6 lugs

[70jnktrk]

Is there a benifit in having 6 lug wheels, which I have, or switching over to 5 lugs? 70 chev LB 1/2 ton 2WD.....thinking of dropping the whole rig soon and was wondering if availability of wheel choices might be a limiting factor in the future. thanks

[eseaton]

chevyduty.com for 2.5 drop with 6 lug rotors

[68gmsee]

Years ago there was a benefit (in some cases there still is) in going to 5 lugs. Primarily because there just weren't any wheels being made for these trucks in six lugs. Some guys wanted the chrome or mag wheels and they all seemed to be in 5 lug configuration. Now that has changed and there are a lot of 6 lug wheels out there.

Another reason was that owners wanted disk brakes. It was easy to get the whole front member of a newer vehicle and they were mostly 5 lugs. Again, that has changed now with the availablility of 6 lug disk brake conversion.

[70jnktrk]

OK, great info...I have no problem with the 6 lug configuration but was somewhat concerned about future wheel selection...Thanks for the site above I will check it out..I have seen the kits available for 6 lug but did not want to jump to any incorrect decisions.. Probably head towards springs, spindles/discs in the front and springs shocks etc in the rear. I would like to run the wheels and tires I have at the present time if possible..that would soften the financial blow for a bit....thanks a bunch...Steve

[Longhorn Man]

I would advise looking at the price and avalibility of those rotors, and compair that to the same on a 5 lug rotor. It is after all, a wear item.

[70jnktrk]

Can the rear axles on my truck be swapped for 5 lug axles? Straight across? If that were the case it might be worth the extra effort in the long run. Wheel selection etc etc...

[Ilike 72"s]

I'm going through the exact same thing right now on my 1970 project. I lowered with front springs and blockes in the rear. Now I'm shopping for 18 inch wheels. I want wheels that look like the old five spoke cragers or torq thrust. I cant find those in a six lug. I can find wheels with six or eight spoke, but they look like 4x4 wheels to me. I can find them all over in a five lug. I am switching to 5 lug.

[70jnktrk]

Ilike...I would eventually like something close to the style wheel you mentioned. I have not checked at Discount/wheel places as to what is available.. Know anything about swapping the rear axles for 5 lugs axles?..I will get a couple more photos of my LB up asap..A long time ago I heated my front and rear springs to drop the whole truck about an inch...time to do the job lower and correct! keep in touch..thanks

[whatnow123]

There are choices now for 6 lug wheels and rotors are a none issue as they are avalable by order. I went 6 lug becuase my truck had 6 lug rotors already in the front, so I added a 6 lug rear disk kit and ordered my wheels.

Here is a photo of my truck.

[70jnktrk]

Wow..great looking truck..Arizona also...I would rather keep the 6 lug configuration. Can you shoot me a link or two that handles 6 lug wheels or should I just head down to Discount Tire? It would be cheaper to do the drop and keep my current wheels/tires, and then swap them out down the road..What size tires and wheels are you running? the 4/6 looks perfect! thanks

[whatnow123]

Torq thrusts and Coddington Smoothie ll's (which is what I bought) are the only 2 reasonably priced custom 6 lug wheels I found. By custom I mean they will be made to the backspacing that you request. I'm sure there are others, but I don't know what they are.

There are a bunch of standard "off the shelf" 6 lug wheels you can purchase, but most have deep backspacing which really tucks in the wheels pretty far, not a look I like.

The fronts are 17x8 with 4.5 backspacing, the rears are 17x10 with 4.5 as well. Also on the rear, you need to figure out if you have the narrower or the wider rear end (56 or 57.5 width if I remember correctly) as 70 was the change and you could have either. I have the narrower one. If you have the wider rear, you can run with more backspacing.

I ordered mine from Discount Tire since they are local and I could pick them up when they came in.

[ChevLoRay]

With my Early Classic Enterprises components, I stayed with the 6-lug stuff. FYI, I can put a GM 5-lug rotor on the spindles I have without any other changes. Of course, I'd need to change rear ends in order to have a 5-lug pattern there and use the same type wheel on all four corners.

It's a matter of personal preference. If you wanted to do it to keep it looking stock, and it had 6-lugs from the git-go, be aware that the 6-lug stock steel wheels won't clear the calipers of the disc brake front end. Other than that, it's a no-brainer at my house....and I qualify for the "no brain" end of that equation...

[HUEVUDO]

I went with what my truck already had on it. I added a disc brake drop spindles and stayed with the six lugs. I didnt want every other chevy truck guy to want my rims and to steal the truck for them. 6 lugs around here are just not seen as much. here is my duckling... And yes my red truck on the other side is a 6 lugger too. My 67 yellow has 20's and the red 68 had 17's.

[longhorn70gmc]

It's the six lug hubs that are really hard to find. No one manufactures them in these parts. A board member donated one to me to get my rig going again.