit_Hemmit's 65

What I did was just change out the whole rear end..............Mine came out of a 71 GMC and was an easy swap................the only difference was the width..........It was just a little wider and not enough to notice..........trade yours for one............JMO........Hemmit

Ditto, but mine was from a 72 is all..

darklord · 11-04-2006, 12:29 PM

I’m building one for my wife so I have been asking questions and reading up. The best way seems to be to swap the whole rear end. I am currently tearing down our truck and I will be buying a 72 from a friend soon. Then I will be doing the same swap myself.

Deryl · 11-04-2006, 01:49 PM

I really don't want to swap rear ends because the one in mine was rebuilt no more that 1,000 miles ago. New ring and pinion etc. Are the 5 lug drums smaller?

qksilver · 11-04-2006, 08:55 PM

The later model axles are longer than your 63 axles. New axles or redrill to the 5 lug pattern and then use the later model rear brakes from the backing plates out

**slepysal** · 11-05-2006, 12:17 AM

were can one get a re drill done ?

raphyel · 11-05-2006, 11:59 AM

You should be able to find the five lug axles you need. I have a 63 and I switched the axles to five lug and the backing plates fit just fine on mine. The 72 rear end should accept 5 lug axles with no problem.

zenish · 11-05-2006, 12:10 PM

the 72 rearend IS five lug.71 up axles are 3/4" longer per side.currie at the bottom of the page can redrill your axles.early classics has conversion axles.

chevy_mike · 11-06-2006, 02:18 PM

I had a local shop order me custom axles (K&A Axles) that were in the stock lenght but setup for a 5 on 5 pattern. Then went to NAPA and got '71 drums and put them on. This was on a '68 but the idea should work as I don't think the drums were different on the 6 lugs until the change to 5 lug. About the only thing I could think that could be a problem would be if there was a bigger back drum option, then ??? My .02 worth.

11-04-2006, 12:39 AM	#1
Deryl Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Douglasville, Ga. Posts: 125	Rear Axle Swap 6 To 5 Lug I getting ready to convert the 63 to front disc and I will be going from six lug to five so the rear axles have to be changed also. The rear end in it now is a 12 bolt. All of the parts will be coming from a 73 1/2 ton (free doner truck ). I have been told that I have to swap the backing plates in order to use the five lug axles. Is this right and why? If so do I also have to swap drums, brakes etc.? I appreciate any help.

11-04-2006, 09:47 AM	#2
Demmit_Hemmit's 65 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Peru, Indiana Posts: 741	Re: Rear Axle Swap 6 To 5 Lug What I did was just change out the whole rear end..............Mine came out of a 71 GMC and was an easy swap................the only difference was the width..........It was just a little wider and not enough to notice..........trade yours for one............JMO........Hemmit

11-04-2006, 12:29 PM	#4
darklord Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Coal Hill ar Posts: 49	Re: Rear Axle Swap 6 To 5 Lug I’m building one for my wife so I have been asking questions and reading up. The best way seems to be to swap the whole rear end. I am currently tearing down our truck and I will be buying a 72 from a friend soon. Then I will be doing the same swap myself.

11-04-2006, 01:49 PM	#5
Deryl Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Douglasville, Ga. Posts: 125	Re: Rear Axle Swap 6 To 5 Lug I really don't want to swap rear ends because the one in mine was rebuilt no more that 1,000 miles ago. New ring and pinion etc. Are the 5 lug drums smaller?

11-04-2006, 08:55 PM	#6
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: Rear Axle Swap 6 To 5 Lug The later model axles are longer than your 63 axles. New axles or redrill to the 5 lug pattern and then use the later model rear brakes from the backing plates out

11-05-2006, 12:17 AM	#7
slepysal Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Jose NOR*CAL Posts: 3,080	Re: Rear Axle Swap 6 To 5 Lug were can one get a re drill done ?

11-05-2006, 11:59 AM	#8
raphyel Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cranston, RI Posts: 162	Re: Rear Axle Swap 6 To 5 Lug You should be able to find the five lug axles you need. I have a 63 and I switched the axles to five lug and the backing plates fit just fine on mine. The 72 rear end should accept 5 lug axles with no problem.

11-05-2006, 12:10 PM	#9
zenish Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: stallings,nc Posts: 401	Re: Rear Axle Swap 6 To 5 Lug the 72 rearend IS five lug.71 up axles are 3/4" longer per side.currie at the bottom of the page can redrill your axles.early classics has conversion axles. __________________ 1964 c10 short step 1962 econoline van 1989 rs camaro 2006 yamaha vino 125 1975 goldwing

11-06-2006, 02:18 PM	#10
chevy_mike Never Ending Projects Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,836	Re: Rear Axle Swap 6 To 5 Lug I had a local shop order me custom axles (K&A Axles) that were in the stock lenght but setup for a 5 on 5 pattern. Then went to NAPA and got '71 drums and put them on. This was on a '68 but the idea should work as I don't think the drums were different on the 6 lugs until the change to 5 lug. About the only thing I could think that could be a problem would be if there was a bigger back drum option, then ??? My .02 worth.



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