Rear Axle conversion on a 68

[chiggins]

Can I swap a 5 lug rear axle out of a square-body Chevy into my '68 C10?

[71meangreenc10]

All depends,
Leaf or coils? If I recall, square bodies were all leaf springs, (could be wrong) you will have to deal with the perchs, but the axle can be made to fit if you have coils.

Smitty

[hugger6933]

You can buy a axle install kit from most any vendor to put a regular rear end in the coils sprung truck. They cost about $150 I think I was gonna look into one but have since founds some coil sprung axles that are 5 lug.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by chiggins

Can I swap a 5 lug rear axle out of a square-body Chevy into my '68 C10?

Why bother with that? A pair of 30 spline 5 lug axles for the diff you already have will set you back $318.00 and take less than an hour to install. Lots easier than dancing around with a welder and new perches, brackets and other pieces for an axle that might have internal problems that you won'r learn about until AFTER you get everything done to install it. Just imagine how you're going to feel if you spend a week of nights and Saturdays putting a new housing under your truck only to find out your new housing needs a new center section and gears which will cost you over $600.00.

Go here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=558016

Download the PDF of the Chassis Overhaul Manual for your truck. It will show you how to remove the axles and install new ones. It's an easy process. Remove the wheels and brakes, remove the rear cover, remove the retaining pin in the center section. Slide out the 'C' clips pull the axles out. Then reassemble in reverse order. You won't need to change any adjustments because you didn't change any. It's also a good time to inspect the internals. Things wear a bit in 46 years! The last time I did this I acrually did get it done in 45 minutes!