6 to 5 lug rearend changes

[amr medic]

Somebody please help me, I have a 1968 Chevy Surburban, and would like to change to a 5 lug. At the last truck show that I went to, I run into a gentelmen that swears up and down that axels and bearings from a 73 to 87 Chevy truck are the same and all one needs to do is swap out axels, bearings, and brakes to make this work, I have three of these rearends sitting around my garage and would like to know if this swap would work. CAN SOMEONE PLEASSSEE HELP ME.

[Longhorn Man]

It can be done, and has been done but it isn't a good idea.
The axle shafts are about 3/8 inch wider than your rear end. The drums on the laterrear are wider, so the brake shoes will be covered, however, the bearings will be riding on a part of the axle shaft never intended to workthis way... plus, the shaft will be sticking out unsuported the extra distance.

Welcome to the board. You go pics of your burb?

[CG]

You can buy five lug aftermarket axles for those rearends. They are kinda pricey though. I think someone on the board has had their six lug holes welded up and had it redrilled for five. Lots of ways to skin a cat I guess.

[Brock]

Whats the advantage of 5 lug over 6 lug? Sorry for getting off topic a little.

[project 67 sub]

would the gears and every thing else - the axels out of the 73+ 12 bolt rearend work with the six lug axels from a 67 12 bolt rearend

[Webrigs]

The 67 to mid-69 rear ends are narrower than the late 69's & 70's. The wider version will accept the 73-87 axles.

[67CHIP72]

Originally Posted by Brock

Whats the advantage of 5 lug over 6 lug? Sorry for getting off topic a little.

I was wondering that too. I hear alot of guys on the boards doing the same thing. Is this more common with the 2 wheel drive trucks?

[jlaird]

send your axles to a shop like Moser and they will weld up the existing holes and redrill. Very fair price too. I can't remember how much they charged me, I think it was a little over 100 bucks.

[CG]

Originally Posted by Webrigs

The 67 to mid-69 rear ends are narrower than the late 69's & 70's. The wider version will accept the 73-87 axles.

How do you tell if your 69 is late 69 or early?


And as far as 5 lug vs 6, more wheel choices for 5 lug.

[krue]

Actually CG I think it was 70 when they made the change. I cheated cuz I had a 68 rear and a 72 rear and just measured my 70 to see which it matched. Mine happens to be the wider version but I don't remember the actual measurements. I'm pretty sure a 69 will be the narrower of the two.

[gotchevys?]

I had a local machinist weld shut the existing holes on a 69 I had and redrill them to 5 on 5. he also redrilled my drums and I believe he had to turn down the center hub on the axlws just a little because the 5 lug wheels have a smaller center hole. he did it all for around $100-$125. I can't remember exactly because its been a while.

[HUEVUDO]

Here is my two cents. Alot of people like this conversion. But for me, I like have 6 lug. Not as many people want to steal a 6 lugger rims from you. And you can still find nice rims for them too. Alot of people say that you cannot find anything good for them Not True.

[gotchevys?]

Its not that you can't find nice 6 lug wheels, you will just have a way larger selection if you go 5 lug. Also from what I've seen there is also more available if you go with the cars pattern of 5 on 4 3/4 as opposed to the trucks pattern of 5 on 5, but usually you can get what you need with the 5 on 5.

[badpeanut]

Originally Posted by Webrigs

The 67 to mid-69 rear ends are narrower than the late 69's & 70's. The wider version will accept the 73-87 axles.

Should this instead read: "The 67 to mid-69 coil spring rear ends are narrower than the late 69's & 70's. The wider version will accept the 73-87 axles."

I'm under the understanding that the 67-72 12-bolt leaf spring rear ends (at least in two wheel drive trucks) are all the wider width.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

if your axles are good send them to moser engineering and have them weld up your 6 lug bolt holes and redrill them to 5 lug. takes 3 days and about 100.00

[Longhorn Man]

mid 70 was when they went wide, coil or leaf.
The main reason ppl go 5 lug, is becouse they want to go with discs up front. You can get 6lug rotors, but they are stupid expensive when you compair them to the 5 lug rotors, and that is a cost that will come again one day, when you could pay to swap the rear over, and never have to pay again. (The argument for spending less money only applies if you still need rims for your final plan)
Another thought, is there is only one company making those rotors if I'm not mistaken, you'll be screwed when you need some and they went out of buisness or stopped making them, and then there's always the nice fact that 5 lug rotors can be had at any parts store anywhere in the US, and if they don't have them on hand, they'll have them the next day. or you just go to the next corner with a parts store.

[project 67 sub]

would the gears and every thing else minus the axels out of the 73+ 12 bolt rearend work with the six lug axels from a 67 12 bolt rearend

[blukangoo]

Originally Posted by Brock

Whats the advantage of 5 lug over 6 lug?

4 to 5 ounces less wieght.

[Hittman]

I admit I am selfishly looking at this post to see if the welding and redrilling would work to change over an 8-lug set up to a 5 or 6 lug. Is this even remotely possible for the C-20's? I have a set of 6-bolt ralley's that I think would look alot better than any factory 8-lug wheel I've seen. I know the hub diameter is bigger so the center hole would need to be bored also. Can this be done??