1973 with 6 bolt lugs but not 4x4?

[kelsfine69]

Not mine. I thought 72 was the first year for 5 bolt disk brakes? This is a 73 with 6 bolt rallys on it and that would indicate front drum brakes in a 2wd?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/5055156404.html

[lolife99]

My guess it was a conversion.
Must have had a 6-lug rearend they wanted to use.
6-lug aftermarket rotors and drop spindles.
Was this an 8-lug truck before???
I don't know these VIN numbers,...

[93M6Formula]

Definitely not a factory thing. i'm guessing he just bought a set of 5 to 6 lug wheel adapters. That would make the most sense.

[piecesparts]

In those days, you could order a truck however you wanted it. Many railroad and forestry trucks had heavier duty axles and spring sets on them.

[Joesjunk]

I saw that truck on eBay last week. I noticed the 6 lug wheels right away. That truck was a 1/2 ton from the factory and should be 5 lug. Someone should email him and ask what's up with the 6 lug wheels.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by 93M6Formula

Definitely not a factory thing. i'm guessing he just bought a set of 5 to 6 lug wheel adapters. That would make the most sense.

5-6 lug adapters are the most unsafe adapter on the market.
I hope this truck was built around a 73-87 4x4 rearend and conversion 2wd 6-lug rotors.

[D13]

In 69-72 the Heavy Half could be ordered as a 6 lug in 2wd. I don't think this carried over into the 73. My guess is someone found a 6 bolt replacment axle and used the 6 bolt rotors in the front - pretty cheap swap. Unlikely it was a 4wd that was converted with a front crossmember swap. Since 73 wil bolt into 72 maybe they had a 72 6 bolt front laying around...

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by D13

In 69-72 the Heavy Half could be ordered as a 6 lug in 2wd. I don't think this carried over into the 73. My guess is someone found a 6 bolt replacment axle and used the 6 bolt rotors in the front - pretty cheap swap. Unlikely it was a 4wd that was converted with a front crossmember swap. Since 73 wil bolt into 72 maybe they had a 72 6 bolt front laying around...

I have never seen a 6-lug 2wd 71-72 truck.
Any more info on this would be appreciated.

[tlawre87]

Here is the VIN:
T- GMC
C-Conventional Cab
Z- 454 Engine
1-1/2 Ton
4- Cab and Box
3-Model year 73
Z-Built in Fremont
503807 - Sequence Number

[65standard]

You could get the 454 in a C10? I thought a C20 or bigger was required to order a 454.

[93M6Formula]

Originally Posted by 65standard

You could get the 454 in a C10? I thought a C20 or bigger was required to order a 454.

You could order them in the higher end models like the Cheyenne Super/Sierra Grande and the BIG 10 trucks as well. K10 trucks couldn't get a BBC as far as I know. Some of the special edition sport trucks could be optioned with it also.

[greg64]

Originally Posted by 65standard

You could get the 454 in a C10? I thought a C20 or bigger was required to order a 454.

Yup, and for 1976, the C10 with 454 was the fastest accelerator on the road. Beats the corvette. There was a road & track or car and driver article testing it at the time. Everything non-truck was wiped out by smog controls.

[Joesjunk]

I asked the owner about the 6 lug wheels and this was his response,


You are correct. When the lower kit was installed the current rally wheels were found and wanted to be used then because of looks and better width. When the front end was replaced/rebuilt including brakes the front rotors were swapped with new 6 lug and the axle shafts were replaced with new wheel bearings. There are no adaptors on the truck.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by Joesjunk

I asked the owner about the 6 lug wheels and this was his response,


You are correct. When the lower kit was installed the current rally wheels were found and wanted to be used then because of looks and better width. When the front end was replaced/rebuilt including brakes the front rotors were swapped with new 6 lug and the axle shafts were replaced with new wheel bearings. There are no adaptors on the truck.

Thanks for clearing up the mystery.
Seems like a lot of expense to fit a set of 6-lug rally wheels that are the same width as a set of 5-lug rally wheels.
But that's what makes everyone different.

[Joesjunk]

That was my thought to Keith, they must have really wanted the 6 lug. And with a claimed 32k miles the front end shouldn't have needed a complete rebuild? Whatever the story is with it, it's a nice truck

[USSkoval]

Originally Posted by piecesparts

In those days, you could order a truck however you wanted it. Many railroad and forestry trucks had heavier duty axles and spring sets on them.

While that is sorta true, you couldn't just "order whatever you wanted". There were never any 6-lug trucks in '73 and up.

Originally Posted by 65standard

You could get the 454 in a C10? I thought a C20 or bigger was required to order a 454.

454 was available in a C10 through '79 or '80. Not available in a K10 or even K20 though. Or even the early K30's actually.

[special-K]

I figured exactly what the seller said. Not necessarily that much extra expense and I think it gives super cool factor, as a truck. What a sharp truck, too!

There was never a heavy half 6-lug 2wd offered. Back in the day when you could these trucks any way you wanted, you couldn't order that. It had to be something used on some other production model. They didn't custom make parts for anyone.